A Brief Biography of Joseph Fiennes

Last Update: 13 May 2004

Full name: Joseph Alberic Fiennes
DOB: May 27, 1970
Joseph is a twin, his fraternal brother is Jacob Mark (a gamekeeper)
Birthplace: Salisbury Wiltshire, England

Height: 6.0 ft (1.83m)
Weight: 161 lb (73.03kg)
Eye Colour: Hazel
Hair Colour: Dark Brown

Education: Young Vic Youth Theatre (18 months);
Guildhall School of Music and Drama

Special Skills (* = highly skilled): Jazz dancing, Modern dancing, Period dancing, Tenor, Archery*, Fencing*, Horse Riding*, Swimming*, Car license, Motorbike license

Accents (* = native): Dorset*, Lancashire, London, Suffolk, West Country, Wiltshire, Standard American, Southern Irish, Italian

Agency: Ken McReddie Ltd, 91 Regent St, London, W1R 7TB ENGLAND

He was brought up in West Cork, Ireland. After leaving art school, he worked with the Young Vic Youth Theatre, and then went on to train at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

His first professional stage appearance was in the West End in THE WOMAN IN BLACK, followed by A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY, opposite Helen Mirren, directed by Bill Bryden.

He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company for two seasons. During that time, he performed roles in Dennis Potter's SON OF MAN, LES ENFANTS DU PARADIS (directed by Simon Callow), TROILUS AND CRESSIDA, and Peter Whelan's award-winning THE HERBAL BED.

Fiennes made his film debut as Willy in THE VACILLATIONS OF POPPY CAREW. He hit stardom in John Madden’s SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, which won Best Picture at the Academy Awards for 1998.

Family

Ralph Nathaniel Fiennes (b. 22 Dec 1962)
Martha Maria Fiennes (b. 1964)
Magnus Hubert Fiennes (b. 1965)
Sophia Victoria Fiennes (b. 1967)
Jacob Mark Fiennes (b. 27 May 1970)
Michael Emery (b. 31 Dec 1952) been with the family since he was 11.

His sister Martha is a director of music videos and commercials.
Then his brother Magnus, a musician and composer.
His other sister Sophie, a free-lance stage and film producer.
Then came Joseph and his TWIN BROTHER Jacob, who is a gamekeeper.
Then his foster brother Michael, known as Mick, who they took in when he was11, who is an archaeologist.
His mother's name was Jini, and she died of breast cancer in 1993. She wrote poetry, novels, and painted.
His father's name is Mark, who worked on sheep farms in Australia and Texas, was a tenant farmer in England, and taught himself photography.
They moved around a lot when they were growing up.

Return to The Compleat Joseph Fiennes Main Page