Joseph Fiennes life and biography

Joseph Fiennes is an English film and stage actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayals of William Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love, Sir Robert Dudley in Elizabeth, Commisar Danilov in Enemy at the Gates, Martin Luther in Luther, and his portrayal of Mark Benford in the 2009 TV series FlashForward.

Fiennes was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England in 1970, the son of novelist Jennifer Lash and photographer Mark Fiennes. He is a third cousin once removed of Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Bt., eighth cousin twice removed of HRH The Prince of Wales and 3rd cousin 14 times removed of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. He is also 14th great-grandson of James IV of Scotland, 25th great-grandson of William the Conqueror, 27th great-grandson of Brian Boru, 28th great-grandson of Harold Godwinson, 28th great-grandson of Hugh Capet and 32nd great-grandson of Charlemagne. The youngest of six siblings, his elder siblings are actor Ralph Fiennes, filmmakers Sophie Fiennes and Martha Fiennes, composer Magnus Fiennes, and conservationist Jacob Fiennes, his twin brother. His foster brother, Michael Emery, is an archaeologist.

His first professional stage appearance was in the West End in The Woman In Black, followed by A Month In The Country. He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company for two seasons and performed roles in Dennis Potter's Son Of Man, Les Enfants Du Paradis, Troilus and Cressida, and Peter Whelan's The Herbal Bed.

Filmography:

You Me and Captain Longbridge (2008)
Spring 1941 (2008)
Against the Current (2009)

Awards:

2005: Golden Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Comedy or Musical - The Merchant of Venice

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