Fiennes is reputedly a reluctant film star - he prefers the stage -
though he is attracted to meaty roles: Schindler's List, English
Patient, End of the Affair. The common motif throughout his movies is
the prodigious application of Brylcream, arguably the key weapon in
his acting arsenal. Put Ralph in an Egyptian bath with Kristin Scott
Thomas but don't let him get his hair wet. Much of the weakness of the
apocalyptic Strange Days, I think, can be traced to poor hair
conceptualisation. So forget staging: consult the set of his hair to
discover whether we're in for Chekhov or Clapham Common.
