Ralph Fiennes Fan Encounters-pg3

Ralph Fiennes fans meet Ralph Fiennes during Coriolanus and Richard II plays

Ralph Encounters, Page 3 | Ralph Encounters, Page 1, 2 | Ralph Encounters Home | Fan Meetings

Many members of the Ralph Fiennes fan community had the opportunity to meet Mr. Fiennes after his performances of Richard II and Coriolanus during Summer and Fall of 2000. On this page you'll find pictures and accounts of fans who met Mr. Fiennes. If you have a Ralph encounter you'd like to share, email it to fiennesite@yahoo.com, and I'll add it to the fan encounters pages.

Tricia's Ralph Encounter

Hi all, I saw Richard II at BAM yesterday. What a joy! I took a friend (as hubby was not available and I really wouldn't want to go with him anyway as it would expose my secret longing for RF). My friend is not a true fan as she calls him Ralph (I took pains not to say "Its Rafe, actually), but she does enjoy Shakespeare.

The play was phenomenal; I enjoyed it much more than Coriolanus. What a difference in performances. In Cori, RF is so strong, proud and angry. In RII, he is very effeminate in the beginning, growing philosophical as he loses his kingdom. Our seats were in Row N ($45 seats) dead center. They were quite good and Gary Sinise was sitting not far from us.

As the play ended, I headed for the stage door. The actors do get changed very quickly...some were exiting the theatre as we were arriving at the stage door. There were probably about 20 people waiting for RF at the door. Oliver Ford Davies signed a few autographs. People spotted Gary Sinise and female friend (?) and asked for his auto, but he ran away! In all, I guess we waited about 20 minutes for RF to emerge. When he came out, he was wearing the ever present demin shirt, and he looked so beautiful. He is a heartbreaker. Sigh.

He signed autographs for the fans waiting. He shook a few hands, and some ladies snapped photos. I was able to get my copy of "the English Patient" signed, and when he handed it back to me, he looked at me and thanked me for coming. He does seem exceptionally shy and uncomfortable with the public business of being a famous actor.

For those who have yet to see the shows/meet RF...if you want to get an autograph, head out there as soon as the show ends so you can get a front row spot at the police barricades. It did appear that a few people who were behind others did not get the autograph they wanted as RF moved along. I did not stay to see Linus, although he was fantastic. His role was very similar to the role in Cori, so not much opportunity to show his range. Ahhh, thanks for letting me share this, as I have no one else who understands my attraction to the divine one!

Ritap's Account

I saw Ralph last night in Coriolanus. Sorry to say that I was a bit disappointed, both on the production and on his performance. Of course, I couldn't take my eyes off him and he was at times barely 2 feet away from me. (Those who wrote about the bald spot: yes, he is getting one, and yes, so what?)I hesitated but did manage to get to the stage door in time to see him be utterly gracious to various girls who were calling him "Rafe", making goo goo eyes at him, and having their picture taken with him. He was carrying flowers someone had given him. After a few minutes (too few, for me) he excused himself saying:"It's very late."(It was). "My friend is waiting" he then tried to get into his car when another goo-goo eye, flirty girl asked him for something (I couldn't hear what)and he said, not looking pleased, "I am sorry. I really have to go." And he was off. I am sorry that my report is not exciting, but it's true.

Melissa's 2 Ralph Encounters

My dear friend Joanne (aka Ioanna) and I attended Coriolanus and Richard II over the weekend. After the Saturday matinee, we and about 25 other people missed Ralph after learing that he'd left the building from another exit. We weren't planning on approaching him anyway, since it was his dinner break and we wouldn't dream of imposing on him during his private time. We just wanted to see him.

On Sunday we got to BAM an hour before the show and decided to 'scope the joint' so to speak in order to better determine which exit he might emerge from that night. So we looped around the block and gathered around the official stage door were about 6 people who were waiting for Ralph to arrive. Moments later a black Mercedes pulled up and Ralph emerged to our delight. He looked wonderful, with his hair slicked back in his Coriolanus do. Joanne and I couldn't help but feel terrible for Ralph being approached by fans for autographs and pictures an hour before curtain, and his unease was clearly visible on his face - a pained expression in his eyes and a slight frown. We wished that those people had just left the poor man alone.

After the show we went to the barricades. (Let me preface this part by saying that my report will be a lot like ritap's wonderfully detailed account of her experience last night - great job, ritap!:) Since it was the closing performance, it took about an hour and a half for Ralph to come out. ritap is absolutely right about that obnoxious, vulgar woman at the barricades who was shouting at the stage-hands and BAM personnel to get Ralph out of the theatre to greet them. I'm not surprised that people in ritap's area couldn't stand her. Joanne and I were sort of hoping the cast bus would hit her as it pulled away and put her out of our and everyone else's misery! :-)

Well, at long last Ralph emerged from the theatre to applause and hoorays. The look on his face made it clear that he was not really relishing the task before him, but he went at it right away. I was about the 4th or 5th person he approached, and I'd been rehearsing a little anecdote to share with him. When he came to me, I told him that at the Gielgud tribute when he had left the stage, the host of the event (Sheridan Morley) told us that Sir John said that you reminded him of another boy who had consulted him about how to play a Shakesperian role, and that actor was Paul Scofield. I then asked Ralph if he had heard Morley's remarks, and Ralph replied with a slightly surprised expresion, 'No, I didn't hear that' and he smiled at me. I finished by saying how wonderful it was to have him back in New York to which he replied 'Thank you'. While I was talking to Ralph he proceeded to sign 2 other ladies' autographs, and I had his attention the whole time which felt great. What felt even greater were the two moments when his eyes locked on mine as flash bulbs were going off behind me illuminating those ravishing green eyes in all their magnificence.

I can say in all honesty that Ralph is the most breathtakingly beautiful man I have ever met. Up close his exquisite cheekbones and profile are more remarkable than in the theatre or on film. And his voice is beautiful - a soft, resonant, velvety baritone. But it was those eyes that just about stopped my heart - just can't get over how sublime they are!

Like ritap, I heard the ugly American woman bellowing to him to please get the girl in his next movie, and even though his back was to me, I could tell he was amused by the remark. The last few fans who approached Ralph were pretty memorable. One young lady threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. Then 2 old ladies approached him and gave him hugs and kisses which was a very sweet sight that Ralph didn't seem to mind. All in all, it was a great weekend. I loved his Coriolanus - it was a thrilling performance with a knockout death scene at the end. I was disappointed, though, with his Richard. Maybe that's because I don't know the play well.

Joanne took pictures of Ralph when we saw him arrive at the theatre yesterday afternoon and also while he was talking with me and many other 'barricaders'last night. She'll post them here soon I'm sure.

One more thing about my Ralph encounters. I was stunned to see how short he is. He looks to be 5'9". He looks closer to 5'11" on stage and on film. Of course, there's nothing wrong with that. But was anyone else surprised by this?

Anvii's Ralph Encounter

Here's another Ralph Encounter to "swoon" over.

First, I'd like to say that I was very surprised and pleased to find at least 3 other Forumers at the plays and stage door. Wuthering (Hi Wuthering) and I were at the stage door together and had a wonderful conversation...even shared a taxi afterwards because we were staying at the same hotel. Sarah22, I was whispering with a girl about passing out...you perhaps? But, I think it was before Ralph emerged that I was saying that so maybe I was part of a pair of different heart-quickened fans. I realize now after re-reading some posts that Heidi was there, too. How great!

I was part of the crowd waiting after Cori that Sarah22 writes of. After the guard said Ralph would not be signing autographs, most of the people moved on. My husband and I were two of about 5 or 6 that stayed for about an hour "just in case". Well, he never came out so we went to eat before R2. There was an elderly lady (likely the one Sarah22 writes of) that was very disappointed at not meeting Ralph. She told me to tell him (if I got to see him after R2) that there was a little old lady wanting to meet him that loves his mother's book. I was sad for her that she missed seeing him.

My husband and I had dinner and then got to our seats for R2. Right after the curtain call we rushed to the stage door so as not to miss anything. As I was standing there with my picture of RF from TEP, my husband was standing idly by with the camera. The cast began to come out so my husband turned on the camera to be prepared. The film rolled up...gone! Being the marvelous man that my husband is, he ran to the corner market and bought one of those disposable cameras. He got back just in time to snap a few pictures of Ralph signing. I was about 2nd or 3rd to get an autograph. That was incredible but I also had the goal to get a picture together. So, I made my way to the end of the line. As he got to that point, I got his attention by looking him in the eyes *those beautiful eyes* and asking "Mr. Fiennes, would it be possible to have a picture together?". He replied, and I quote because I hope to NEVER forget the fabulous sound of his voice speaking TO ME,"Dahhhrling, I've got to go." Never has rejection sounded so sweet! As he's saying this to me he is holding out his hand as if to shake hands. So, of course, I reached for his hand...and then put my other hand on top of his...so that his hand was "sandwiched" in mine. His hand was soooooo soft and warm. We had a gentle yet tight grip on each others hands as I told him what powerful performances he had given. With his other hand he touched my arm at the elbow and said a very gracious Thank You. As he moved away his hand slid out from mine. I wondered if it was possible to never let him go. He probably wondered if I would ever let him go!

He turned and got into the black car with three women in the back seat. Even though I did not get to stand together for a picture I did get 1. an autograph 2. eye contact and 3. physical contact. What more could a girl ask for? I know, to be one the three women in the back seat of that black car. That's worth the asking.

Heaven...I'm in Heaven. Wuthering said she thinks she got a picture of us together that she can send me. Perhaps that was success after all. It was an experience that will live in my heart forever. I hope I get another opportunity to meet him again some day. I cannot stop thinking of him. Anvii