After almost a decade soaking up the Mediterranean sun in Mallorca, actor Joseph Fiennes has made the surprising decision to relocate his family back to London. The Handmaid's Tale star, 55, moved with his wife María Dieguez and their two teenage daughters, Eva and Isabel, trading Spanish sunshine for British showers.
A Turbulent Homecoming
The transition to London life proved immediately challenging for the Fiennes family. Within just one week of their arrival, his wife was mugged and had her phone stolen, adding to a cascade of misfortunes that included their car being taken and the value of their newly purchased flat dropping by a significant 14 per cent.
Joseph admitted his family were far from pleased with the move initially, with his daughters questioning his decision amid the constant rain. However, the actor remained steadfast in his belief that facing urban adversity would build character, wanting his children to learn how to navigate the city's transport systems, challenging weather, and high cost of living.
The Cultural Compromise
Despite the difficult beginning, Fiennes is adamant that returning to the UK capital was the correct choice, primarily because of the unparalleled access to art and culture. He described London as "a colossus of culture", highlighting the wealth of theatre and world-class institutions like the National Portrait Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum that benefit his daughter who is studying for her art GCSE.
The actor stated he refuses to be deterred by high taxes, pollution in the River Thames, or what he terms "the crime bikes" - referring to Lime bike riders who snatch bags - because these negatives are outweighed by the city's extraordinary and diverse cultural offerings. He noted with satisfaction that his children are now beginning to love their new home.
Strict Parenting in the Digital Age
Fiennes also provided insight into his parenting approach, revealing himself to be particularly strict about his daughters' mobile phone usage. He described himself as "probably thought of as a dinosaur" for his stringent rules, which include banning devices from bedrooms and prohibiting social media use after dinner each evening.
The actor acknowledged that maintaining these digital boundaries is a "day-to-day battle and very stressful", and that his draconian approach doesn't earn him any favours at home, but he remains committed to these principles.
Professionally, Fiennes has recently been spotted reprising his role as Sir Gareth Southgate for the BBC adaptation of Dear England. The four-part series, produced by the company behind The Crown, features an all-star cast including Jodie Whittaker as the team's psychologist and is scheduled to air next year.
