Editing Ralph Fiennes (section)

=== 2005–2011: ''Harry Potter'' and stardom ===
In 2005, Fiennes starred in [[Fernando Meirelles]]'s ''[[The Constant Gardener (film)|The Constant Gardener]]'', a film based off the [[The Constant Gardener|2001 novel of the same name]] by [[John le Carré]] acting alongside [[Rachel Weisz]].<ref name="actors" /> The film is set in [[Kenya]]. It was filmed in part with residents from the slums of [[Kibera]] and [[Loiyangalani]]. The film received critical acclaim in particular for Fiennes and Weisz's performances. Todd McCarthy of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote that "Fiennes does some of his finest screen acting" in the film.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2005/film/awards/the-constant-gardener-3-1200523872/|title= The Constant Gardener|website= Variety|date= 15 August 2005|accessdate= February 24, 2025}}</ref> He received a [[British Academy Film Award]] nomination for [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|Best Actor in a Leading Role]]. The situation affected the cast and crew to such an extent that they set up the [[Constant Gardener Trust]] to provide basic education for children of these villages. Fiennes is a patron of the charity.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.constantgardenertrust.org/html/patrons.htm| title=Constant Gardener Trust – Patrons| publisher=UNICEF| access-date=10 April 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316234711/http://www.constantgardenertrust.org/html/patrons.htm| archive-date=16 March 2008| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Fiennes is also a patron of the [[Shakespeare Schools Festival]], a charity that enables school children across the UK to perform Shakespeare in professional theatres.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shakespeareschools.org/about-us/patrons |title=Shakespeare Schools Foundation Patrons |website=Shakespeare Schools Foundation |publisher=[[Shakespeare Schools Foundation]] |access-date=9 July 2021 |archive-date=11 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211165434/https://www.shakespeareschools.org/about-us/patrons |url-status=dead }}</ref> That same year, Fiennes voiced Lord Victor Quartermaine in the 2005 stop-motion animated comedy ''[[Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit]]''. The role saw him play a cruel upper class [[wikt:bounder|bounder]] who courts Lady Tottington ([[Helena Bonham Carter]]) and despises [[Wallace & Gromit]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=DeMott|first1=Rick|title=Wallace & Gromit Leads Annie Nominations|url=http://www.awn.com/news/wallace-gromit-leads-annie-nominations|publisher=Animation World Network|access-date=14 September 2019|date=5 December 2005|archive-date=18 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618021055/https://www.awn.com/news/wallace-gromit-leads-annie-nominations|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Maressa|title='Wallace & Gromit' grabs 10 Annie Awards|url=https://variety.com/2006/digital/awards/wallace-gromit-grabs-10-annie-awards-1117937443/|access-date=14 September 2019|work=Variety|date=5 February 2008|archive-date=2 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202203015/https://variety.com/2006/digital/awards/wallace-gromit-grabs-10-annie-awards-1117937443/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Ralph Fiennes retouched.jpg|thumb|upright|Fiennes in New York City, 2006]]
Fiennes gained worldwide prominence for his portrayal as [[Lord Voldemort]], the antagonist in the [[Harry Potter franchise]]. His first appearance was in the 2005 fantasy film [[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'']]. He returned to the role for three other films in the series: [[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)|''Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'']] (2007) and both ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1]]'' (2010) and ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2|Part 2]]'' (2011). In an interview with ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]'' magazine, Fiennes said his portrayal of Voldemort was an "instinctive, visceral, physical thing".<ref>{{cite news |title=Ralph Fiennes didn't receive Voldemort tips from J.K Rowling |url=https://www.datathistle.com/article/106928-ralph-fiennes-didnt-receive-voldemort-tips-from-j-k-rowling/ |access-date=20 March 2019 |publisher=Data Thistle |archive-date=4 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704215830/https://www.datathistle.com/article/106928-ralph-fiennes-didnt-receive-voldemort-tips-from-j-k-rowling/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In a 2024 interview with [[Collider (website)|Collider]], Fiennes expanded on playing the character saying, "When I play Voldemort, I'm trying to access something without empathy. It's about power and control and the manipulating of people for power. It's a real, almost erotic pleasure in how I can control you. I know I have the power to do it. You have no chance."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://collider.com/harry-potter-voldemort-ralph-fiennes-reaction-20-years-later/|title= "It's a Real, Almost Erotic Pleasure": Ralph Fiennes Reflects on Voldemort's Malignant Presence in the 'Harry Potter' Films|website= Collider|date= 31 December 2024|accessdate= February 24, 2025}}</ref>

In 2006, Fiennes returned to the stage in ''[[Faith Healer]]'' alongside [[Ian McDiarmid]]. The revival premiered at the [[Gate Theatre]] in [[Dublin]] before transferring to the [[Broadway theatre|Broadway stage]] at the [[Booth Theatre]]. For his performances, Fiennes received a [[Tony Award]] nomination for [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play|Best Actor in a Play]]. In 2008, he worked with frequent collaborator director [[Jonathan Kent (director)|Jonathan Kent]], playing the title role in ''[[Oedipus Rex|Oedipus the King]]'' by [[Sophocles]], at the [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]] in London.

In 2008, he played the [[William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire|Duke of Devonshire]] in the film [[The Duchess (film)|''The Duchess'']] opposite [[Keira Knightley]]; he also played the protagonist in ''[[The Reader (2008 film)|The Reader]],'' adapted from [[The Reader|the novel of the same name]] alongside [[Kate Winslet]]. That same year he also appeared in [[Martin McDonagh]]'s [[black comedy]] crime thriller ''[[In Bruges]]'' starring [[Colin Farrell]] and [[Brendan Gleeson]]. In February 2009, Fiennes was the special guest of the [[Belgrade]]'s Film Festival [[FEST (Belgrade)|FEST]]. He filmed [[Coriolanus (film)|his version]] of Shakespeare's ''[[Coriolanus]]'' (in his directorial debut) in the Serbian capital of Belgrade. Fiennes reunited with [[Kathryn Bigelow]] for her [[Iraq War]] film ''[[The Hurt Locker]],'' released in 2009, appearing as an English Private Military Contractor. They had previously worked together on ''[[Strange Days (film)|Strange Days]]'' (1995). In April 2010, he played [[Hades]] in ''[[Clash of the Titans (2010 film)|Clash of the Titans]]'', a remake of the 1981 film of the same name.