Joseph Fiennes has spoken about his portrayal of Gareth Southgate in the upcoming BBC adaptation of Dear England, describing the former England manager as 'innately there' and one of the rare roles that settled effortlessly. The actor, now 55, was photographed with his Jack Russell, Noa, during a breakfast interview in Chelsea, where he discussed the four-part drama, adapted from the National Theatre stage production.
Fiennes, best known for his breakout role in Shakespeare in Love and as Commander Waterford in The Handmaid's Tale, explained that the series focuses on Southgate's 'quiet revolution' following his penalty miss in 1996. The story addresses mental health, racism, and the weight of national expectation, exploring what Fiennes termed 'national pain versus performance'. Southgate's introduction of a psychologist, journaling, and commando training are central to the narrative.
The actor described his intensive preparation for the role, including rising at 4.30am each morning to rehearse in a small room to avoid distractions from decorators. He wore a prosthetic nose, yellowed teeth, and clipped beard, and absorbed Southgate's speech patterns by listening to the manager's audiobook, Anything Is Possible. Fiennes said he found an emotional connection to what Southgate was dealing with, despite initially having never met him.
That changed at The King's Trust awards in June last year, when Fiennes felt a tap on the shoulder backstage. He recalled turning around to see 'me, but not me' – the man he had been playing for two years. Southgate greeted him with a simple 'Hello', leaving Fiennes 'way too gushing' while the former England manager remained 'very cool and calm'.
Fiennes noted that the screen adaptation has been reframed more as a drama, with writer James Graham updating the story to reflect rising nationalism in the UK. He joked that at his age he is mostly 'playing dads', including a role in Young Sherlock opposite his real-life nephew Hero Fiennes Tiffin, and a gripping portrayal of Richard Ratcliffe in Prisoner 951.
