When Hollywood met Washington over the weekend, actor Ralph Fiennes and journo Bob Woodward discussed a common bond: Robert Redford. Redford directed Fiennes in the 1994 flick “Quiz Show” and also portrayed Woodward in “All the President’s Men.”
Fiennes and Woodward were brought together at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum on Saturday for the program “The Power of Film and the Holocaust,” and Woodward was to interview Fiennes about films he has done that depict the Holocaust. But Fiennes was interested in prying information out of Woodward as well. As the two discussed the prominent directors that Fiennes has worked with — including Steven Spielberg and Redford — Fiennes turned the focus on Woodward. “How did you find him?” Fiennes asked with a grin.
“You have no idea how many women I’ve disappointed,” Woodward said. “Apparently a problem you’ve never had.”
The conversation also turned serious. Fiennes was tapped as a special guest in part because of his shocking portrayal of Nazi Amon Goeth in “Schindler’s List.”
“No one knows exactly what it is that a whole nation can be led by a voice, a set of ideas, that can be geared into embracing a set of beliefs that they believe it is right to destroy and eradicate another people,” Fiennes said of the Holocaust.
Woodward tried to construct a modern parallel between Goeth and 9/11 lead hijacker Mohamed Atta, but Fiennes didn’t quite buy the comparison, relaying, though, that he would play Atta in a film. “If it was a good screenplay and I felt that the character was properly investigated by the writer — I would,” Fiennes said. He also said he’d consider playing Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
“I see the angular face, the gray-blue eyes, the smile,” Woodward said.
“I don’t know if that’s a compliment or not, but it would be a great part,” Fiennes said.
