Here are some new photos of Ralph Fiennes at the BFI London Film Festival premiere of The Invisible Woman, that movie that he directed (and stars in) about Charles Dickens and his secret love affair with a much younger woman. If this was any other awards season, I’d say that Ralph could have been a Best Actor contender for this film – he’s playing a writer, a historical figure, it’s a period drama and it’s an interesting story. Plus, he’s Ralph Fiennes – surely he could get a nomination, right? But he probably won’t. The Best Actor race is jam-packed this year. But! The reviews are good, and I bet the awards buzz will help the box office.

Anyway, I have two nice Ralph stories today. First off, did you know that Ralph is responsible for Lupita Nyong’o’s career? That’s what she says! Lupita worked as a runner nearly a decade ago when Ralph and Rachel Weisz were filming The Constant Gardener in Kenya. Lupita said: “Ralph Fiennes was a pivotal influence on me. I was having Ralph on set and he asked me, ‘So what is it you want to do?’ I very shyly, timidly admitted that I wanted to be an actor. He sighed, and he said, ‘Lupita, only be an actor if you feel there is nothing else in the world you what to do – only do it if you feel you cannot live without acting’.” I love stories like this. It’s like finding out that the curmudgeon down the street secretly loves kittens.

Second nice story: have you seen the trailer for Wes Anderson’s new film The Grand Budapest Hotel? IT LOOKS AMAZING. I never would have put Ralph together with Wes Anderson, but the pairing is so bizarre and absurd, it totally works. The film also stars Tilda Swinton (YES!), Adrian Brody, Willem Defoe, Edward Norton and so many more. This looks adorable.

Photos courtesy of WENN.