Michael Fassbender

When you make your first big onscreen splash in a costume consisting of little more than a pair of tight brown leather underpants, most would be forgiven for assuming that you’re in for a long, hard climb back to credible. But even though it has been only two short years since he first foisted himself onto movie-goers as the limb hacking, wisecracking, wedgie sporting Spartan warrior Stelios in 300, Michael Fassbender has managed to establish himself as a formidable acting talent, giving a series of acclaimed performances that have already seen him likened to such luminaries as Marlon Brando, Daniel Day-Lewis and Christian Bale. Not bad for a bloke who spent most of his first movie not only nearly naked but sporting the sort of hairdo most commonly seen on 1980s heavy metal bands.

Making his on-screen debut in the Steven Spielberg produced mini-series “Band of Brothers” in 2001, Michael began his career working steadily on the small screen, playing characters as diverse as the fallen angel Azazeal in cult TV series “Hex” and would-be bomber of British parliament Guy Fawkes in Gunpowder, Treason & Plot, before leather loincloth infamy came beckoning. But even though 300 might have been his international breakthough, it was with his performance as Irish republican hunger striker Bobby Sands in Steve McQueen’s Hunger that he would really make his mark. His staggering intensity, and commitment that saw him lose over 14kgs to convincingly depict Sands’ decline, would be rewarded by a wave of critical acclaim, a memorable lauding as the ‘Brando for Britain’ and numerous acting prizes at a variety of international film festivals, culminating in the best actor prize at the Irish Film & Television Awards.

Michael has since returned to the battlefield in Neil Marshall’s upcoming Centurion, in which he portrays a Roman warrior trapped behind enemy lines in dark age Britain, smoldered as the teen heroine’s off-limits love interest in Andrea Arnold’s kitchen sink drama Fish Tank, and been personally tapped by Quentin Tarantino for the role of Lt. Archie Hicox, a British commando, in his WWII opus Inglourious Basterds. And if that weren’t a diverse enough range of genres, he most recently completed work on the comic book western Jonah Hex, playing the unhinged henchman of chief baddy John Malkovich. Phew!

Not many actors out there are capable of playing the romantic lead, psychotic villain, or colorful supporting part with equal conviction. Add looks to kill and dangerous lashings of Irish charm, and its about as close to a complete package as you are ever likely to find. Odds are on that Fassy, as his fans affectionately know him, will sooner rather than later be joining the ranks of acting legends to whom he is already so willingly compared.

Fansites:
Michael Fassbender Online
Michael Fassbender Online on Facebook
“Facinating Fassbender” Fan Blog
Livejournal Community

Official Sites:
Jane Eyre
X-Men: First Class

Gallery:

Rate this Actor:
(30 votes, average: 4.53 out of 5)


 Loading ...

Tom Wisdom

Many have said that Tom Wisdom has a striking resemblance to Keanu Reeves, Ben Barnes, and even the late Heath Ledger. All three of them can be summed up as quite a compliment. But, behind the handsome face lies a fantastic actor.   Tom knew he wanted to become an actor from the moment he stepped on stage in a school production of Peter and the Wolf. Unfortunately, his director did not seem to think he had what it took to make it as an actor. Tom has since proved him wrong. While he may not be a household name (yet), he has had his fair share of recognition over the past 10 years. Read more

Lena Headey

Don’t you just hate it when somebody who’s never been to drama school turns out to be a naturally gifted actor? And don’t you especially hate it when that person is smart and funny and charming and beautiful to boot? It seems that lately there’s been a crop of these kinds of actors popping up all over the place, in Britain particularly. One such actress that’s caught my eye is Lena Headey. Read more

Gerard Butler

This Scottish almost-lawyer traded in his higher education to pursue acting, little did he know that he would fall into some plum roles and STILL not be recognized.

Leading off with small roles in British TV and stage productions, Gerard Butler found himself playing one of the most feared warriors in history for the USA Network production of Attila and then followed up with donning black to play the seductive, yet dialogue challenged, Count Dracula in Wes Craven’s Dracula 2000 (or Dracula 2001 depending on where you live).

Follow that with slaying dragons alongside Christian Bale and Matthew McConnaughey in Disney’s multi-million dollar Reign of Fire and one would think…..what next? That’s easy — a Granada Television British mini-series The Jury and a trip back to 14th century France in Richard Donner’s production of Michael Crichton’s Timeline as its hero Andre Marek. He found himself opposite Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider 2 and cast as the masked madman in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera. Not bad for a lawyer.

Since then, he has risen to international fame with his turn as Spartan King Leonidas in 300, the dead husband opposite Hilary Swank in PS, I Love You, a father and a hero in Nim’s Island and starring roles in the  films, Game, RockNRolla,  The Ugly Truth and Law Abiding Citizen. How can he NOT be a one2watch4?

FAN SITES:

http://www.gerardbutler.net

VIEW THE TRAILER FOR THE BOUNTY HUNTER:

Watch some of Gerard’s funniest moments on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson:

GALLERY:

RATE THIS ACTOR:

(194 votes, average: 4.69 out of 5)


 Loading ...