Ralph Fiennes on His Initial “Misplaced Snobbery” Towards ‘Harry Potter’ and Why He May Be Done Directing

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Ralph Fiennes initiated a nearly two-hour discussion at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Thursday, starting with an essential point – the correct pronunciation of his given name.

The actor, whose name is ‘Rafe’, explained to the audience at Santa Barbara’s Arlington Theatre that he was given his unique name by his parents; it’s one of those unusual English names. He recalled his father coming home from school and correcting people who mispronounced his name as ‘Ralph’. His father insisted, ‘No, they’re wrong.’

Fiennes received the title of the festival’s best annual performer, and subsequently had an interview with Scott Feinberg from The Hollywood Reporter. This chat, spanning his extensive career, started by delving into Fiennes’ journey to discover acting as a passion and his initial major role in Wuthering Heights that eventually caught Steven Spielberg’s eye during the casting for 1993’s Schindler’s List.

Reflecting on the event that culminated in his initial Oscar nod, the actor reminisced, “That period was quite perplexing, being involved with a movie that was gaining such recognition. Towards the end of ’93, my mother passed away, coinciding with the film’s release and award consideration. Losing the woman who had been an inspiration, supporter, and pillar of strength for me and my siblings was incredibly agonizing. Thus, it was a strange and painful time, but looking back, I believe she is watching.

In our conversation, we delved into his experiences with the films “Quiz Show,” “The English Patient,” and an audition for “Shakespeare in Love” alongside Julia Roberts. At one point, Fiennes humorously commented, “I found Julia Roberts pleasant, but I’m not sure she felt the same about me.” Furthermore, he reminisced about his role as Voldemort in the “Harry Potter” series, admitting that initially, he wasn’t keen on taking on the part, stating that he was merely “uninformed.

Rather than disliking the Harry Potter films, I hadn’t seen them or read the books. I was aware of their immense popularity, but I had a somewhat pretentious attitude towards fantasy characters like witches, goblins, and the like. I initially resisted the offer to play Voldemort until I shared it with my sister Martha. Upon hearing that I’d been asked to portray Voldemort, she exclaimed, ‘You have to do it! Ralph, you don’t realize, you don’t realize!’ This comment from her quickly convinced me.

Discussing his filmography that includes “In Bruges”, the James Bond series, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and most recently “The Menu”, Fiennes also touched upon his directorial ventures. He started this creative path with the 2011 movie “Coriolanus” and hinted at potential future directing projects.

He openly admitted that he’s unsure if there are easy paths for putting together a movie, particularly independent films. He shared his struggles with the production of his 2018 film, ‘The White Crow,’ stating it was extremely challenging to make. The financial aspect of it all, he said, was incredibly painful, filled with uncertainty. This experience left him feeling quite apprehensive about directing. While he’s enjoyed many aspects of directing, such as collaborating with actors and department heads, the financial anxiety associated with independent films proved to be exceptionally tough on that particular project.

The focus subsequently shifted towards the movie titled “Conclave”, for which Fiennes received an Oscar nomination and has been receiving accolades for quite some time now. He expressed that he felt a strong connection to the role, stating, “It was one of those instances where I had a sense that it would fit well – you never know how things will unfold, but it’s gratifying when you sense that connection.” In this movie, Fiennes portrays Cardinal Lawrence, who is entrusted with overseeing the selection of a new pope while simultaneously uncovering hidden secrets.

He mentioned that certain roles seem appealing yet don’t quite align with his personal experiences, but they offer a challenge, like the character in ‘In Bruges.’ Although this role is far removed from his own life, it’s a strong performance. Some roles are more relatable to his lived experience. For instance, he’s not a priest, but he found something intriguing about the role. It serves as a political thriller, but it also delves into the search for a spiritual leader. The Pope is real and relevant in our world, so the story has significance. Lawrence, the character he plays, must navigate the Conclave with honesty and wisdom. Throughout the film, Lawrence carries his own internal conflicts, and at times, his ambition overtakes him. However, there’s a sense of poetic harmony in all the aspects of the role.

In this instance, Edward Berger, director of Conclave, was present to bestow Fiennes with his award. The actor expressed his gratitude to the audience, stating, “Reflecting on some of my work tonight alongside Scott, I’ve come to realize how incredibly fortunate I am to have experienced such opportunities and to have collaborated with so many outstanding individuals. The devastating wildfires that have ravaged your sister city, Los Angeles, serve as a jarring reminder. They jolt us into recognizing our role within a community – whether it’s local, national, or global. In the face of such destructive and traumatic events, it can sometimes be challenging to recollect what truly matters. I hold dear the transformative potential of art, regardless of its form or status, and the power of storytelling.

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2025-02-07 19:25