by Ian Freer, Empire 1/99

Some actors flourish in interviews. They thrive on reminiscence, spout forth opinions and happily reveal their darkest demons, all in the name of latest movie promotion. Then, there is Joseph Fiennes.

"It feels completely alien to me," he admits about the actor-journalist scenario. "When you're doing publicity you can come across as a wanker because you sound like you want to tell the world everything. And I don't. I want to keep my thoughts to myself."

Still, if Fiennes is a reluctant interviewee, ensconced in a largish dressing room on the Shepperton Studios lot, he is a genial host, making Empire a cup of coffee (milk, no sugar) sharing part of his lunch (poached slamon sandwiches) and, through all the hesitancies, pondering and carefully couched responses, exhibiting genuine excitement about his lead duties as the young Bard in Shakespeare in Love.

"It's not museum costume drama," he enthuses, leaning forward in his fetching period finery to grab a sarnie. "I thought it was a brilliant way of depicting a man we know nothing about and humanising him and his world, stripping the myth away. It should engage, enrage and more. Hopefully it will."

Nearing the end of a 13 week shoot, Fiennes has spent the morning as Will striding down a vividly realised Elizabethan street pursued by Geoffrey Rush (as theatre owner Philip Henslowe) in comedy gait mode. For Fiennes, Shakespeare in Love has meant action ("There's lots of hacking blades. That's quite knackering"), canoodling with Gwyneth Paltrow dressed in drag ("She looks brilliant dressed as a boy, it surprised a lot of guys on set") and the challenge of portraying a literary icon.

"I'm sure that people around him knew he was a genius but had no idea he would have a company named after him and mugs with his picture on," he continues, scratching the requisite pointy beard. "He'd probably be horrified."

In conversation, Fiennes flits between diffidence and assurance, clearly serious minded but by no means the overly sensitive wuss type that plagues British acting. Talk turns to his first foray into acting: the lead role in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Aged six.

"I have very strong memories of Miss Wilkinson casting me in that. I just remember thinking she was a goddess. Of course, we weren't allowed to sing, we just had to mime so I did a lot of 'coat' acting."

Kickstarting his film career in Stealing Beauty ("I had to hang around a lot - which is no bad thing in Tuscany") followed by eyecatching turns in Martha - Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence and in Elizabeth, Fiennes displays a health wariness of the trappings of his profession: be it Brit Pack membership ("I'm part of the Square Pack"), comparisons with older brother Ralph ("It doesn't piss me off, it's inevitable") and those predicting his stratospheric career arc.

"I'm aware that there are about 400 actors ahead of me who have gone through the Next Big Thing," he measures. "In the end it's just part of the jounralistic protocol; Age? Family? Next Big Thing? If it was rare it might mean something. But from everything I read, everyone is the new hot thing. So it's just a label that is applied to...(Knock on door)...Hel-loo."

An apologetic Geoffrey Rush enters, leaves a wrapped parcel on a table festooned with birthday cards and a floating silver balloon, then exits. Although his interest is clearly piqued, Fiennes addresses the next question: does Hollywood hold any interest?

"It just seems planets and universes away from where I am now," he says, fingering his gypsy earring. "I was in this executive's office in LA about two years ago and he said "I love your work Joe, love it." I asked him what he had seen and without a trace of irony he said "Nothing." I thought: oh, this is how this business works."

Temptation soon gets the better of Fiennes and he moves to claim his present from Rush - a wickedly funny caricature of Shakespeare, inscribed by the actor. As Fiennes is called to return to the set, only one matter remains: has he got his next movie lined up?

"No, I haven't," says Fiennes, momentarily more preoccupied with the pressie than the question. "There you go, the so-called Next Big Thing hasn"t got a job. That's when I know it's a load of bollocks."

IN BRIEF:
Born: May 27, 1970, Salisbury, Wiltshire. Has twin brother, Jake.

Height: 6'0"
A bit like: Critics have compared his command of celluloid to a young Terence Stamp
Highpoint: Shakespeare in Love
Last three films: Stealing Beauty, Martha - Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence, Elizabeth
What next: "I'd like to get out of tights". Stars in Rancid Aluminium, a dark comedy thriller revolving around the Russian mafia.
True but strange: Fiennes' middle name is Alberic.