Thirty-one years ago, the then-young English actor Ralph Fiennes stole the show in Schindler’s List and earned his first Oscar nomination, still as a supporting actor. He lost to Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive (an injustice considering that Ralph played a Nazi monster and physically transformed for the role while Tommy Lee Jones won the award for practically playing himself), but he became an international star.

At just 31 years old at the time, in addition to being handsome, he was a praised talent on the English stage, where competition was always fierce. Despite immediate demand in Hollywood, Ralph Fiennes‘ commitment to Art did not take him off the path to excellence, even with some box office stumbles. On stage, the actor, whose name is pronounced Reife Fáines, was successful with an award-winning Hamlet and other classic productions until he starred in the 1996 hit The English Patient and was nominated for an Oscar again (losing to Nicholas Cage).

Although he is recognized as one of the best actors of his generation (which includes Daniel Day-Lewis and Gary Oldman, for context), Ralph was strangely ignored by the Academy, never being nominated for an Oscar again despite great performances in The Constant Gardener and Hotel Budapest, not to mention that as Voldemort on the Harry Potter Franchise, he was so terrifying that I would have nominated him too. But I’m a fan, right?

So, with the awards season starting in January (the nominations for the Golden Globes and Critic’s Choices have already been announced), Ralph Fiennes is emerging as the big favorite for the Oscar for Best Actor in 2025. Justice? Of course!

His performance in The Conclave has been extremely praised and his presence on the awards list has been constant. He won Best Actor at the Mill Valley and San Diego Film Festivals (he was also nominated in San Sebastian), won the National Board of Review and is nominated for both the Golden Globes and the Critical’s Choice, and will be honored at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. Even though there is still debate about whether he is the real winner, he is certain to be nominated for everything, including the Oscar. His biggest competition may be Adrien Brody for The Brutalist and Colman Domingo for Sing Sing.

The Conclave is a suspense and mystery film directed by Edward Berger and based on the 2016 novel by Robert Harris that follows the tense election of the new Pope, led by Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Fiennes) who organizes the papal conclave but finds himself investigating secrets and scandals about each candidate.

Praising the actor’s performance was only expected, he never fails to surprise, whether in drama, action, or comedy. I’m rooting for him!

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