Ralph Fiennes, the acclaimed actor known for his serious roles, showed off his comedic side on New Year’s Eve Live with Andy Cohen & Anderson Cooper. The 62-year-old actor reenacted Jools Lebron’s viral TikTok, delivering her famous “demure” monologue to the delight of the hosts and viewers.
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Fiennes, channeling Lebron’s signature sass, playfully opened his jacket to reveal his bare chest beneath an unbuttoned shirt while quoting Lebron: “See my shirt, only a little chichi out. Not my chocho.” Co-hosts Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper erupted in laughter, with Cooper even ducking out of frame at one point, overwhelmed by the humorous display.
Fiennes continued with Lebron’s monologue, leaning into Cohen and delivering the lines with a knowing wink: “Be mindful of why they hired you. Here’s a reality check, diva. What’s the name you want me to make it out to?” Cohen then wrapped up the segment by introducing “Ray Fiennes, multiple Oscar nominee, up for a Golden Globe for Conclave,” further fueling Cooper’s laughter.
The viral TikTok video has been inundated with comments about Fiennes’ reenactment, with users expressing their amusement and surprise. “Watching this again after Andy and Anderson NYE show,” one commenter wrote, while another chimed in with, “Literally just watched Ralph Fiennes reenact this on NYE. Insane.”
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Lebron herself joined in the online frenzy, sharing a video of her New Year’s Eve outfit, which sparked a flood of comments referencing Fiennes’ performance. Fans praised the unexpected duo, with one writing, “Ralph Fiennes monologuing ‘very demure’ with Andy and Anderson was iconic. We’re here for the duo, but Anderson stole the show.” Others playfully suggested that “Voldemort reciting your lines is better than receiving a Hogwarts letter,” referencing Fiennes’ iconic role in the Harry Potter series.
Lebron’s original TikTok, featuring the catchphrase “very demure, very mindful,” catapulted the word “demure” to Dictionary.com’s 2024 Word of the Year. The website reported a staggering 1200% increase in the word’s usage, primarily attributed to Lebron’s video. Dictionary.com defines “demure” as “characterized by shyness and modesty” and reserved.
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Lebron revealed that her inspiration for the video stemmed from her makeup that day, saying, “I thought I looked particularly like a Bratz doll… So I thought it was funny to say I was demure with my black winged eyeliner, giant lashes, blonde hair down to my thighs and acrylic nails.” Meanwhile, Fiennes, coming off a successful year with films like Conclave and The Return, has several upcoming projects, including 28 Years Later and The Choral. He also expressed his desire to collaborate with his brother, Joseph Fiennes, on a film in the future.
