“I’ve been riding since the age of 16, but only got my full licence about three years ago,” he said. “I love the new BMWs and was really intrigued by them — especially the technical brilliance, wizardry and German engineering. I’m really excited about this bike and am looking forwards to getting out of town on it. I’ve got a couple of friends and we’re intent on touring the north of Italy and riding across the Alps into Switzerland. We’d also like to ride around the British Isles, which would be a great way to discover my own ‘back yard’.”

Although he comes from a large and successful family — Joseph is the brother to actor Ralph Fiennes and cousin to Sir Ranulph Fiennes (described in the Guinness Book of Records as “the world’s greatest living explorer”) — the 38-year-old is the only motorcyclist in his family, despite having five brothers and sisters. He certainly shares a sense of adventure with Sir Ranulph though, having travelled extensively in Africa, India and the far east, and he has the utmost respect for fellow actors Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman and their Long Way Round achievements to date.

“I actually spoke to Ewan about a good motorcycle insurance provider, because he’d know of course! I think it’s amazing what these guys did though and it was great that they documented it all to share with us. What I love is the idea of a motorcycle being like a horse of the modern age — there’s something much more intriguing and magnanimous about these guys clad in all their gear on these big German bikes than there would be travelling by car. A car is more bondaged and encased, whereas on a bike, you’re out there and you’re more accessible. It feels more immediate and it’s a great way to cross boundaries and see other cultures — and have them see you — because they know you’ve come a long way on a giant BMW into, say, Mongolia. I mean, what a thrill for both parties to see.”

One of the many privileges of Joseph’s work in film is that he gets to travel to and see lots of amazing places while on location. And while a ‘big trip’ is on his wish list, for the moment his packed schedule will keep him in London and the K 1200 R will help him get around town quickly, enjoyably and anonymously.

“It’s good to put a helmet on and ‘disappear’. For me, the bike is about making the hours work in the day — I couldn’t bear to drive in London and the buses are very slow, so just being able to jump on the bike and get to meetings in Soho and then quickly get back out to Notting Hill is great. Of course, there’s no congestion charge for bikes either, so that’s good. I think there should be a greater initiative to get more people riding, and all bus lanes should be open to motorcycles — that would really help things flow. With this BMW though, I’m looking forwards to getting out of town and into the country to try a bit more of the open road.”

For someone who is used to being chauffeured around on four wheels (film companies like to ensure their actors get to the studio safely and on time) Joseph wouldn’t ride while making a film because, apart from the insurance implications, he thinks that he could be too preoccupied with learning lines and getting ‘into character’ to concentrate properly and would probably end up as “an organ donor”, according to his doctor! However, when home in London, he insists on enjoying the freedom that motorcycling brings.

“Although acting will always be there, as it’s my absolute drive and passion, I’m moving more into producing and directing, and am getting really interested in the ‘making of’ aspects behind the camera. I’m just enjoying life at the moment — the bike is a good metaphor for that of course — because it gives the freedom to get out and enjoy what’s around you. You can have great plans, but in executing those plans, you can miss a trick in actually getting to that destination. Sometimes sitting back and watching the countryside go by is just as important as reaching the final place.”

In his latest role in The Escapist, British actor Joseph Fiennes plays the character of Lenny Drake — one of five prisoners who attempt to escape from a notorious London jail. In real life however, the only ‘escaping’ that the 38-year-old thespian needs to do is when he puts on his crash helmet and disappears among the Capital’s traffic on his new BMW K 1200 R.

When you live your life in the spotlight, one of the best ways to become ‘invisible’ is to ride a motorcycle. This allows Joseph to get from his home in London’s Notting Hill, to the West End where he is currently performing in Antony Weigh’s 2,000 Feet Away at the Bush Theatre.

As a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, the stage is Fiennes’ first love, but it was his cinema portrayal of William Shakespeare (alongside Gwyneth Paltrow) in the 1998 smash hit, Shakespeare in Love, that Joseph Fiennes is perhaps best known. This was followed soon after by another Academy Award nominated film — Elizabeth — in which he played Robert Dudley opposite Cate Blanchett. After the tremendous success of these two films, Fiennes famously turned down a five-picture deal from a major studio to return to the theatre, and remains very selective about the characters he wishes to portray in films. The same could also be said for the motorcycles he rides.

 

Source: BMW Motorcycles