Editing Ralph Fiennes (section)

== Early life and education ==
{{further|Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes family|Baron Saye and Sele}}

Fiennes was born in [[Ipswich]], England, on 22 December 1962.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ralph Fiennes |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2baa9c4878 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330130236/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2baa9c4878 |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 March 2016 |access-date=4 December 2022 |publisher=British Film Institute}}</ref> He is the eldest child of [[Mark Fiennes]] (1933–2004), a farmer and photographer, and [[Jennifer Lash]] (1938–1993), a writer.<ref name="Guardian">[https://www.theguardian.com/film/1999/nov/14/1 "It's Raiph actually"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823121137/https://www.theguardian.com/film/1999/nov/14/1 |date=23 August 2017 }}. ''[[The Guardian]]''. Retrieved 10 April 2008</ref> He is the grandson of [[Maurice Fiennes]], great-grandson of [[Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes family|Alberic Arthur Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes]], and great-great-grandson of [[Frederick Fiennes, 16th Baron Saye and Sele|Frederick Benjamin Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes]], 16th [[Baron Saye and Sele]].<ref name="burke">{{cite book |title=[[Burke's Peerage|Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood]] |publisher=Burke's Peerage & Gentry |year=2003 |isbn=0-9711966-2-1 |editor=Mosley, Charles |editor-link=Charles Mosley (genealogist) |edition=107 |ref=Burke}}</ref> His surname is of [[Normans|Norman]] origin.<ref name="actors">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_HKw3jYdLM James Lipton interview with Ralph Fiennes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610202202/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_HKw3jYdLM |date=10 June 2016 }}, on ''[[Inside the Actors Studio]]''</ref>

He is the eldest of six children. His siblings are actor [[Joseph Fiennes]]; director [[Martha Fiennes]] (he played the title role in her film ''[[Onegin (1999 film)|Onegin]]''); composer [[Magnus Fiennes]]; [[film director|filmmaker]] [[Sophie Fiennes]]; and [[conservation movement|conservationist]] Jacob Fiennes. His foster brother, Michael Emery, is an archaeologist. His nephew, [[Hero Fiennes Tiffin]], played Tom Riddle, young [[Lord Voldemort]], in ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Coggan |first1=Devan |title=Eddie Redmayne Auditioned to Play Tom Riddle in 'Harry Potter' |url=https://ew.com/article/2016/11/14/eddie-redmayne-tom-riddle-harry-potter-fantastic-beasts/ |access-date=23 December 2018 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=14 November 2016 |language=en |archive-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531134706/https://ew.com/article/2016/11/14/eddie-redmayne-tom-riddle-harry-potter-fantastic-beasts/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Fiennes studied painting at [[Chelsea College of Arts]] before deciding that acting was his true passion.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ralph Fiennes: 'Don't be complacent. Have the courage to speak your mind' |url=https://www.bigissue.com/culture/film/ralph-fiennes-dont-be-complacent-have-the-courage-to-speak-your-mind/ |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=Big Issue |archive-date=29 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241229011009/https://www.bigissue.com/culture/film/ralph-fiennes-dont-be-complacent-have-the-courage-to-speak-your-mind/ |url-status=live }}</ref>