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British actor Ralph Fiennes discusses his film The Invisible Woman 2013 where he directs and stars, playing the famous literary figure Charles Dickens, originally a book by Claire Tomlin. Fiennes talks about the film being about the love affair between Dickens and his mistress Ellen "Nelly' Ternan. He compares the complicated process of being both director and actor on the project to that of Dicken's own inclination to having multiple interests - he was known to be a keen actor who staged many performances at home with his family, and was meticulous regarding the script, set and lighting. Fiennes explains how he wanted the movie simply shot. The sets and costumes had to be as authentic as possible, he wanted to create 'clothes and not costumes'. The Duchess 2008 clip is shown here. Fiennes goes on to say he was filming Great Expectations 2012 at the time playing Magwitch, when he was thinking about The Invisible Woman and suspected Dickens may have crafted the plot line of Pip pursuing Stella from his own conflicted and fragile relationship with Ellen. Schindler's List 1993, he played the Nazi Amon Goeth, this was early on in his career, Fiennes considered it a thrilling opportunity to work with Spielberg, finding him energetic, amazingly knowledgable and hugely 'present and alert' to everything the actors were doing. The English Patient 1996 comes next, Fiennes talks about working with the great Anthony Minghella who he describes as insightful, wise and incredibly special, a great communicator. Quiz Show 1994, an American film that required Fiennes to undertake a good deal of research and see a dialect coach, was his first film in the US. He remembers the director Robert Redford being quiet and delicate with all the actors, but also a fantastic communicator. The Constant Gardener 2005 set in Africa, they went to public places to film in real life situations, a very vivid experience. Harry Potter 2005 Lord Voldemort, certainly had to have the scare factor, Fiennes says he was bought on board by director Mike Newell after being approved by Warner Bros, the producers and of course JK Rowling. Coriolanus 2011 was to be his first director role. In addition to this he would also play the main character. Fiennes was thinking of directing and Mike Leigh's producer Simon Channing Williams championed him - offering to produce his directorial debut but sadly died, this gave Fiennes the courage and inspiration to go ahead anyway. Next discussed is The Grand Budapest Hotel 2014 directed by Wes Anderson, he talks about it being a fantastic experience, a funny script and a brilliant cast. Fiennes is then asked if he is going to continue directing in the future to which he says he is very keen to do so.

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