Michael Fassbender was born on 2nd April 1977 to a German father, Josef, and an Irish mother, Adele. When he was two, his family relocated to Killarney, a town in south-west Ireland. His parents managed a restaurant, with his father donning the hat of a chef.
Growing up in a multicultural household, Fassbender was exposed to both German and Irish culture. Despite this, he was primarily raised in Ireland and considers himself Irish. He has an older sister, Catherine, who is a noted neuropsychologist.
Fassbender’s interest in acting was stirred at a young age. At 19, he left home to study at the Drama Centre London. However, he dropped out in 1999 to perform in the play ‘Three Sisters’ with the Oxford Stage Company.
Before finding steady work as an actor, Fassbender held a variety of jobs. He worked as a bartender, postman, manual laborer, market researcher for Royal Mail, and even at Dell.
Fassbender’s breakthrough came in 2008 when he portrayed IRA volunteer Bobby Sands in the film ‘Hunger.’ His riveting performance won him the British Independent Film Award. This marked the beginning of a series of critically acclaimed roles in films such as ‘Fish Tank’ (2009), ‘Jane Eyre’ (2011), and ‘A Dangerous Method’ (2011).
Fassbender’s fame skyrocketed when he took on the role of Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto in the ‘X-Men’ series. He first appeared as the character in ‘X-Men: First Class’ (2011), and reprised the role in ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ (2014), and ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ (2016).
In 2011, Fassbender’s portrayal of a sex addict in the movie ‘Shame’ earned him the Volpi Cup for Best Actor and nominations for a Golden Globe and BAFTA Award. His performance as slave owner Edwin Epps in ’12 Years a Slave’ (2013) was also highly praised, earning him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Fassbender’s talents extend beyond acting. He turned producer for the 2015 western ‘Slow West,’ in which he also starred.
Fassbender’s career has been marked by a willingness to explore new genres. He starred in the biographical drama ‘Steve Jobs’ (2015), portraying the tech visionary. His performance was lauded and fetched him Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and SAG nominations for Best Actor.
Apart from acting, Fassbender is also passionate about auto racing. He began competing in the Ferrari Challenge in 2017 and as of 2023, he races in the European Le Mans Series, driving for Proton Competition.
Preferring to keep his personal life away from the public eye, Fassbender has been linked to actress Nicole Beharie and later to Swedish actress Alicia Vikander, whom he married in a private ceremony in 2017.
Fassbender’s upcoming projects include ‘Kung Fury 2’, where he stars alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and David Hasselhoff. He will also star in ‘Next Goal Wins’, directed by Taika Waititi.
From his early days in Ireland to his rise as a global cinematic icon, Michael Fassbender’s journey is a testament to his talent, dedication, and versatility. As he continues to captivate audiences with his performances, there is no doubt that his star will only continue to shine brighter.
