5 Best Ralph Fiennes Roles Besides Voldemort, Ranked from Just Good to Brilliant

Ralph Fiennes' most famous role is undoubtedly that of Voldemort in the Harry Potter saga. But if you only know the actor in a ton of makeup and without a nose, you are missing a great deal.

Ralph Fiennes is one of the most outstanding actors of our time, who transformed himself to charismatic villains, desperate romantics, and charming concierges.

5. The Constant Gardener (2005) – Justin Quayle

Ralph Fiennes' character, diplomat Justin, travels to Kenya where his wife, young journalist Tessa, is investigating a pharmaceutical company. Justin prefers not to get involved in his wife's business, but everything changes when Tessa is killed. And diplomat starts his own investigation.

This role became one of the best works in Fiennes' filmography – he turned into a heartbroken, vengeful widower. Once again, he managed to subtly reveal the character, which earned the actor a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor and an award at the London Film Festival.

4. Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights (1992) – Heathcliff

Ralph Fiennes' acting career began in 1987 when he joined the National Theatre. A few years later, Fiennes made his television debut in the show Prime Suspect, and in 1992, he appeared on the big screen in Wuthering Heights, based on the novel by Emily Brontë, playing the role of Heathcliff.

The action of the movie takes place in the dark moors of North Yorkshire. Many years ago, a local landowner, Mr. Earnshaw, the owner of Wuthering Heights, took in a dying gypsy boy, named him Heathcliff, and raised him as his own son. After the owner's death, the relatives turned the foundling into a slave. Heathcliff's only support came from the late Earnshaw's daughter, Catherine.

3. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) – Monsieur Gustave

Between Voldemort in Harry Potter and Monsieur Gustave in The Grand Budapest Hotel, Ralph Fiennes portrayed the Duke of Devonshire in The Duchess, the lead role in The Reader, and took part in the black comedy In Bruges. But it is the role of the receptionist in Wes Anderson's film that critics call one of the actor's best works: it was awarded many prizes, including nominations for the BAFTA and Golden Globe Awards.

The events of the movie take place in the fictional country of Zubrowka, where an aristocrat dies under mysterious circumstances. Her numerous relatives hope to receive an inheritance, but the most valuable item in the deceased's collection, the painting Boy with Apple, goes to Monsieur Gustave.

2. The English Patient (1996) – Almasy

The film, which won numerous awards including nine Oscars, is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Ondaatje. In the story, a young nurse cares for an English-accented man injured in a plane crash during World War II. Gradually, he remembers the past and shares his love story with a married woman.

The movie became so famous that even the actors' belongings were auctioned off. For example, the shirt worn by Ralph Fiennes in the movie sold for £1,300 at a charity auction.

1. Schindler’s List (1993) – Amon Goeth

And of course, this list could not be complete without one of the greatest films in history, directed by Steven Spielberg. The role in the historical drama brought Ralph Fiennes worldwide fame, an Oscar nomination and a BAFTA award. The image of SS officer Amon Goeth created by the actor shocked not only ordinary viewers, but also film critics around the world. It's no surprise that his performance was ranked 15th on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 greatest movie villains.

According to the plot, German businessman Oskar Schindler is developing his factory during the Holocaust and recruits cheap labor – Jews from the ghetto. Soon, however, Officer Goeth arrives and is faced with one task – to destroy all the Jews.