Joseph Fiennes
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- May 27, 1970 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, UK
- Active Years
- 1995–2026 (32 Years)
- Total Credits
- 53 credits in database
Biography
Joseph Alberic Iscariot Twisleton‑Wykeham‑Fiennes, born 27 May 1970 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, is an English film and stage actor. He has appeared in a range of historical and contemporary productions, portraying William Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love, Sir Robert Dudley in Elizabeth, Commisar Danilov in Enemy at the Gates, Martin Luther in Luther, and Mark Benford in the 2009 television series FlashForward. His film work includes collaborations with Gwyneth Paltrow, Geoffrey Rush, Judi Dench and Tom Wilkinson in a critically acclaimed picture that earned a Screen Actors Guild Award for the ensemble. As of the latest records, he has accumulated 53 credited acting roles.
Career overview
Joseph Alberic Iscariot Twisleton‑Wykeham‑Fiennes was born on 27 May 1970 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. He is an English actor who works in both film and on the stage. His professional listings record more than fifty credited performances, reflecting a broad career in screen acting.
Fiennes is perhaps best known for portraying William Shakespeare in the 1998 romantic drama Shakespeare in Love and for playing Sir Robert Dudley in the historical film Elizabeth. He also appeared as Commisar Danilov in the World War II‑set drama Enemy at the Gates and took on the title role of Martin Luther in the biographical film Luther. In television, Fiennes starred as Mark Benford, the lead character of the 2009 series FlashForward. These roles have contributed to his recognition as a versatile performer in period pieces, historical dramas, and contemporary television.
Across his career, the actor’s credited work totals fifty‑three entries, encompassing a range of cinematic and televised projects. His body of work demonstrates a consistent presence in productions that explore historical figures and events, as well as modern speculative narratives.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
53 titles- Young Sherlock (2026) as Silas Holmes
- Dear England (2026) as Gareth Southgate
- Prisoner 951 (2025) as Richard Ratcliffe
- Fiennes: Return to the Wild (2024) as Self
- Royal Kill List (2024) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- National Theatre Live: Dear England (2024) as Gareth Southgate
- The Mother (2023) as Adrian
- Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg (2022) as Self
- Sherwood (2019) as Sheriff Nottingham
- Egypt with the World's Greatest Explorer (2019) as Self
- The Handmaid's Tale (2017) as Fred Waterford
- Risen (2016) as Clavius
- On Wings of Eagles (2016) as Eric Liddell
- Shakespeare Live! From the RSC (2016) as Self
- Strangerland (2015) as Matthew Parker
- Hercules (2014) as King Eurystheus
- The Games Maker (2014) as Morodian
- The Great British Year (2013) as Narrator
- Wild Kingdom (2013) as Narrator
- American Horror Story (2011) as Monsignor Timothy Howard
- Camelot (2011) as Merlin
- Shakespeare in the Present (2011)
- A Lost and Found Box of Human Sensation (2010) as Boy (voice)
- FlashForward (2009) as Mark Benford
- Against the Current (2009) as Paul Thompson
- The Red Baron (2008) as Captain Roy Brown
- The Escapist (2008) as Lenny Drake
- The Darwin Awards (2007) as Michael Burrows
- Goodbye Bafana (2007) as James Gregory
- Spring 1941 (2007) as Artur Planck
- Running with Scissors (2006) as Neil Bookman
- The Great Raid (2005) as Major Gibson
- Man to Man (2005) as Jamie Dodd
- The Merchant of Venice (2004) as Bassanio
- Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003) as Proteus (voice)
- Luther (2003) as Martin Luther
- Killing Me Softly (2002) as Adam
- Leo (2002) as Stephen
- Enemy at the Gates (2001) as Commisar Danilov
- Dust (2001) as Elijah
- Scary Movie (2000) as William Shakespeare (archival footage)
- Rancid Aluminium (2000) as Sean Deeny
- Forever Mine (1999) as Manuel Esquema / Alan Riply
- Teen Choice Awards (1999) as Self
- Shakespeare in Love (1998) as Will Shakespeare
- Elizabeth (1998) as Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester
- Animated Epics: Beowulf (1998) as Beowulf ( voice )
- The Very Thought of You (1998) as Laurence
- Elle Style Awards (1997) as Self - Winner
- Stealing Beauty (1996) as Christopher Fox
- The Vacillations of Poppy Carew (1995) as Willy
- Pretty/Handsome as Bob Fitzpayne
- The Way of the Wind
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Joseph Fiennes best known for?
Joseph Fiennes is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Young Sherlock (2026), The Mother (2023), Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed (2013), Egypt with the World's Greatest Explorer (2019).
When and where was Joseph Fiennes born?
Joseph Fiennes was born on May 27, 1970 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, UK.
How many credits does Joseph Fiennes have?
Joseph Fiennes has accumulated over 53 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1995 to 2026.
What is Joseph Fiennes's background in cinema and television?
Joseph Alberic Iscariot Twisleton‑Wykeham‑Fiennes, born 27 May 1970 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, is an English film and stage actor. He has appeared in a range of historical and contemporary productions, portraying William Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love, Sir Robert Dudley in Elizabeth, Commisar Danilov in Enem...
Joseph Fiennes by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Egypt with the World's Greatest Explorer (2019) as Self — aged about 49
- The Handmaid's Tale (2017) as Fred Waterford — aged about 47
- American Horror Story (2011) as Monsignor Timothy Howard — aged about 41
- Young Sherlock (2026) as Silas Holmes — aged about 56
- Enemy at the Gates (2001) as Commisar Danilov — aged about 31
- Elizabeth (1998) as Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester — aged about 28
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