Fiennes Brothers: Top 12 Roles from ‘Schindler’s List’ to ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’

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The Fiennes Brothers

The Fiennes Brothers
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ (2017)
‘Urban Myths’ (2017)
‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ (2014)
‘American Horror Story: Asylum’ (2013)
‘Bernard and Doris’ (2008)
‘Harry Potter Series’ (2005-2011)
‘Enemy at the Gates’ (2001)
‘Shakespeare in Love’ (1998)
‘Elizabeth’ (1998)
‘The English Patient’ (1996)
‘Hamlet’ (1995)
‘Schindler’s List’ (1993)
More celebrities’ top roles galleries

Great Britain’s favorite acting brothers Ralph Fiennes (older) and Joseph Fiennes (younger) have been working steadily for decades in film, television and on stage. Though they have never appeared in a project together, the siblings have separately appeared in a staggering eight films nominated at the Oscars for Best Picture, of which four have won. Click through our photo gallery above that highlights the Top 12 Fiennes brothers roles to date.

-By Amanda Spears

Joseph Fiennes

Set in a dystopian future, a woman is forced to live as a concubine under a fundamentalist theocratic dictatorship. Joseph plays the Commander who more than bends the rules of fraternization with his house’s handmaid, Offred (Elisabeth Moss).

Joseph Fiennes

Joseph appeared in the TV episode titled “Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon.” The episode takes place during a road trip after the 9/11 attacks, following Michael Jackson (Fiennes), Elizabeth Taylor (Stockard Channing) and Marlon Brando (Brian Cox) as they travel from New York City to Los Angeles.

Ralph Fiennes

Wes Anderson’s tale of M. Gustave H. (Ralph), a legendary concierge at a famous hotel from the fictional Republic of Zubrowka between the first and second World Wars. Gustave aims to please by any means necessary especially when it comes to Madame D (Tilda Swinton). When she dies mysteriously, Gustave finds himself the recipient of a priceless painting and the chief suspect in her murder.

This is a rare comedic performance from Ralph, who agreed to die his hair blonde for the role.

Golden Globe Nomination: Best Comedy Actor

SAG Award Nomination: Best Film Ensemble

Joseph Fiennes

“Asylum” was set in 1964 at the Briarcliff Mental Institution founded by Monsignor Timothy Howard (Joseph) and is maintained with the help of Sister Jude Martin (Jessica Lange) and Sister Mary Eunice (Lily Rabe) where they treat the criminally insane.

Ralph Fiennes

The twilight years of tobacco billionairess Doris Duke (Susan Sarandon) and her relationship with her homosexual butler Bernard Lafferty (Ralph), to whom she left her entire fortune.

Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award Nomination: Best Movie/Mini Actor

Ralph Fiennes

Ralph played the infamous, much reviled villain Lord Voldemort, the evil wizard that killed the title characters parents. He appeared in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” (2005), “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” (2007), “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” (2010) and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” (2011).

Joseph Fiennes

Two Russians Vassili Zaitsev (Jude Law) and commissar Danilov (Joseph) and a German sniper Major König (Ed Harris) play a game of cat-and-mouse during the Battle of Stalingrad. But Zaitsev and Danilov become distracted as they both become interested romantically in Tania (Rachel Weisz).

Joseph Fiennes

A young Shakespeare (Joseph), out of ideas and short of cash, meets his ideal woman Viola (Gwyneth Paltrow) and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays.

This was the second movie where Colin Firth’s character had his love interest prefer the company of one of the Fiennes Brothers. The first was “The English Patient” (1996). This is the only Oscar Best Picture winner Joseph appeared in; he also starred in “Elizabeth” which was also nominated for Best Picture in 1998.

SAG Award Win: Best Film Ensemble

BAFTA and SAG Award Nomination: Best Actor

Joseph Fiennes

A depiction of the early years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England (Cate Blanchett) and her difficult task of learning what is necessary to be a monarch she must deal with her council of advisors attempts to marry her off, the Catholic hatred of her and her romance with Lord Robert Dudley (Joseph).

Joseph also appeared in “Shakespeare in Love” which won the Oscar for Best Picture over “Elizabeth.”

Ralph Fiennes

At the close of WWII, a young nurse Hana (Juliette Binoche) attends to a badly burned plane crash victim (Ralph). His past is shown in flashbacks, revealing an involvement in a fateful love affair (Kristin Scott Thomas).

This is the second of three Oscar Best Picture winners Ralph has appeared, in the other two being “The Hurt Locker” (2009) and “Schindler’s List” (1993).

Oscar, Golden Globe (Drama), BAFTA and SAG Award Nomination: Best Actor. 

SAG Award Nomiation: Best Film Ensemble 

Ralph Fiennes

Ralph first experienced success in London at the Royal National Theater for his ability to interpret Shakespeare so it was fitting that he made his Broadway debut playing the infamous Danish Prince.

Ralph made history as the first and to date the only Tony Award winner for Best Actor in a Play for his portrayal of the titular character succeeding where fellow Brits Richard Burton (1964) and Jude Law (2010) failed.

Tony Award Win: Best Actor in a Play

Ralph Fiennes

During World War II, Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazi Germans. Director Steven Spielberg cast Ralph after seeing him in the TV Movie “Great Performances: “A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia” (1992).

This is the first of three Oscar Best Picture winners Ralph has appeared in, the other two being “The Hurt Locker” (2009) and “The English Patient” (1996).

Oscar and Golden Globe Nomination: Best Supporting Actor

BAFTA Award Win: Best Supporting Actor.

Also Won: New York Film Critics Circle, Boston Society of Film Critics, Chicago Film Critics Association, London Critics Circle and National Society of Film Critics Awards for Best Supporting Actor.

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