Mind your head, he calls to a visitor about to be knocked out by a low beam.
Is this divine intervention?
And Fiennes first Best Actor nomination was for Anthony MinghellasThe English Patient.
(L-R) Director Edward Berger and Ralph Fiennes on the set of ‘Conclave’Philippe Antonello/Focus Features
And Fiennes wears the garb effortlessly.
Oftentimes, some actors look ill-suited to wear ancient attire.
That was way back.
I think we read the soul of the actor there, Fiennes says.
And for Fiennes, That speech was a gift, he says.
It was in the book and its in the script.
I think everyone felt it was a wonderful intelligent provocation about the nature of belief and faith.
I think all the importance of tolerance, is never more important in the world than right now.
I was about 13, but Ive never lost curiosity about faith, about any spiritual path.
Is that an illustration of the essence of Ralph Fiennes combining with the essence of Cardinal Lawrence?
It is hard to describe ones own essence, Fiennes says.
Because I think theres so many infinite ways that any part can be played.
And then what the director brings, the other actors bring.
When I was younger, it was, There must be the answer to this part.
How do I suppose, for want of a better word, nail it?
But you realize you cant ever nail anything.
You just have to be open.
And so you have to be present.
How do you keep open in life?
Hopefully, with my screen partner recently, the wonderful Indira [Varma], theres a dance.
If you dance with someone, you have to feel their energy, their pulse.
He appeared in a dozen RSC productions.
Sam Mendes directed him inTroilus and Cressida, opposite Amanda Root and Simon Russell Beale.
He also played a striking Edmund in Nicholas Hytners production ofKing Lear.
Set in a fictional Yorkshire town during World War II, it also stars Russell Beale.
The Choralis in post, asis Danny Boyles28 Years Later,filmed in North Yorkshire.
Of the latter, Fiennes says, Its about an England full of infected people.
Im not one of them, he says laughing.
Theres little more hes willing to say for fear of the producers knee-capping him.
I can tell you theres a fantastic set built out of bones, he teases.
Later, in August, hell direct Harriet Walter and Gloria Obianyo inAs You Like It.
Come October, Fiennes will star in Rebecca Lenkiewiczs playSmall Hotel, staged by Holly Race-Roughan.
No, I dont think that.
Never is it cheating, he says.
So its not cheating.
After that, you cant do it.
I mean you’re able to indicate or you’re able to do a goodish job.
He mentions the Hungarian director Istvan Szabo, who won a Best International Film Oscar forMephisto.
Fiennes starred in his epic 1999 movie,Sunshine.
He wanted to capture the virgin take where he would say, like, like rehearse.
Youve just gotten that one chance.
When we first see him as Cardinal Lawrence inConclave, Fiennes is walking with such an energy and purpose.
Was a sense of purpose for Lawrence discussed with Berger, whom Fiennes calls a dream director?
I remember Edward saying, Youve got the call, youve got to get there.
Actually scenes were cut out where Lawrence wakes up and hes aware somethings happened.
And so it was that momentum that was important, and I think that was something Edward encouraged.
Lawrence is highly alert to everything thats going on.
Fiennes is getting ready to leave now.
Theres an air of momentum about him for sure, as he has another appointment to get to tonight.
But before he goes, is there any other character that he equates to Cardinal Lawrence?
Ive never played him, but he watches and he listens while incognito, he says.
