Michael Fassbender facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Fassbender
Fassbender in 2015
Born	(1977-04-02) 2 April 1977 (age 48) Heidelberg, West Germany
Occupation	Actor racing driver
Years active	2001–present
Works	Full list
Spouse(s)	Alicia Vikander ​ (m. 2017)​
Children	2
Awards	Full list

Michael Fassbender (born 2 April 1977) is a talented German-Irish actor. He has been nominated for many important awards, including two Academy Awards and four British Academy Film Awards. In 2020, he was named one of Ireland's greatest film actors by The Irish Times.

After studying acting, Fassbender first appeared in the film 300 (2006). He also had early roles in the TV series Band of Brothers (2001) and Hex (2004–2005). He became well-known for playing Bobby Sands in the drama Hunger (2008). Later, he starred in films like Fish Tank (2009) and Inglourious Basterds (2009). He also appeared in Jane Eyre (2011) and A Dangerous Method (2011).

Michael Fassbender gained wide popularity playing Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto in the X-Men movies. He also played the characters David 8 and Walter One in the science fiction films Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017). For his role in the drama Shame (2011), he won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor. His performances as Edwin Epps in 12 Years a Slave (2013) and the main role in Steve Jobs (2015) earned him nominations for Academy Awards. After starring in films like The Counselor (2013), Frank (2014), and Macbeth (2015), he took a break from acting for eight years to focus on auto racing.

After racing in the European Le Mans Series in 2023, Fassbender returned to acting. He appeared in the action films The Killer (2023) and Black Bag (2025). He married Swedish actress Alicia Vikander in 2017, and they have two children.

Early Life and Education

Michael Fassbender was born on 2 April 1977 in Heidelberg, West Germany. His mother, Adele, is from Northern Ireland, and his father, Josef, is German. Michael has an older sister named Catherine. When he was two years old, his family moved to Killarney, Ireland. His parents opened a restaurant there called the West End House. They wanted their children to grow up in the countryside.

Fassbender was raised Catholic and served as an altar boy in his church. He spent summer holidays in Germany. He went to Fossa National School and St. Brendan's College. At 17, he decided to become an actor after being cast in a play. He left home at 19 to study at the Drama Centre London. In 1999, he left the Drama Centre to tour with a theatre company. Before becoming a full-time actor, he worked various jobs like a bartender and a postman.

Acting Career Highlights

Early Television Roles (2001–2005)

Fassbender at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival

Fassbender's first TV role was in the miniseries Band of Brothers (2001). This show was produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. He also played Azazeal in the fantasy drama Hex on Sky One. He appeared in a music video for the band The Cooper Temple Clause. In 2003, he voiced Jonathan Harker in a radio show of Dracula. He was also in a Guinness commercial in 2004, which won an award.

In 2006, Fassbender played Michael Collins in a play called Allegiance. He also produced, directed, and starred in a stage version of Reservoir Dogs. He then appeared in Angel (2007), playing a painter named Esmé. He also had a small role in Wedding Belles as Barney.

Breakthrough Film Roles (2006–2010)

In 2006, Fassbender played Stelios, a Spartan warrior, in the action film 300. The movie was very successful. For his role as Provisional Irish Republican Army prisoner Bobby Sands in Hunger (2008), Fassbender followed a strict diet. His performance was highly praised and earned him an award.

A year later, he starred in two more films. One was Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, a World War II comedy-drama. He played a British officer alongside actors like Brad Pitt. The other film was the British drama Fish Tank. Both films were well-received by critics.

Fassbender at the premiere of 12 Years a Slave in 2013

In 2010, Fassbender appeared in the Western film Jonah Hex. He described his character as "psychotic." The film received mostly negative reviews. He also played Quintus Dias in the Roman war film Centurion. He was cast as Richard Wirth in the film Blood Creek.

Mainstream Success (2011–2019)

2011 was a very important year for Fassbender. He played Edward Rochester in the film Jane Eyre. He then played Magneto in the superhero movie X-Men: First Class. This film was a prequel to the X-Men series. It focused on the friendship between Charles Xavier and Magneto. The film was very popular and made Fassbender a well-known movie star.

In 2011, Fassbender also starred in A Dangerous Method, playing Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. He then starred in Shame, where he played a man dealing with personal struggles. For this role, he won a Best Actor Award at the Venice Film Festival. He was considered for an Academy Award nomination for this performance.

In 2012, he appeared in the action-thriller Haywire. He also starred in Ridley Scott's science fiction film Prometheus. His performance as the android David 8 was highly praised. Fassbender played the main role in Ridley Scott's 2013 film The Counselor. In 2013, he starred in 12 Years a Slave. His portrayal of Edwin Epps earned him an Academy Award nomination. He returned as Magneto in X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014). Fassbender also starred in Frank (2014), a comedy inspired by a real-life musician.

Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, and Justin Kurzel at the Cannes premiere of Macbeth in 2015

In 2015, Fassbender co-starred in Slow West, a Western film. He played Silas, a mysterious traveler. He then played Apple founder and CEO Steve Jobs in the film Steve Jobs. This role earned him nominations for several major awards, including the Academy Award.

Fassbender took on the Shakespearean role of Macbeth in a 2015 film. He starred alongside Marion Cotillard. In 2016, Fassbender played Magneto again in X-Men: Apocalypse. He also starred in The Light Between Oceans and the thriller Trespass Against Us. His last film of 2016 was Assassin's Creed, based on the video game. He also helped produce this film.

In May 2017, Fassbender played the android David again in Alien: Covenant, a sequel to Prometheus. In 2017, he was cast as Harry Hole in The Snowman, based on a novel. He reprised his role as Magneto in the 2019 film Dark Phoenix.

Acting Hiatus and Return (2020–present)

After a four-year break to focus on auto racing, Fassbender returned to acting. He starred in David Fincher's action thriller The Killer (2023). He also appeared in Next Goal Wins, directed by Taika Waititi. Fassbender also helped produce The Kitchen, a drama for Netflix.

In 2024, Fassbender began starring in the action thriller series The Agency for Paramount+. He is also set to star in the thriller Hope (2025) and the comedy Kung Fury 2.

Auto Racing Career

Michael Fassbender
European Le Mans Series career
Debut season	2020
Current team	Proton Competition
Racing licence	FIA Bronze
Car no.	93
Engine	Porsche
Starts	22
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	3
Poles	2
Fastest laps	0
Best finish	5th in 2021
Previous series
2020-2021 2019 2017–2018	Porsche Supercup Porsche Driving Experience Ferrari Challenge

Michael Fassbender has loved motorsport since he was young. He once said he dreamed of racing even before he started acting. He is a fan of Formula One and Scuderia Ferrari. In 2016, he joined Ferrari's special training course for drivers.

He started racing in the Ferrari Challenge in May 2017. He finished 15th in his first race. In 2018, he raced the full Ferrari Challenge North America season. He won the first race at Daytona International Speedway.

Fassbender driving at the Red Bull Ring during the 2021 Porsche Supercup season

Fassbender switched to Porsche in 2019. He competed in the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany. He was also featured in a YouTube series by Porsche called Road to Le Mans. The next year, he joined Proton Competition for the 2020 European Le Mans Series. He shared a Porsche 911 RSR with other drivers. Later that year, he raced in the Porsche Supercup.

In 2021, Fassbender continued racing with Proton Competition. He and his teammates finished fourth twice. They achieved their best finish, a second place, at the last race in Portimão. The team finished fourth overall in their championship class.

European Le Mans Series Results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

24 Hours of Le Mans Results

Year	Team	Co-drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class pos.
2022	Proton Racing	Matt Campbell Zacharie Robichon	Porsche 911 RSR-19	LMGTE Am	329	51st	16th
2023	Proton Racing	Richard Lietz Martin Rump	Porsche 911 RSR-19	LMGTE Am	246	DNF	DNF
Sources:

Personal Life and Interests

Fassbender and his wife Alicia Vikander at the 2020 Dublin International Film Festival

In December 2014, Michael Fassbender started dating Swedish actress Alicia Vikander. They had worked together on the film The Light Between Oceans (2016). They got married in a private ceremony in Ibiza on 14 October 2017. They have two sons together. In 2017, they moved to Portugal and bought a home in Lisbon.

Fassbender likes to keep his personal life private. He was an altar boy when he was a child. He supports the English football team Liverpool FC. He has a German passport and can speak German. He has said he would like to act in a German-language film.

Awards and Recognition

Michael Fassbender has received many awards and nominations for his acting. He has been recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for two roles:

• In 2013, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Edwin Epps in 12 Years a Slave.
• In 2015, he was nominated for Best Actor for playing Steve Jobs in Steve Jobs.

Fassbender has won a Critics' Choice Movie Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He also won the Venice International Film Festival's Volpi Cup for Best Actor. He has been nominated for four BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globe Awards.

See also

In Spanish: Michael Fassbender para niños