Ralph Fiennes To Receive Empire Legend Award

At the 20th Jameson Empire Awards

The 20th Jameson Empire Awards takes place in London this Sunday in a flurry of red carpet glamour and confetti-strewn celebration of the medium we all love. At the heart of the festivities will be acting great and national treasure Ralph Fiennes, the newly-announced recipient of this year’s Empire Legend award. The Suffolk-born actor follows in the footsteps of Helen Mirren, Tim Burton and Tom Cruise in collecting the accolade.

Even by the vaulted standards of his 25-year career, Fiennes is experiencing a purple patch. A Golden Globe nominee for his exceptional comic turn as M. Gustave in The Grand Budapest Hotel, he’s also kicked-started his directorial career in fine style with contrasting period pieces, Coriolanus (2011) and The Invisible Woman (2013), in recent years.

Fiennes, of course, is twice Oscar-nominated. He was first recognised by the Academy for his indelible depiction of SS commandant Amon Goeth in Schindler’s List, a tone-perfect depiction of the banality of evil, and went on to receive a Best Actor nod as The English Patient’s lovelorn Count. There’s been memorable villains, including Voldemort and In Bruges’ potty-mouthed Harry, romantic heroes, and, in the shape of Gareth “M” Mallory, an ongoing presence behind the oak desk of the James Bond franchise.

Fiennes will be joined on Sunday by a host of actors and filmmakers at the 20th Jameson Empire Awards, collecting an array of gongs, most voted for by Empire readers. Follow the night’s events here via our live blog and news feed, Empire’s Twitter feed, Facebook, Viber and Instagram. There may also be smoke signals.

from Empire News