Wissenswertes

Both Joseph and his brother, Ralph Fiennes, have romanced the same leading lady, Cate Blanchett, in different films; Joseph in Elizabeth (1998) and Ralph in Oscar und Lucinda (1997).

Cousin to Sir Ranulph Twistleton-Wykeham Fiennes the polar explorer.

He turned down a lucrative five-picture deal with Miramax after the success of Shakespeare in Love (1998) and Elizabeth (1998). He traveled to India instead.

Sister Sophie Fiennes is a documentary film-maker. Brother Magnus Fiennes is a composer.

Was Roman Polanski's first choice for the main role in Der Pianist (2002), but turned it down due to a previous commitment to the theatre.

Has 2 daughters Sam born March 8, 2010 and Isabel born December 29, 2011.

8th cousin to HRH The Prince of Wales.

Son of late novelist Jini Fiennes (aka Jennifer Lash).

Is the youngest of 6 children - older siblings; Ralph Fiennes (b. 22 Dec 1962), Martha Fiennes (b. 1964), Magnus Fiennes (b. 1965), Sophie Fiennes (b. 1967) and Jacob Mark "Jake" Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes (b. 27 May 1970). Jacob is Joseph's fraternal twin, is married to Melanie Plaice and has two children Teale Isabella (b. 24 July 2000) and Nathaniel (b. 17 July 2002). Joseph also has a foster brother, Michael Emery (b. 31 Dec 1952) who has been with the family since he was 11.

Has toyed with the idea of being a painter, and still carries a sketchbook around.

Greatly skilled at swimming, horse riding, tennis and rock-climbing.

He has English, Irish, and Scottish ancestry. Many of his recent ancestors lived in India, during the British colonial period. His maternal grandparents were born in Bengal and Madras, respectively. His brother has said that the surname "Fiennes" is of Norman origin.

4th cousin of Lord Saye & Sele, owner of Broughton Castle, which appears in Shakespeare in Love as Viola's house.

In 1998, he played two different men in the Elizabethan era: Robert Dudley in Elizabeth (1998) and William Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love (1998). Both of these men were cheating on their wives. The "women" he cheated with were both nominated for Best Actress Academy Awards: Cate Blanchett for Elizabeth (1998) and Gwyneth Paltrow (who won) for Shakespeare in Love (1998).

Was set to succeed Omar Sharif as Yuri Zhivago, in a remake of the classic Doktor Schiwago (1965).

Moved 14 times during his childhood between London, Wiltshire and Ireland.

He and his brother Ralph Fiennes have also both worked with Rachel Weisz, in Duell: Enemy at the Gates (2001) and Der ewige Gärtner (2005).

Fraternal twin of Jacob Mark Fiennes (a gamekeeper).

Is involved in a number of charities and causes, including The Prince's Trust, of which he's an ambassador.

Often plays characters who write either novels, plays, poetry or other literary works.

His Swiss wife, Maria Dolores Diéguez, was an internationally successful model and came in 3rd at the Miss Switzerland 2003 contest. They began their relationship in summer 2005 and married in Tuscany in August 2009.

Was the first choice for the role of Lord Darlington in Mike Barker's Good Woman - Ein Sommer in Amalfi (2004), starring Helen Hunt and Scarlett Johansson. Turned it down to play Bassanio in Michael Radford's adaptation of William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" (2004).

Attended art school in Suffolk, England at the age of 17.

Lost 21 pounds in order to play POW Major Gibson in The Great Raid - Tag der Befreiung (2005).

As of 2018, the only two films he appeared in that were nominated for Best Picture Oscars, Shakespeare in Love (1998) and Elizabeth (1998), were both released in 1998. Shakespeare in Love won in the category.

Chosen as one of the 50 most sexiest stars by People-magazine in 1999.

Was considered to play the role of The Abbe du Coulmier in Quills - Macht der Besessenheit (2000), alongside twice co-star and friend Geoffrey Rush.

Graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London) in 1993.

Was offered the leading role in Francis Ford Coppola's Jugend ohne Jugend (2007).

Reunited with former co-star Gwyneth Paltrow in the film Krass (2006). The two previously worked together during Shakespeare in Love (1998).

Reported to have been in talks with Bernardo Bertolucci to star in a film based on the life of 16th-century artist Gesualdo da Venosa.

Uncle of Hero Fiennes Tiffin.

Ex-brother-in-law of Alex Kingston.

Nominated for the 2018 Emmy Award in the Supporting Actor in a Drama Series category for his role as Fred Waterford in The Handmaid's Tale: Der Report der Magd (2017), but lost to Peter Dinklage from Game of Thrones (2011).

Was due to play Iago in the West End in a production of "Othello" back in 2001, which was to be directed by Michael Grandage, after having successfully teamed up with the director in Christopher Marlowe's "Edward II", where Fiennes played the title role.

Tipped to star as Lord Byron on film, after having played the poet for the BBC radio series 'Byron's Women'.

Was tipped to play mountaineer George Mallory on film (2001).

Tipped to play a father in search of his young son in the period thriller Jeremy Brock.

(2002-2003) Met Filipina-Australian girlfriend Natalie Mendoza in Queensland, Australia, while filming The Great Raid - Tag der Befreiung (2005) in 2002. He got her to take acting classes at the Bristol Old Vic, and move in with him to Notting Hill, West London in September 2002.

Is reported to have been in talks to re-unite with Gwyneth Paltrow in a new British-backed production of John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi.

While it is already mentioned how Fiennes' characters in Shakespeare in Love (1998) and Elizabeth (1998) were both married and cheating on their wives, there is more. Both the characters failed to tell their lovers that he was married, and both the lovers found out from someone else.

Brother-in-law of George Tiffin.

He got the part in Shakespeare in Love after the original plan with Daniel Day Lewis fell apart.

He's the youngest of 7.

Joseph Fiennes auditioned for Obi wan Kenobi in Star Wars the phantom menace and very nearly got the part but apparently George Lucas's daughter didn't think he was right for the role. So the role of Obi wan Kenobi went to Scottish actor Ewan McGregor.