Ralph Fiennes is widely known by fans for his villain role in the Harry Potter films, but the actor is one of the most prolific stage performers of this generation. He has starred in numerous theater performances, most notably in the adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
The 1995 play saw Fiennes star in the titular role of Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark. Accidents really do happen on stage, and fortunately, no one was hurt in this case. And, like all live performances, the show must go on.
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Ralph Fiennes Confessed Stage Accident That Almost Injured Audience
Ralph Fiennes shared via The Graham Norton Show a mishap that happened way back in 1995 when he starred in the stage production of Hamlet. The English Patient actor said:
“Well, there’s one performance where Damian Lewis was playing Laertes, and we had a fight choreographed by a wonderful fight director called Bill Hobbs, famous director brilliant man. Anyway, one night, one of these rapiers broke, and that blade spun out into the audience, and we all froze, and I remember saying, having been full-voiced for the performance, “Is everyone alright?’”
The audience responded that they were fine, and so the show needed to go on. Fiennes noted how the production staff were ready to get a new blade for the actors. He continued:
“What was interesting was the company around us, everyone just leapt back in to get another blade from the wings, and – boom – we just started to fight again. It was really interesting to see how suddenly a whole company just goes and just carries on.”
The accident was a very dangerous one as it could have impaled an audience member, and Fiennes was very concerned it might have hurt someone. He made sure everyone was okay before getting on with the fight again.
Ralph Fiennes Won Tony Award For His Hamlet Performance
Ralph Fiennes proved his acting prowess and talent in Jonathan Kent’s Hamlet after winning a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play in 1995. At this time, he was already an established performer following his work on Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List (1993). In accepting his award, Fiennes said (via YouTube):
“This is a great honor. I salute my fellow nominees. There would be no production of Hamlet without the following people… especially Jonathan Kent, the director, and the wonderful cast of Hamlet. I am very blessed and lucky to be working with them. Jonathan, you’re my heart’s friend. Thank you. The rest is silence.”
Fiennes’ other film credits include The Grand Budapest Hotel, The King’s Man, and No Time To Die.
