Daily Mail, Australia
27 December, 2002
By Tara Conlan and Liz Hull (authors)

Instead of his longtime girlfriend, star woos a beauty on the beach.

(Accompanied by two pictures -- one of Joe (with his new friend) wearing sunglasses and a pair of black swim shorts (worn very low!) and the other of Joe and Fiona.)

His girlfriend is sleek, blonde and usually on his arm.

So who is the glamorous dark-haired companion starring in Joseph Fiennes holiday snaps this year?

The actor known for his brooding good looks has taken his new companion on a Christmas cruise in the sun. The couple have spent most of December in Mauritius together, and enjoyed a romantic Christmas Eve dinner in which Fiennes serenaded his companion.

"They were sat on deck and the captain made them lobster," said an onlooker.

"Joseph played the guitar for her and they kissed. They looked almost like a honeymoon couple. They've been seen quite a few times, visiting the little islands around Mauritius."

His girlfriend of two years is makeup artist Fiona Jolly. But it is not the first time Fiennes, best known for his role in Shakespeare in Love, has been spotted in the company of the dark lady. They were seen together earlier this month in Mauritius at the reopening of the Le Touessrok Hotel, a party attended by celebrities including model Jemma Kidd. He was also pictured with a similar-looking woman at the launch of Kevin Spacey's internet talent agency in London in November.

The 32-year-old actor, the brother of Ralph Fiennes, is preparing to star as a lovestruck Berowne in a National Theatre production of Love's Labour's Lost.

Before he takes on the role, it seems Fiennes is getting in as much romantic relaxation as he can. He and his companion have been enjoying time on the beach, holding hands and filming each other.

Fiennes is fiercely protective of his private life. He managed to keep his relationship with Miss Jolly a secret for a year after they began dating in the summer of 2000. Friends were convinced the couple were heading for marriage.

Last June, Fiennes paid 1.2 million pounds for a former squat in Notting Hill, West London, that seemed perfect to be converted into a family home. The renovations were expected to cost the couple 200,000 pounds and signaled the seriousness of their relationship.

But last night the house was empty. Boardings surrounded the building and windows were missing. There is little explanation as to why Fiennes was spending his Christmas break away from his girlfriend. Miss Jolly was not at her mews house in Notting Hill.

A spokesman for Fiennes declined to comment.