Joseph Fiennes has spent his career playing everything from Shakespeare to a dystopian commander. But his most important role happens far from the cameras, as a husband to Swiss model María Dolores Diéguez and a father to their two teenage daughters.
The Handmaid’s Tale star, 55, has been married to Diéguez since August 2009, when the couple tied the knot in a Catholic ceremony in Tuscany. Together they share two daughters, Eva and Isabel, and have built a life that has quietly spanned two countries and a decade of change.
Here’s what we know about Joseph Fiennes’ wife and the family life he guards so carefully.
Who Is María Dolores Diéguez?
María Dolores Diéguez is a Swiss model and photographer of Spanish and Galician origin. She met Joseph Fiennes in the mid-2000s, and the two married in August 2009 in a ceremony in Tuscany.
She has largely stayed out of the spotlight throughout their marriage, preferring to keep her personal life private. The couple has appeared together at occasional public events, including the 2024 Olivier Awards, where they posed alongside their two daughters.
The Move to Mallorca and Back
For nearly a decade, Joseph and María raised their daughters in Mallorca, Spain, near Palma. The family enjoyed a quieter life on the Mediterranean island, away from the intensity of London and the British tabloids.
But in 2025, they made the decision to move back to London. Joseph was candid about why: he wanted his daughters to experience the culture and adversity that shaped him.
The transition was not smooth. Within a week of arriving in London, María was mugged and her phone was stolen. Joseph’s car was also taken, and the flat they had purchased dropped 14 percent in value. Their daughters were unimpressed by the constant rain.
But Joseph stood by the decision. “It goes back to there being adversity,” he told The Times. “Yes, I want you to catch the Tube and the bus and understand how to negotiate timetables, the bad weather and a difficult city and the cost of living.”
He also cited the city’s cultural offerings as the counterweight: theatre, museums, the National Portrait Gallery, and the V&A. “The city is a colossus of culture,” he said. “I won’t be put off by the high taxes or poo in the river.”
The family is now settling into their new life in London, and Joseph says his daughters are “beginning to love the place.”
A Strict Father on Screens and Social Media
Joseph has been open about his parenting philosophy, particularly when it comes to technology. He and María enforce strict rules around their daughters’ phone use.
“You don’t take it to the bedroom; you don’t use it after supper,” he said. “There are absolutely stringent rules. It is a day-to-day battle and very stressful.”
He calls himself “a dinosaur” for his approach, but he’s unapologetic. He wants his daughters to engage with the world around them, not just the one in their hands.
The Fiennes Family Legacy
Joseph’s marriage to María is part of a broader Fiennes family story that includes his brother Ralph, the Oscar-nominated actor, and his other siblings who have carved out their own creative paths. But Joseph has always kept his domestic life separate from his professional one.
He and María have built something stable in an industry that often isn’t. They’ve raised two daughters, moved across countries, and weathered the small disasters that come with family life. And they’ve done it largely on their own terms.
The Bottom Line
Joseph Fiennes’ wife is María Dolores Diéguez, a Swiss model and photographer. They married in 2009, raised two daughters in Mallorca, and recently relocated to London. Their family life is private, their marriage is stable, and their daughters are growing up with a father who wants them to know the world beyond the screen.
In an era where celebrity relationships often play out in public, Joseph and María have chosen a different path. They’ve built a life that belongs to them.
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