Ralph Fiennes is speaking out in defense of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. The actor, who played Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter films, called the backlash the author has received for her opinions surrounding trans people "appalling." In a recent interview with The New York Times, the actor said:
"J.K. Rowling has written these great books about empowerment, about young children finding themselves as human beings. It’s about how you become a better, stronger, more morally centered human being. The verbal abuse directed at her is disgusting, it’s appalling." He continued: "I mean, I can understand a viewpoint that might be angry at what she says about women. But it’s not some obscene, über-right-wing fascist. It’s just a woman saying, ‘I’m a woman and I feel I’m a woman and I want to be able to say that I’m a woman.’ And I understand where she’s coming from. Even though I’m not a woman."
The scrutiny surrounding Rowling began in June 2020 after the author posted a tweet questioning an article that used the phrase "people who menstruate." Rowling wrote: "I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?" Following the tweet, the author began to be labeled transphobic by Twitter users and celebrities. Harry Potter cast members, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, publicly criticized the author's views.
Days after her tweet, Rowling posted an essay on her website explaining her position on women's rights, gender, and freedom of speech. That, too, was met with backlash. Rowling has since received multiple death threats for sharing her opinions on these topics. Police have been involved on multiple occasions: after activists posted pictures outside of Rowling's family home and after Rowling tweeted that she hoped author Salman Rushdie "be ok" after being attacked on stage while lecturing in New York. At the time, an anonymous Twitter responded to Rowling that she would "be next."
Fiennes' Notable Works
Fiennes appeared in the Harry Potter film series as Lord Voldemort from 2005 to 2011. The actor gained recognition for his portrayal of Amon Göth, a Nazi war criminal, in Steven Spielberg's 1993 film Schindler's List. He earned nominations for the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor, and won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
In 1996, he earned a second Academy Award for his performance as Count Almásy in The English Patient. Fiennes went on to appear in a number of films, including Quiz Show, In Bruges, The Hurt Locker, Clash of the Titans, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Hail, Caesar!, among others. Since 2012, he has appeared as Gareth Mallory / M in the James Bond series films Skyfall, Spectre and No Time to Die.
During his interview with The New York Times, Fiennes addressed Bond's death and the possible future of the franchise, saying:
"I thought it was a bold and strong decision. You know, they might reboot everything and they might want a woman back as M. Every single film after I took over from Judi Dench, she upstaged me. They always had her voice, a recording or a portrait. I’m like, 'Look, can I be M, Judi?'"
Fiennes's next film, The Menu, will be released on November 18. He stars as Chef Slowik, a psychopathic chef, in the horror comedy. The film also stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult and is directed by Mark Mylod and written by Seth Reiss and Will Tracy.