Join or Sign In

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Michael Fassbender Biography

Birth Name:Michael Fassbender

Birth Place:Heidelberg, Germany

Profession Actor, Producer, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

Earned Best Actor at the British Independent Film Awards for his role in the 2011 film "Shame․"
Attended St․ Brendan's College
Studied at the Drama Centre of London
His parents Josef and Adele owned and operated the West End House, a restaurant in Killarney, Ireland
Spent much of his 20s as a bartender, but despite enjoying the job, he really wanted to become an actor
Was offered roles in Donie Courtney's theater group Bricriu
Quote: "In high school, I had my first real part in this sketch play, Fairy Tales, Fairy Tales, 1, 2, 3․" I was one of the ugly stepsisters․ I wore my sister's prom dress․ Even though it was a pantomime, I took it very, very seriously․""
Quote: "[On relating to the characters he portrays] "You just try and understand․ I think that's sort of a major part of my job․ Not necessarily to have all the answers, but to try and understand their motivations․""
Began a relationship with actress Alicia Vikander in 2014 while filming "The Light Between Oceans․"
His family moved from Germany to Ireland when he was 2 years old

Awards

2008British Independent Film Award-Best Actor: winner
2008Silver Hugo-Best Actor: winner
2008DFCC-Breakthrough Artist: nominated
2008DFCC-Best Actor: nominated
2008European Film Award-European Actor: nominated
2008Acting Award-: winner
2008Best Actor-: winner
2009ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: winner
2009British Independent Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2009Gold Plaque-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2009Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
2009ICS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2009INOCA-Best Actor: nominated
2009IFTA Award-Best Actor in a Lead Role in a Film: winner
2009IFTA Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role in Television: nominated
2009ALFS Award-British Actor of the Year: winner
2009PFCS Award-Best Acting Ensemble: winner
2009SDFCS Award-Best Ensemble Performance: winner
2009TFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2010Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: winner
2010COFCA Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2010CinEuphoria-Best Actor - International Competition: winner
2010CinEuphoria-Best Ensemble - International Competition: winner
2010Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: winner
2010ICP Award-Best Supporting Performance: nominated
2010IFTA Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Film: nominated
2010ALFS Award-British Supporting Actor of the Year: winner
2010VVFP Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2011ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
2011BSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2011British Independent Film Award-Best Actor: winner
2011CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2011Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2011DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2011DFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2011FFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2011Golden Schmoes-Breakthrough Performance of the Year: winner
2011Golden Schmoes-Best Actor of the Year: nominated
2011HFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2011IGN Award-Best Movie Actor: winner
2011IGN People's Choice Award-Best Movie Actor: winner
2011ICP Award-Best Lead Performance: winner
2011ICS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2011INOCA-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2011LAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2011Spotlight Award-: winner
2011NYFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2011PFCS Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2011Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2011Scream Award-Breakout Performance - Male: nominated
2011Scream Award-Best Fantasy Actor: nominated
2011Best Actor-: winner
2011SEFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2011SLFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2011TFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2011Volpi Cup-Best Actor: winner
2011VVFP Award-Best Actor: nominated
2011VVFP Award-Best Actor: nominated
2011WAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2012AACTA International Award-Best Actor: nominated
2012EDA Special Mention Award-Best Depiction of Nudity, Sexuality, or Seduction: nominated
2012EDA Special Mention Award-Best Depiction of Nudity, Sexuality, or Seduction: winner
2012EDA Award-Best Actor: winner
2012EDA Special Mention Award-Best Depiction of Nudity, Sexuality, or Seduction: nominated
2012BAFTA Film Award-Best Leading Actor: nominated
2012COFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2012COFCA Award-Actor of the Year: nominated
2012CinEuphoria-Best Actor - International Competition: nominated
2012CinEuphoria-Best Ensemble - International Competition: nominated
2012Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: nominated
2012DFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2012Dorian Award-Film Performance of the Year: nominated
2012DFCC-Best Actor: nominated
2012European Film Award-European Actor: nominated
2012Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Actor: winner
2012Fright Meter Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2012Genie-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2012Gold Derby Film Award-Lead Actor: nominated
2012Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
2012ICS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2012INOCA-Best Actor: winner
2012IFTA Award-Best Actor - Film: winner
2012IOMA-Best Actor (Miglior attore protagonista): winner
2012ALFS Award-British Actor of the Year: winner
2012ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: nominated
2012OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: winner
2012OFTA Film Award-Best Breakthrough Performance: Male: nominated
2012OFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2012RAFA-Best Actor: winner
2012SFX Award-Best Actor: nominated
2012Sant Jordi-Best Foreign Actor (Mejor Actor Extranjero): winner
2012VFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2013Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2013EDA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2013ACCA-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2013BFCC Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2013Capri Supporting Actor Award-: winner
2013CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2013CinEuphoria-Best Duo - International Competition: nominated
2013CinEuphoria-Best Actor - International Competition: winner
2013CinEuphoria-Best Actor - Audience Award: winner
2013DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2013FFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2013Golden Schmoes-Best Supporting Actor of the Year: nominated
2013HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2013ICP Award-Best Supporting Performance: nominated
2013KCFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2013ALFS Award-Supporting Actor of the Year: nominated
2013NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2013OFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2013PFCS Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2013PFCS Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
2013Audience Award-Best Foreign Actor (Melhor Ator Estrangeiro): winner
2013Critics Award-Best Foreign Actor (Melhor Ator Estrangeiro): winner
2013SDFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2013SFFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2013SEFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2013SLFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2013TFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2013UFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2013VVFP Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2013WAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2014AACTA International Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2014Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2014Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2014Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2014BAFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2014Palmarés blogos de oro-Best Supporting Actor (Mejor Actor de Reparto): nominated
2014British Independent Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2014COFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2014Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2014DFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2014DFCC-Best Actor: nominated
2014Empire Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2014Lost Weekend Award-Best Actor: winner
2014Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Male: nominated
2014GAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2014Gold Derby Film Award-Supporting Actor: nominated
2014Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2014Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
2014Guardian Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2014ICS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2014INOCA-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2014IFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2014IFTA Award-Best Supporting Actor - Film: winner
2014IOMA-Best Supporting Actor (Miglior attore non protagonista): nominated
2014ALFS Award-British Actor of the Year: nominated
2014ALFS Award-Supporting Actor of the Year: nominated
2014MTV Movie Award-Best Villain: nominated
2014NCFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2014OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2014Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2014Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Ensemble Cast: nominated
2014Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2014Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie: Villain: nominated
2014VFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2015AFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2015ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2015ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
2015British Independent Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
2015CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2015Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2015CinEuphoria-Best Supporting Actor - International Competition: winner
2015Cinema Bloggers Award-Best Supporting Actor - International Competition: nominated
2015CCOP-Best Scene or Sequence (Melhor Cena ou Sequência): winner
2015CCOP-Best Supporting Actor (Melhor Actor Secundário): nominated
2015DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2015DFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2015DFCC-Best Actor: winner
2015FFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2015Golden Schmoes-Best Actor of the Year: nominated
2015ICP Award-Best Lead Actor: winner
2015IFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2015IFTA Award-Best Actor in a Lead Role - Film: nominated
2015KCFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2015LAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2015National Film Award-Best Breakthrough Performance in a Film: nominated
2015OFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2015PCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2015Georges Award-Best Foreign Villain of the Year: nominated
2015SFFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2015SEFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2015TFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2015VFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2015VVFP Award-Best Actor: nominated
2015WAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2016AACTA International Award-Best Lead Actor: nominated
2016Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2016Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2016EDA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2016BAFTA Film Award-Best Leading Actor: nominated
2016Palmarés blogos de oro-Best Lead Actor (Mejor Actor): nominated
2016British Independent Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
2016COFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2016COFCA Award-Actor of the Year: nominated
2016Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2016Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: nominated
2016DFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2016Dorian Award-Film Performance of the Year - Actor: nominated
2016Empire Award-Best Actor: nominated
2016Evening Standard British Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
2016GAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2016Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2016Gold Derby Film Award-Lead Actor: nominated
2016Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
2016HFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2016IFJA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2016IFC Award-Best Actor: winner
2016IFTA Award-Best Actor in a Lead Role - Film: winner
2016Jupiter Award-Best International Actor: winner
2016ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: nominated
2016ALFS Award-British/Irish Actor of the Year: nominated
2016National Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
2016National Film Award-Best Breakthrough Performance in a Film: nominated
2016NCFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2016Odyssey Award-Best Lead Actor: nominated
2016OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
2016International Star Award-: winner
2016Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2016Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Actor: nominated
2017CinEuphoria-Best Actor - International Competition: nominated
2017IFTA Award-Best Actor in a Lead Role - Film: nominated
2017Blimp Award-#SQUAD: nominated
2017Sierra Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2017National Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
2017Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
2018HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2020Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble of the Decade: nominated
2024CCA Super Award-Best Actor in a Superhero Movie: winner
2024Días de Cine Award-Best Foreign Actor: nominated
2025IFJA Award-Best Lead Performance: nominated
2025IFTA Award-Best Lead Actor - Drama: nominated
2025IFTA Award-Best Supporting Actor - Film: nominated
2026Girls on Film Award-Intimacy Award sponsored by Intimacy on Set: nominated