The New Paper POE Article

December 16, 1998

Ralph Fiennes is so fine.

Not only can he act - his English Patient role got him a Best Actor Oscar nomination last year - he can also sing.

In Dreamworks SKG's latest production, based on the Bible's Book of Exodus, the sexy British actor is the voice of Rameses, the prince who grows up to be the Egyptian Pharaoh.

Moses (Val Kilmer), who leads the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt, grows up as his brother.

Fiennes sings the number, The Plagues, in fine style too, in the scene where the Egyptians are stricken by skin sores.

One of the film's three directors, Brenda Chapman, said: "Ralph is not only a great actor, he actually helped us to develop the part of Rameses.

"There's a vulnerability that comes out of his voice, even when he's being very strong. That became the core of Rameses - he is this big, powerful Pharaoh, but deep down there's some small part that's a little unsure."

Fiennes found facing a microphone instead of a camera creatively and technically different.

"It is very difficult to be in a dramatic scene with another actor when they're not there."

Producer Penney Finkelman Cox added: "He's an amazing actor, and we were very excited to have his singing voice as well as his speaking performance in the movie."

Now, that's as fine as Fiennes can be.