5 Ralph Fiennes Villain Roles (Besides Lord Voldemort)

Ralph Fiennes has proved time and time again that he's a versatile actor. He can do it all, and he can't do no wrong with any role he's assigned to. But for me, the most interesting roles of any actor are those where they completely lose themselves in an evil character. These kinds of roles specifically show one's range.

And you can really see that Fiennes does enjoy finding dark corners in every character he plays. In an interview to The New Yorker he said:

“You have to go to that really bleak place to understand your humanity.”

Fiennes' portrayal of Lord Voldemort is brilliant, but it's just the tip of the iceberg. He has so many more villainous roles behind his back and not a lot of people talk about them. That's why today I'm taking you through 5 of my personal favorite villains that Ralph Fiennes brought to life.

Amon Goeth in Schindler's List (1993)

The American Film Institute ranked Ralph Fiennes as Amon Goeth as the 15th greatest villain in cinema history ever.

Amon Goeth was truly a role that changed everything for Fiennes. He delivered a performance so chilling it earned him an Oscar nomination and a BAFTA win. The most disturbing aspect of this performance for me is probably the casual acts of violence performed with frightening normalcy.

In an interview to Ain't It Cool, Fiennes reflected on this career-defining role, saying:

“The part was great, and working with Steven Spielberg was great. I still remember the shooting days. I made a great friend in Liam Nesson. And I did not asked to play Nazis afterwards. I wasn't only known as playing Nazis after that.”

Pay this masterpiece a revisit or watch it for the first time ever on Netflix, Fandango at Home, Amazon Video or Apple TV+.

Victor Quartermaine in Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

If you think villains can't be funny, this one will change your mind.

In Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Fiennes proves he can be just as menacing in animation as he is in live action (with a healthy dose of British humor thrown in on top of that).

Quartermaine serves as the perfect foil to our heroes' mission. He's a trigger-happy hunter with zero respect for animals or laws whose primary motivation seems to be his own ego and greed. Fiennes brings a delicious aristocratic snobbery mixed with some cartoonishly villain to the character. And does a fantastic job (as per usual).

You can find this family-friendly clay animation on Spectrum, Fandango at Home, Amazon Video or Apple TV+.

Harry Waters in In Bruges (2008)

Okay, this one's a bit different, and by different I mean absolutely wild. Fiennes plays Harry Waters, a London powerful gangster with a very specific code of ethics.

This dark comedy follows two hitmen (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) hiding out after a job gone wrong. Waters, their boss, brings the storm to their temporary haven.

Waters is a fascinating contradiction: a family man with a strict moral code who also happens to be a ruthless killer. His explosive temper and interesting vocabulary choices create some of the film's most memorable moments.

In Bruges is currently available on Apple TV+. Do yourself a favor and free your schedule for this one.

Raiden the Moon King in Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

Returning to animation in Kubo and the Two Strings, Fiennes voices the Moon King, proving once again that he doesn't need his physical presence to create an unforgettable villain.

In this stunning adventure, Fiennes brings to life a character who appears wise and collected on the surface, but harbors a deeply sinister agenda. His performance is particularly effective because of how he reveals the character's true nature, making the Moon King's eventual unveiling as the story's primary antagonist all the more impactful.

Kubo and the Two Strings is available right now on Netflix, Spectrum, Fandango at Home, Amazon Video and Apple TV+.

Professor Moriarty in Holmes & Watson (2018)

This is a great classic villain to wrap up this already packed list.

While the movie itself might not have been everyone's cup of tea (let's be real here), Fiennes still manages to bring his signature class to this comedic version of the infamous criminal mastermind.

Even in a comedy that doesn't take itself too seriously, Fiennes gets his Moriarty this menacing feel we've come to expect from him. Despite the film's mixed reception, Fiennes clearly had fun with the role, and it shows in every scene he's in.

You can catch this different take on the classic villain on Spectrum, Fandango at Home, Amazon Video or Apple TV+.