Ralph Fiennes Receives Outstanding Performer Award at Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Guess what? It’s not pronounced “Ralf” but rather “Rafe.” This useful clarification started off the evening on Thursday, when Ralph Fiennes was honored with the Outstanding Performer of the Year award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF). It was just one of many fascinating (and useful!) things we learned about this accomplished and incredibly interesting actor.

Each question that moderator Scott Feinberg presented to Fiennes throughout the night was met with modesty and great consideration, and he had a way of making the packed Arlington Theater feel like an intimate space. At times it seemed that he had not reflected on a person or film for a long time, and he would lean forward in his chair, addressing the audience directly as if he were speaking with a close friend.

As usual, the tribute began with a visit back to Fiennes’ childhood and a look at the things that shaped him. He was one of six children (all who grew up to have prominent careers in the arts or academia). He mentioned his mother many times as the person who first sparked and encouraged his interest in theater, recalling, “She read to us, she took us to the theater, she took me to see my first Shakespeare experience which was going to see Laurence Olivier’s film of Henry V. And she just was fantastic at encouraging all her children to pursue what they believed in, as long as they did it thoroughly.”

He went on to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and established himself in the London theater world. He acknowledged that his first two forays into film acting were “inauspicious.” Steven Spielberg must have seen something promising, however, as he invited him to read for the role of Amon Goth in Schindler’s List, for which Fiennes won the BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actor.

He balanced film and theater work moving forward, taking on an incredible range of roles and genres. He is as well-known for his mastery of Shakespeare as he is for terrifying turn as Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter films.

Fiennes spoke about some of his most memorable experiences with directors. Among them was Spielberg, who he said worked in a dynamic way, and had an incredible knowledge of film. He also referred to David Cronenberg’s “economical” style, filming three takes at most of each scene.

One experience Fiennes spoke about at length was The English Patient (1996), and he emphasized his great admiration and affection for the late director Anthony Minghella. He recalled his “wonderful nurturing way of talking to actors and getting them to go a bit further, but being quite involved with speaking to actors in depth – a kind of intimacy of communication.” He noted that a film of that scale would not be made now due to the cost, and the length of the shoot (four months!). But he was immensely grateful for having had the opportunity to work on it, noting, “When I read books about filmmaking in the 50s and 60s – Laurence of Arabia, with long days on locations – this film was like that.”

Fiennes also talked about his own experience as a director. He directed Shakespeare’s Coriolanus (and played the title role) in 2011, and The White Crow, about Rudolf Nureyev’s defection to Paris, in 2018, among others. When asked about future directorial ventures, he confessed that, “The finance aspect of it, I found it very bruising, the uncertainty of it. I have loved many aspects of directing and working with actors and heads of department, but the anxiety of finance, if it’s an independent film, I have found really tough.”

In addition to romantic lead and tortured hero, Fiennes has played several comedic roles, such as the Cockney gangster Harry Waters in In Bruges (2008), and Monsieur Gustave H. in The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014). He has also played his share of villains. In addition to Amon Goth and Lord Voldemort, he was chilling as Chef Julian Slowik in The Menu (2022).

The review of Fiennes’ career concluded with a discussion of his role as Cardinal Thomas Lawrence in Conclave, for which he has been nominated for multiple awards. He discussed the challenge of playing such an interior role, where long close-ups have to capture the subtlest of emotional shifts.

When considering the part, he said, “Sometimes there’s a spirit in a screenplay, you go on a gut feeling about something, and you sort of have a feeling, dare I say it, where you go ‘I’m meant to do this.’ It doesn’t happen very often, but I had that feeling.”

The evening ended with an award presentation by Conclave director Edward Berger, who said, “Ralph, I learned so much from you, from your kindness, from your generosity, from your ability to listen. And I’m eternally grateful for the trust that you gave me on this film.”

In his heartfelt acceptance of the award, Fiennes said, “Life is fragile. And looking back at some of my work tonight with Scott, I just realized how profoundly lucky I’ve been to have had these opportunities and to have shared them with so many remarkable people.”

About the Santa Barbara International Film Festival

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is a celebrated venue for independent and international cinema. Over its 40-year history, SBIFF has grown into one of the leading film festivals in the United States, known for its commitment to community education and the arts. The festival not only showcases world-class filmmaking but also supports educational initiatives aimed at students and underserved communities within Santa Barbara County. For detailed information on films and events featured at the festival, please visit SBIFF’s official website.