Ralph Fiennes, the actor known for brooding in period dramas and terrorizing Harry Potter as Voldemort, took a trip down memory lane—and straight into rom-com territory—when he opened up about starring alongside Jennifer Lopez in 2002’s Maid in Manhattan.
In this cinematic tale of “maid meets politician,” Ralph played Chris Marshall, a charming Republican senator who, against all odds (and some questionable political leanings), falls for J.Lo’s character, Marisa Ventura—a hotel maid with a talent for looking fabulous while changing sheets.
But Ralph, now 61, recently confessed that the rom part of the rom-com left him feeling, well, rom-confused.
“A Little Bit Lost” in Love…and American Politics
“It was rom-com writing. It was light,” Ralph told People, sounding like he was describing a soufflé he wasn’t sure he’d cooked correctly. “I think I felt a little bit at sea sometimes.”
And what was the culprit behind his sea of confusion? The complexities of American politics. Apparently, trying to play a Republican senator while deciphering the mysterious ways of U.S. governance was like asking a British man to explain football (the American kind).
“[I wondered] ‘Now, who is this Republican senator?’” Ralph mused, likely while clutching a cup of Earl Grey and Googling “U.S. Senate for Beginners.” His “antennae for things American” have supposedly improved since, but at the time, he was as lost as someone trying to figure out the NYC subway system without Wi-Fi.
The Perks of Rom-Com Life: Natasha Richardson
While Ralph may have struggled to find his inner American politician, he did find joy in working with the late Natasha Richardson, who played a pivotal role in the film.
“I have a lot of happy memories of spending time with Natasha and [her husband] Liam [Neeson],” Ralph shared. “She was a wonderful, kind, open, generous host, wonderful actress, and I really valued her friendship.”
And honestly, if there’s one way to survive rom-com chaos, it’s by having Natasha Richardson around to remind you that love—and film sets—can still be classy.
Ralph, J.Lo, and the Bennifer Decoy Drama
Of course, no tale of Maid in Manhattan would be complete without a side of celebrity gossip. Ralph once claimed he was used as a “decoy” for Jennifer’s relationship with then-boyfriend Ben Affleck.
It’s hard to say what’s more surreal: being caught in the crossfire of Bennifer 1.0 or playing a Republican senator with no clue what a filibuster is. Either way, Ralph deserves an award for his services to cinema—and to tabloid drama.
Ralph Fiennes: actor, rom-com survivor, and reluctant Republican senator. Someone get this man a cup of tea and a Love Actually rewatch.
