THE ACTOR MICHEAL FASSBENDER, A RISING EUROPEAN STAR IN HOLLYWOOD

AFP - sex addict in "Shame" or incarnation of the psychoanalyst Carl Jung in "A Dangerous Method," Germano-Irish actor Michael Fassbender in 2011 became a rising star in Hollywood, which could offer him this winter a few golden statuettes.

The career of this actor of 34 years suddenly accelerated this year, with no fewer than five movies in theaters, and a Golden Globe nomination for his role tortured sex addict in "Shame" Steve McQueen - a film that had brought him Best Actor at Venice.

Previously, Michael Fassbender was particularly illustrated in "Hunger", the previous film of Steve McQueen on the last day of "Bobby Sands Irish independence, and" Inglourious Basterds "by Quentin Tarantino.

The year 2011 also saw the lend itself to big-budget Hollywood movie with a role in the latest installment in the series "X-Men".

Wednesday, he was again on display in France with "A Dangerous Method", David Cronenberg's latest film, in which he plays the Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung alongside Viggo Mortensen and Vincent Cassel.

"For a long time I did not have a job. Now, I take this opportunity while it lasts," the actor said recently about his honeymoon with the American cinema.

Born April 2, 1977 in Heidelberg (southwest Germany) of a German father and a mother in Northern Ireland, Michael moved with his family in Ireland at the age of 2 years.

After abandoning his studies at the London Drama Center, he made his debut on television in 24 years, especially in the series on World War II "Band of Brothers" (2001), produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. He goes to the movies in 2006 in the epic "300", signed by Zack Snyder.

But it is really about in 2008 with "Hunger", for which he lost 14 pounds. His role earned him Best Actor at the British Independent Film Awards, and the interest of Quentin Tarantino, who is in "Inglourious Basterds" a British officer, an ally of Brad Pitt and his battalion of Nazi killers.

In 2011, he found Steve McQueen for "Shame", which she could, in addition to his candidacy at the Golden Globes, an Oscar nomination.

And having accompanied David Cronenberg in his exploration of cross-influences and friendship between Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, the actor has lent the camera to another director-author impeccable pedigree: Steven Soderbergh, for thriller "Haywire" (released in France on February 29).

David will also be in the "Prometheus" by Ridley Scott, currently in post production.

Actor faithful, he will recover in 2012, for the third time director Steve McQueen for "Twelve Years a Slave."

With a career already rich and great versatility, Michael Fassbender recognizes an inspiration, that of the actor Daniel Day-Lewis.

"For me, Daniel Day-Lewis is a giant hand," he says about the British-Irish star, winner of two Oscars for "My Left Foot" (1990) and "There Will Be Blood" ( 2008).

"It is amazing and has always been a model of excellence," said he.