- Michael Fassbender
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Michael Fassbender 
Michael Fassbender at the 2009 Cannes Film FestivalBorn 2 April 1977
Heidelberg, GermanyOccupation Actor Michael Fassbender (born 2 April 1977) is an Irish-German actor.[1][2] He is best known for playing Lt. Archie Hicox in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds (2009) and Magneto in the superhero blockbuster X-Men: First Class (2011). His other credits include the 2009 film Fish Tank, the 2011 Jane Eyre adaptation, the upcoming 2011 David Cronenberg film A Dangerous Method, in which he plays psychologist Carl Jung, as well as the acclaimed Steve McQueen directed movies Hunger (2008) and Shame (2011), the more recent of which won him a best actor award at the 2011 Venice Film Festival. He will star in the upcoming Ridley Scott film, Prometheus (2012).
Contents
Background
Fassbender was born in Heidelberg, West Germany (now Germany). His mother, Adele, is Northern Irish and a native of Larne, County Antrim, and his father, Josef Fassbender, is German.[3][4] According to Fassbender's "family lore", his mother is the great-great-niece of Michael Collins, an Irish leader during the War of Independence.[3][5] When he was two years old, his parents moved to Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland, where they ran West End House, a restaurant, and where his father worked as a chef.[3][4] Fassbender was brought up as a Catholic and served as an altar boy.[6] He attended St. Brendan's, Killarney (The Sem) and the Drama Centre in North London.[7] Shifting between British films and American films, Fassbender currently resides in London, UK, while making career-related visits to Los Angeles, California. Fassbender speaks German fluently, though he has stated that he needed to brush up a bit on his spoken German before filming Inglourious Basterds, as it was a bit rusty.[8][9] He has also expressed interest in performing in a German language film or theater production one day.[10]
Career
Early work
Fassbender first played the part of Burton "Pat" Christenson in Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg's award-winning Band of Brothers. He played the character of Azazeal in both series of Hex on Sky One and he also starred as the main character in the music video for the song "Blind Pilots" by the British band The Cooper Temple Clause.
Fassbender played the part of Jonathan Harker in a 10-part radio serialization of Dracula produced by BBC Northern Ireland and broadcast in the Book at Bedtime series between 24 November and 5 December 2003. He was also seen in early 2004 in a Guinness television commercial, The Quarrel, playing a man who swims across the ocean from Ireland to apologize personally to his brother in New York.
During the 2006 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Fassbender played Michael Collins in Allegiance, a play by Mary Kenny based on the meeting between Winston Churchill and Collins, of whom Fassbender's mother is a great-niece.[11] In addition, he produced, directed and starred in the stage version of Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs, along with his production company.
He appeared in Angel (UK title: The Real Life of Angel Deverell), about the rise and fall of an eccentric young British writer (played by Romola Garai) in the early 20th century. Fassbender plays her love interest and average painter Esmé. The drama – the first English-language effort by French director François Ozon and based on the novel by Elizabeth Taylor – was premiered on 17 February 2007 at the Berlin International Film Festival and on 14 March 2007 in Paris. He then made a brief appearance in Wedding Belles as Barney, speaking with a Scottish accent.
Mainstream success
Fassbender (right), Josh Brolin and Megan Fox promoting the 2010 film Jonah Hex at Comic-Con in 2009.
Fassbender first broke into American mainstream consciousness with a memorable role as Stelios in the 2006 film 300 directed by Zack Snyder.
In preparation for his role as Provisional Irish Republican Army prisoner Bobby Sands in Steve McQueen's 2008 film Hunger, Fassbender underwent a crash diet that restricted him to 600 calories a day. He received the British Independent Film Award for his performance[12].
One year after his success at the Cannes Film Festival with Hunger, he appeared in two films. First was Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, in which he played the British officer Lieutenant Archie Hicox. The other film was Fish Tank directed by Andrea Arnold. Both were critically acclaimed and Fassbender's work in them also well received.
Starting a period when his "star status has risen exponentially" according to one observer,[13] in 2010, Fassbender appeared in Jonah Hex and filmed Haywire, (previously titled Knockout.)[14]. He also portrayed Quintus Dias in Neil Marshall's War-Thriller-Drama film Centurion.[15] and was cast as 'Richard Wirth' in the Joel Schumacher film Blood Creek alongside Dominic Purcell. Joel Schumacher signed to direct Blood Creek, the horror movie for Gold Circle and Lionsgate. The story centers on a West Virginia man who comes to terms with his moral qualms and helps his brother wipe out a family that had been protecting a Nazi occultist and who had kept his brother captive for him to feed off for years.
Fassbender played Edward Rochester in the 2011 film Jane Eyre, featuring Mia Wasikowska in the title role, with Cary Fukunaga directing.[16]
Fassbender portrayed Magneto in the superhero blockbuster X-Men: First Class, the prequel to X-Men. Set in 1962, it focused on the friendship between Charles Xavier (played by James McAvoy) and Magneto and the origin of their groups, the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants. The film was released on 3 June 2011 to general acclaim and financial success and promoted Fassbender to being more of a popular movie star.
New and future projects
In 2011, Fassbender stars in A Dangerous Method by director David Cronenberg, playing the role based on the Swiss psychiatrist and psychologist Carl Jung, and he also stars in Shame, as a man in his 30s struggling with his sex addiction. Shame reunites him with director Steve McQueen and premiered at the 2011 Venice Film Festival where Fassbender won a Volpi Cup best actor award for his portrayal of Brandon.[17] A Dangerous Method was also shown at Venice.[13]
In 2012, Fassbender will star in Prometheus,[18] directed by Ridley Scott, and co-starring Noomi Rapace. He will play an android named David in the film, tentatively scheduled for release in June 2012.
Due to a schedule conflict, Fassbender had to pull out of negotiations to work with Oscar-winning director, Danny Boyle, in his new film, Trance.[19]
In early 2012, he will shoot an untitled Jim Jarmusch vampire film, alongside his Jane Eyre co-star Wasikowska and Tilda Swinton and John Hurt.[20]
Adding to what appears to be another busy year in 2012, Michael has just signed on to star in actor Brendan Gleeson's directorial debut of At Swim-Two-Birds,[21] a film adaptation of Irish author Flann O'Brien's novel. Another project has been announced to add to Michael's developing filming schedule for 2012, he will team up for a third time with his Hunger and Shame director and friend, Steve McQueen, to co-star in a yet to be determined role, with Chiwetel Ejiofor, portraying Solomon Northup, in Twelve Years A Slave.
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes/Awards 2001 Band of Brothers Burton 'Pat' Christenson TV mini series Hearts and Bones Hermann TV series, 3 episodes 2002 NCS Manhunt Jack Silver TV series Holby City Christian Connolly TV series, 1 episode 2003 Carla Rob TV 2004 Gunpowder, Treason & Plot Guy Fawkes TV Julian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder – The Case of Charles Bravo Charles Bravo TV A Bear Named Winnie Lt. Harry Colebourn TV Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking Charles Allen TV 2005 Murphy's Law Caz Miller TV series, 5 episodes Our Hidden Lives German POW TV Hex Azazeal TV series, 12 episodes (2 seasons, 2004–2005) William and Mary Lukasz TV series, 1 episode 2006 Agatha Christie's Poirot episode After the Funeral George Abernethie TV series, 1 episode Trial & Retribution: Sins of the Father Douglas Nesbitt TV, premiered on 19 October 1997 2007 300 Stelios Angel Esmé Howe-Nevinson premiered 17 February, directed by Francois Ozon Wedding Belles Barney TV, premiered on 29 March 2008 Hunger Bobby Sands British Independent Film Award for Best Actor
Chicago International Film Festival: Silver Hugo for Best Actor
IFTA Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role Film
Rising Star Award, sponsored by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board
Kermode Award for Best Actor
London Film Critics Circle Award for British Actor of the Year
Montréal Festival of New Cinema: Acting Award
Stockholm Film Festival for Best Actor
Nominated – Rising Star Award, BAFTA
Nominated – European Film Award for Best Actor
Nominated – Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best ActorEden Lake Steve The Devil's Whore Thomas Rainsborough TV mini series
IFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in Television2009 Blood Creek Richard Wirth Fish Tank Connor Chicago International Film Festival: Gold Plaque for Best Supporting Actor
London Film Critics Circle Award for British Supporting Actor of the Year
Nominated – British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated – Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated – IFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a FilmInglourious Basterds Lt. Archie Hicox Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture2010 Centurion Quintus Dias Jonah Hex Burke 2011 Jane Eyre Edward Rochester X-Men: First Class Erik Lensherr / Magneto IGN Award for Best Ensemble Cast[22]
Nominated - Scream Award for Best Fantasy Actor
Nominated - Scream Award for Breakout Performance - Male
Nominated - Scream Award for Best Ensemble
Pending—People's Choice Award for Favorite Ensemble Movie Cast[23]A Dangerous Method Carl Jung completed Shame Brandon Venice Film Festival: Volpi Cup for Best Actor[17]
Seville European Film Festival for Best Actor
Nominated - British Independent Film Award for Best Actor[24]Pitch Black Heist Michael short, also executive producer 2012 Haywire Paul completed Prometheus David completed Twelve Years a Slave TBA pre-production[25][26][27] 2013 At Swim-Two-Birds TBA pre-production Producer credits
Year Title Notes 2011 Pitch Black Heist Executive producer, also actor Video games
Year Video game Role Notes 2010 Fable III Logan Theatre
Year Production Playwright Role Notes 1994 Fairytales Fairytales 123 Donie Courtney Cinderella's Ugly Sister - stage debut[28]
1995 Reservoir Dogs based on script by Quentin Tarantino Mr. Pink - also producer and director[28]
1999 Three Sisters Anton Chekhov Alexei Petrovich Fedotik - Performances: The Oxford Stage Company
2006 Allegiance Mary Kenny Michael Collins - Performances: The Edinburgh Fringe Festival[29]
Awards
Year Award Category Project Result 2008 Stockholm Film Festival Best Actor Hunger Won Montréal Festival of New Cinema Acting Award Hunger Won European Film Awards Best Actor Hunger Nominated Chicago International Film Festival Silver Hugo for Best Actor Hunger Won British Independent Film Awards Best Actor Hunger Won 2009 Toronto Film Critics Association Awards Best Actor Hunger Nominated London Critics Circle Film Awards British Actor of the Year Hunger Won Irish Film and Television Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role in Television The Devil's Whore Nominated Best Actor in a Lead Role in a Film Hunger Won Rising Star Award Won Evening Standard British Film Awards Best Actor Hunger Nominated Chicago International Film Festival Gold Plaque for Best Supporting Actor Fish Tank Won British Independent Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Fish Tank Nominated BAFTA Awards Rising Star Award Nominated 2010 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Inglourious Basterds Won London Critics Circle Film Awards British Supporting Actor of the Year Fish Tank Won Irish Film and Television Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Film Fish Tank Nominated Central Ohio Film Critics Association Best Ensemble Inglourious Basterds Won 2011 Chlotrudis Awards Best Supporting Actor Fish Tank Nominated Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup for Best Actor Shame Won Scream Award Best Fantasy Actor X-Men: First Class Nominated Breakout Performance - Male X-Men: First Class Nominated Best Ensemble X-Men: First Class Nominated British Independent Film Awards Best Actor Shame Nominated People's Choice Award Favorite Ensemble Movie Cast X-Men: First Class Nominated Seville European Film Festival Best Actor Shame Won (Source: IMDb.com) References
- ^ Wonderland Magazine Interview MichaelFassbender.org. Retrieved June 27, 2011
- ^ Movie review: 'Jane Eyre' Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 27, 2011
- ^ a b c Garratt, Sheryl (18 October 2008). "Michael Fassbender on playing Bobby Sands in Hunger". The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3562289/Michael-Fassbender-on-playing-Bobby-Sands-in-Hunger.html.
- ^ a b "Blood, sweat, tears". The Irish Times. 5 April 2008. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/theticket/2008/0530/1212048820425.html. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
- ^ Mottram, James (9 August 2009). "Interview: Michael Fassbender – Lean and mean". The Scotsman. UK. http://living.scotsman.com/movies/Interview-Michael-Fassbender--Lean.5536707.jp. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
- ^ "Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender for W". Tom & Lorenzo. 16 March 2011. http://www.tomandlorenzo.com/2011/03/mia-wasikowska-and-michael-fassbender-for-w-magazine-2.html. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
- ^ Michael Fassbender visits the Sem St. Brendan's, Killarney. Retieved June 27, 2011
- ^ http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/06/02/meet-erik-lehnsherr-we-mean-magneto/
- ^ http://www.irishcentral.com/ent/Irish-actor-Michael-Fassbender-brushes-up-on-his-German-for-Inglourious-Basterds-53944737.html
- ^ http://www.fassinatingfassbender.com/2010_06_01_archive.html
- ^ O'Doherty, Cahir (16 February 2011). "Michael Fassbender is officially a Hollywood leading man". IrishCentral. http://www.irishcentral.com/ent/Michael-Fassbender--116301824.html?page=3. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
- ^ "2008 Winners at British Independent Film Awards". Bifa.org.uk. 16 June 2011. http://bifa.org.uk/winners/2008. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
- ^ a b Maytum, Matt, "Venice 2011: Michael Fassbender wins Best Actor for Shame", TotalFilm.com, Sep 11 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
- ^ 16 February 2010 (16 February 2010). "in 2010". Alesrybarik.com. http://www.alesrybarik.com/knockout-has-begun-filming-in-dublin/. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
- ^ "Get Ready to Jump in New 'Centurion' Clip". Bloody-disgusting.com. http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/19551. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
- ^ Bartyzel, Monika (9 February 2010). "Casting Bites: From Weisz's 'Dream' to Wasikowska's 'Eyre' – The Moviefone Blog". Cinematical.com. http://www.cinematical.com/2010/02/09/casting-bites-from-weiszs-dream-to-wasikowskas-eyre/. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
- ^ a b Nikkhah, Roya (10 September 2011). "Michael Fassbender wins best actor at Venice for sex-addict role". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/venice-film-festival/8755009/Michael-Fassbender-wins-best-actor-at-Venice-for-sex-addict-role.html. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
- ^ Ryan, "Michael Fassbender Talks About Shooting Prometheus", reelzchannel.com blogpost quoting an unidentified LA Times interview; 4.12.11.
- ^ Abrams, Rachel; Kroll, Justin (6 May 2011). "Fassbender in talks for Danny Boyle's 'Trance'". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118036555. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
- ^ Macnab, Geoffrey (16 May 2011). "Swinton, Fassbender and Wasikowska line up for Jarmusch's vampire story". ScreenDaily. http://www.screendaily.com/news/production/swinton-fassbender-and-wasikowska-line-up-for-jarmuschs-vampire-story/5027597.article. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas, (Subscription required) "Michael Fassbender, Luxembourg Fund join Gleeson's At-Swim-Two-Birds", screendaily.com, 9 July, 2011.
- ^ "2011 IGN Award for Best Ensemble Cast". IGN. http://uk.ign.com/lists/summer-movie-awards-2011/best-ensemble-cast. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
- ^ Nominations Announced for the 'People's Choice Awards 2012' ZAP2it. Retrieved November 8, 2011
- ^ Nominations and jury revealed for the Moët British Independent Film Awards The Moët British Independent Film Awards. Retrieved October 31, 2011
- ^ Fassbender, McQueen re-team for 'Slave' Variety. Retrieved October 11, 2011
- ^ Michael Fassbender Joins 12 Years a Slave MovieWeb. Retrieved October 11, 2011
- ^ First Synopsis and Promo Poster for 12 YEARS A SLAVE Starring Brad Pitt and Michael Fassbender Collider. Retrieved November 3, 2011
- ^ a b Jane Eyre: Michael Fassbender interview The Telelegraph. Retrieved October 21, 2011
- ^ Allegiance, OnstageScotland
External links
Categories:- 1977 births
- Alumni of the Drama Centre London
- Irish Catholics
- Irish film actors
- Irish people of German descent
- Living people
- Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners
- People from County Kerry
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