Ralph Fienneshas long been celebrated as one of the most popular and acclaimed actors to hail from Britain, but even he has his misfires. Known for his commanding presence and intense performances, Fiennes first gained international recognition in the 1990s with his chilling portrayal of the Nazi war criminalAmon Göth in Steven Spielberg’sSchindler’s List, a role that earned him an Academy Award nomination and BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actor. He followed this success with another Oscar-nominated performance inThe English Patient, solidifying his reputation for taking on complex, dramatic characters.
Nonetheless, Fiennes' ability to balance commercial success with artistic projects has been a hallmark of his career. He brought a new energy to the iconic role of M in theJames Bondfranchise, beginning withSkyfallin 2012, and charmed audiences in Wes Anderson’s colorfulThe Grand Budapest Hotelas the whimsical and polished Gustave H. Most recently,Fiennes added another layered characterto his slate as Cardinal Lawrence in the tense political dramaConclave. Yet, despite his enduring success and acclaim, there was a point in the late 1990s when Fiennes feared his career might be over.
This 1998 Spy Film Made Ralph Fiennes Fear His Career Was Over
The Turkey Of All Turkeys
Fiennes revealed that his career had hit rock bottom following the critical and commercial failure of the 1998 satirical spy action filmThe Avengers. Starring alongside equally renowned actors Uma Thurman andSean Connery,The Avengerswas an adaptation of the cult 1960s British television series of the same name. While the original show was known for its quirky charm and offbeat spy adventures, the film failed to capture the same magic,earning a dismal5% on Rotten Tomatoesand quickly becoming a box office bomb.
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Reflecting on this period in an interview withVanity Fair,Fiennes explained howThe Avengers' reception left him feeling deeply uncertain about his future in acting. Despite Fiennes’ commitment to the role of John Steed, a bowler hat-wearing secret agent, the film was widely criticized for its incoherent plot, lackluster action sequences, and failure to honor the charm of its source material. Here’s what the actor had to say:
I was having a slightly up-and-down moment. I had done this big turkey: The Avengers, which wasthe turkey of all turkeys.They didn’t even have a premiere. They didn’t even have screenings. They just said, “Put it out and then shut your eyes.” And so I was literally thinking, as you do if that comes your way,Oh, my career is over.
This was a fantastic sort of antidote to the anxiety of what’s going to happen post-Avengers. I love [End of the Affair] author Graham Green. I love his warped characters and questions of morality. I just love him as an author. And so this came up, and it completely was the stuff I love in terms of English literature.
While the actor feared the fallout fromThe Avengersmight end his career,he soon found redemption by returning to the type of climactic rolesthat awarded him global acclaim in the first place. Fiennes went on to star inThe End of the Affairin 1999, a romantic drama that reaffirmed the actor’s talent and offered him an opportunity to dive into a project he could be proudly a part of.
Our Take On Ralph Fiennes’ Post-Avengers Redemption
Fiennes’ experience withThe Avengersshows how even the most renowned actors have faced setbacks in their illustrious careers. The 1990s were a pivotal timefor Ralph Fiennes movies, andThe Avengersserved as a reminder that not every big-budget project pays off. Nonetheless, instead of lettingThe Avengersdefine his trajectory,Fiennes focused on projects that realigned himself with his artistic sensibilities.
This period of uncertainty ultimately proved to be a turning point, helping the actor continue to build a legacy filled with compelling performances. From his early 2000s and 2010s work in theHarry Potterseries as Voldemort toSkyfallandThe Grand Budapest Hotel—and now with his Oscar-buzzy performance inConclave—Fiennesremains a testament to how a performer can weather even the harshest setbacks and emerge stronger.
The Avengers
Cast
The Avengers (1998) is a spy action film based on the 1960s British television series of the same name. Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik, the movie stars Ralph Fiennes as John Steed and Uma Thurman as Dr. Emma Peel. The plot revolves around Steed and Peel as they attempt to thwart Sir August de Wynter, played by Sean Connery, who seeks to control the world’s weather.
