Ralph Fiennes makes directing debut with 'Coriolanus'

Ralph Fiennes has made a career out of playing imposing figures, from the Nazi commandant in "Schindler's List" to "Harry Potter's" Lord Voldemort.

So it's not much of a stretch for the Oscar nominee to star as Shakespeare's tough-as-nails general Caius Martius in the cinematic adaptation of the Bard's "Coriolanus."

It's a far greater leap of faith for the 48-year-old to make his directorial debut with the challenging film, which opens tomorrow for a one-week Oscar qualifying run before returning to theaters on Jan. 20.

We spoke with Fiennes about working behind the camera on the movie, which employs Shakespearean language and a modern setting to chart the fall from grace of his prideful character.