Joseph Fiennes, the 55-year-old actor known for his role in Shakespeare in Love, has disclosed that he has undergone an unconventional form of therapy to help him "unravel" lingering childhood issues, including a peculiar eating habit triggered by his famous siblings.
Lacanian Therapy for Deep-Rooted Issues
Currently portraying Gareth Southgate in BBC One's Dear England, Fiennes revealed he tried Lacanian therapy, a method developed by French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan. Unlike traditional Freudian sessions that last a fixed 50 minutes, Lacanian sessions can vary in length, sometimes ending abruptly after just ten or twenty minutes. Fiennes described it as "fascinating" but noted it is expensive.
Lacanian therapy is a form of talk therapy where the therapist listens intently to the patient's speech, including slips of the tongue and recurring phrases, to uncover the root causes of psychological suffering, rather than offering direct advice.
Growing Up in the Fiennes Dynasty
Fiennes is the youngest of seven children in the renowned Fiennes acting dynasty, which includes Harry Potter star Ralph Fiennes, film director Martha, music producer Magnus, filmmaker Sophie, and his twin brother, conservationist Jacob. Reflecting on his childhood, he said: "It is interesting that those childhood years, those really precious years, it's all there, isn't it? So if you haven't unravelled or found the full weight of the joy of that childhood, it's going to follow you into adulthood."
The Bizarre Eating Habit
One peculiar habit Fiennes developed from growing up in a large family is eating very quickly at the dinner table. He explained: "If you didn't get in there, it was gone." To address this, he sought help from a friend practicing neuro-linguistic programming and hypnotherapy. "I said, I really want to support you in your new venture as a hypnotist. He said, Joe, what should we work on? I said, I eat really fast because of being the youngest of seven."
Dear England Role and Personal Reflections
Fiennes reprised his Olivier Award-nominated role as England manager Gareth Southgate in the BBC adaptation of Dear England, a four-part series that began airing this month. The drama covers Southgate's journey leading England to two European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final. In the series, his character enlists sports psychologist Pippa Grange, played by Jodie Whittaker, to help the England squad overcome mental barriers.
Fiennes also spoke warmly about his special bond with his twin brother Jacob, who runs the Holkham Estate in Norfolk, the same location where Shakespeare in Love was filmed. He added: "I definitely have this very special relationship [with him], although in adulthood, we touch base less, but I do feel that there's a connection quite unlike my other siblings."
