Ralph Fiennes is a person.
Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes ( [ ˈreɪf_ˈfaɪnz ] born 22 December 1962 ) is an English actor , director and producer . Fiennes is also known for his roles in major film franchises such as the Harry Potter film series ( 2005 -- 2011 ) , in which he played the villainous Lord Voldemort , and the James Bond series , in which he has played Gareth Mallory / M , starting with the 2012 film Skyfall . Fiennes won a Tony Award for playing Prince Hamlet on Broadway .