Fiennes' role as meticulous theatrical concierge Gustave H in The Grand Budapest Hotel came as surprise to many fans, seeing as the majority of his previous roles have been either sinister or deadly serious as opposed to comedic. As it happens, Fiennes has had experience in the sort of high class hotel establishment as is featured in the Anderson film. Just before he went to Rada, Fiennes was a hall porter at Browns Hotel in Mayfair, changing shower curtains and light bulbs and vacuuming corridors. He took inspiration from 'a slightly Gustave-like waiter who ran the English tea at Browns'. Apparently there was also a very camp Italian waiter who used to walk through the rooms like they were a showroom, who'd tell Fiennes that the fancy cakes on offer were all just 'sh*t'. Many of these little observations were bits he would pick up on and use to embellish the Gustav character.
I love Stephen King and music festivals; I eat my toast upside down; I daydream about getting married probably a bit too much; and I wish every day for a pet sausage dog puppy (who never materialises – sob).
