THE ENGLISH PATIENT - RALPH FIENNES TO TAKE FIRST STEP BEHIND THE CAMERA

THE ENGLISH PATIENT star RALPH FIENNES will turn his talents to directing when he begins work on SNOW COUNTRY in Canada in 2007.

The British actor was persuaded to step behind the camera by producer SIMON CHANNING-WILLIAMS during filming for Fiennes' new movie THE CONSTANT GARDENER.

SNOW COUNTRY will be based on a script by writer NICHOLAS ROHL, and is about a 17-year-old Inuit girl growing up in a convent in Canada.

In the meantime, Fiennes will take the lead in BRIAN FRIEL's play FAITH HEALER, which will be staged at Dublin's Gate Theatre, in Ireland, and at The Booth in New York City.