Michael Fassbender grew up in Killarney, Ireland. His early career was marked by television roles including the epic Steven Spielberg/Tom Hanks production Band of Brothers. Other television credits include Gunpowder, Treason and Plot and Marc Munden's major four-part serial for Channel 4, The Devil's Whore.

Since then Fassbender has starred in a diverse range of feature films including Zack Snyder's 300, James Watkins' EDEN LAKE, Francois Ozon's ANGEL, Neil Marshall's CENTURION and Jimmy Hayward's JONAH HEX.

His most noted performance to date was his portrayal of Bobby Sands in Steve McQueen's feature film directorial debut HUNGER, which won the Camera d'Or at Cannes and Fassbender the Best Actor Award at the British Independent Film Awards. Fassbender and McQueen continued their working relationship with SHAME, which wrapped in New York in March 2011.

In 2008, Fassbender starred in Andrea Arnold's FISH TANK, which went on to receive The Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as Quentin Tarantino's INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS alongside Brad Pitt, Til Schweiger and Mike Myers.

Fassbender will next be seen in Steven Soderbergh's HAYWIRE, Cary Fukunaga's JANE EYRE playing Mr. Rochester alongside Mia Wasikowska, as the lead in Steve McQueen's SHAME alongside Carey Mulligan, and in Matthew Vaughn's X-MEN: FIRST CLASS as Magneto. Fassbender recently finished shooting on Ridley Scott's PROMETHEUS.