TMS Spotlight: My Longtime Fangirl Crush on Ralph Fiennes
(via pinterest)
Back in the early 2000s, matinee idols Josh Hartnett and Orlando Bloom were the most popular celebrity crushes of my generation. Two dudes even then I didn’t really see the big deal about. While every girl on campus was swooning over Orlando as Legolas in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-03), I didn’t see the appeal of the Brit until he got rid of his famous blonde locks in Gore Verbinski’s Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy (2003-07). With Josh, two things come to mind: his bad haircut in Robert Rodriguez’s The Faculty (1998) and his wig in Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides (1999). Needless to say, I was not obsessed with these young men like most of the girls in my peer group. My crushes never really veered toward pretty boys, but probably the closest I got was English character actor and award winner Ralph Fiennes. Ralph’s career has always been fascinating to me. He’s as good looking as Leo DiCaprio or Bradley Cooper, yet has never achieved the superstardom. Though he’s not lacking respect from the film industry and critics either.
Like a lot of people, my introduction to Ralph’s acting was Steven Spielberg’s WWII classic Schindler’s List (1993). I think the first movie featuring the actor I really remember seeing was DreamWorks’ The Prince of Egypt (1998). But at the time, 9-year-old me had no idea who was voicing Rameses. Schindler’s List was the first time I remember seeing the name ‘Ralph Fiennes’ on movie credits. I was 15, and like a lot of teen girls who watch Spielberg’s B&W war drama, I was disturbed not only by all of the horrible historical moments portrayed on screen; but also that the filmmaker chose to have the most evil person in the story—SS functionary Amon Göth—played by someone handsome. Something about the juxtaposition transfixed me and made me want to see more of him, especially in color. Fortunately, the next two movies I sought out were much more comfortable viewing: Robert Redford’s Quiz Show (1994) and Kathryn Bigelow’s Strange Days (1995). The former was where Ralph played the real life, morally naïve—though technically guilty—quiz show contestant Charles van Doren; and the latter a flashy futuristic crime flick with Ralph playing a former cop turned virtual bootlegger. In these two movies I could appreciate the performances, talent and good looks without feeling emotionally conflicted.
(via bafta.org)
By the time the early 2000s were over, I was a bit tiffed most of my generation was associating Ralph as the villain Voldemort in the last five Harry Potter film adaptations (2005-2011). Yes, it looked like he was having a blast hamming it up and making use of the prosthetic make-up. But this is the same man who won a Tony for a 1995 Broadway production of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and was nominated for Academy Awards with Schindler’s List and Anthony Minghella’s The English Patient (1996). Surely his work in David Cronenberg’s Spider (2002), Fernando Meirelles’ The Constant Gardener (2005), Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) and Luca Guadagnino’s A Bigger Splash (2015) is what his legacy should be based on. We can also see his versatility in lighter material like Wayne Wang’s Maid in Manhattan (2002) and Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges (2008); as well as portraying the most recent iteration of M in the James Bond franchise (2012-21).
Over time, I let go of my chagrin on the Voldemort association, which was easy to do since The Grand Budapest Hotel was released three years after David Yates’ Harry Potter & the Deathly Hollows, Pt. 2 (2011). Ralph continues to perform steadily these days and seems fine taking the backseat in supporting roles, such as in Simon Stone’s The Dig (2021); and has experimented with directing like with Coriolanus (2011), The Invisible Woman (2013) and The White Crow (2018). Ironically, Ralph’s closest famous friend is Schindler’s co-star Liam Neeson. His tight-knit family includes younger brother and fellow actor Joseph; sisters Martha and Sophie [both filmmakers]; and nephew Hero, lead star of the After films (2019-22). One thing that’s always nice with a favorite artist or celebrity is when their personal life isn’t a trainwreck; so your perception of their craft isn’t possibly tainted. In Ralph’s case, he’s had very little bad press beyond ex-wife, actress Alex Kingston, throwing him under the bus by revealing how their marriage ended in 1997; and a cringe-inducing scandal involving a flight attendant ten years later. He’s a bachelor nowadays, but unlike most male celebrities who lean toward dating young women, the Englishman actually prefers to be involved with women his age or older. Imagine my disappointment when I learned this as a teenager [although now as an adult, I find the preference refreshing].
Talent and good art aren’t a popularity contest. But there’s something special about your celebrity crush not being a major star and feeling like you really are his biggest fan. Oh, and in case you don’t know. It’s spelled ‘Ralph,’ but pronounced ‘Rafe.’