Michael Fassbender: ‘I like that Magneto’s king of the nerds, because I’m a nerd too’

I think I lost consciousness for a moment when I discovered this new Michael Fassbender interview. Aren’t you excited?! I’m excited. We haven’t had any new Fassbender interviews in months and months. Since Prometheus, right? And even then, Michael didn’t do a lot of press for that film. This year he’s got two big movies coming out. The Oscar-bait, awards-circuit Twelve Years a Slave, and the Ridley Scott thriller The Counselor. Fassy is scheduled to appear at the Toronto International Film Festival for 12 Years, and I suspect that The Counselor will have a more traditional marketing campaign, and maybe Fassy will even get a magazine cover of two for some November issue. Probably not American GQ… maybe Details or Interview. I wouldn’t hate it if he finally made the cover of Vanity Fair, but I think VF is all “if they have a pulse, we don’t want ‘em.”

Anyway, that was just a tangent. Because Fassy has already started doing press!! IT’S SO EXCITING. Although I love Benedict Cumberbatch, I’m ready to fly my Fass-loonie Freak Flag once again. Here’s the interview (it’s really cute).

Glamour: You get into drugs in The Counselor and play a slave owner in 12 Years a Slave. Why do you always pick such intense roles?
Michael Fassbender: I like when characters have layers. I’d actually love to do a comedy— characters in romantic comedies can have layers too. But I always try to pick roles that scare me.

Glamour: Is that why you were drawn to playing Magneto in X-Men?
MF: I like that Magneto’s sort of king of the nerds, because I’m a nerd too.

Glamour: You star alongside one of our future-of-Hollywood favorites, Quvenzhané Wallis, in 12 Years a Slave.
MF: Oh my God, I love that girl! I almost gave up acting after I saw Beasts of the Southern Wild, she’s so amazing.

Glamour: This is our Hollywood issue, so we have to know—who were your movie-star inspirations growing up?
MF: Marlon Brando was front and center for me. Also Gene Hackman, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Vivien Leigh in A Streetcar Named Desire and Gone With the Wind. And, of course, Meryl Streep.

Glamour: I love that you looked up to both men and women.
MF: Well, my mum was a big influence in introducing me to films, especially from the late sixties and seventies.

Glamour: Speaking of your parents, we heard your dad has a Google Alert set for all headlines concerning you and calls you up about every story. We assume he’ll let you know when this piece comes out.
MF: Oh, yeah. He lets me know what I’m doing before I’m even doing it.

Glamour: That’s so cute.
MF: It’s cute. But it’s also creepy at the same time.

[From Glamour]

How much do you love that he fan-girls Quvenzhané Wallis? “Oh my God, I love that girl!” I hope they hung out. I’m not being creepy, I swear. I honestly think he’s probably really good with kids. He can seem so childlike sometimes, I bet he’s like the best dodgy uncle out there, like a Prince Harry-level dodgy uncle.

He better not say that romantic comedy stuff too loudly or Jennifer Aniston, Katherine Heigl and Sandra Bullock will all try to get him as their leading man. I shouldn’t shade Sandy like that – Sandy and Fassy would be good together. I would like to see that. No so much with the other broads. Also: Fassbender and Meryl Streep really need to work together. THAT is a romantic comedy waiting to happen. Make Fassy play Meryl’s love interest. OMG.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.

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54 Responses to “Michael Fassbender: ‘I like that Magneto’s king of the nerds, because I’m a nerd too’”

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  1. truthSF says:

    He needs never to smile like that (second pic) EVER again. That’s heading into Justin Theroux? creepy smile territory.

  2. LadyMTL says:

    I’m really torn about Fassy, because I’ve heard that he can really be an ass sometimes. But then…look at him! He was so yummy in X-Men, he was the highlight of the movie, IMHO. And I cannot WAIT for The Counselor, it looks really intriguing.

  3. Yep says:

    BULLSHIT, Fassbender. You fake nerd girl!

    • Spooks says:

      I so hate this. You know he’s not a nerd. Why do all this people pretend to be nerds. Is that the cool thing now?

      • Lucija says:

        THIS

      • Maria says:

        Except he is a nerd when it comes to music and sci fi. He liked comic books as a kid and geeks out over really simple things.

        I find it endearing.

        He’s just a deliciously ginger nerd with a butt load of sex appeal and an affinity for booze and women 😉

      • GeeMoney says:

        All actors are nerds… well, at least the ones that spent their youth in school doing it.

    • Cazzee says:

      This Hollywood nerd thing has gone too far. It’s similar to the way various super-feminine actresses and models claim to have been tomboys.

      These people are not nerds. None of them are nerds.

      You know who’s a nerd? I am.

      I am a nerd. I work as a researcher, am a big science fiction fan, am interested in macroeconomic policy as it relates to directed social change. In other words, I am someone who would never be invited to these people’s lavish, stylish parties – for which I am eternally grateful. 🙂 Can you imagine how dismal the conversations at those parties must be? I mean, sure, everyone looks nice, but the minute they open their mouths extreme boredom would set in…

      • zoomie says:

        Totally agree. While I’m not a nerd, I dropped out of my Biology degree- it pisses me off.
        That and the whole ‘adorkable’ thing Zooey Deschanel has going on- um 5 years ago those people would be taken the piss out of and now all of a sudden its ‘cool.’ And if you are remotely quirky its like you ‘copied’ deschanel. Wtf man.

      • Myrto says:

        THIS. I’m tired of reading interviews of celebrities who clearly were super popular in high school (and that’s fine, btw) but who are all “oh I was a misfit, I was bullied, I was not popular”. Please.
        It doesn’t make you endearing, it makes you fake, so own your past popularity, it’s fine. The nerd claim is in the same vein.

      • Felice says:

        Luckily, I did hear one interview with someone where she did completely admit “We were the IT girls…” Honesty goes a long way and I was cool with her saying that.

    • Yep says:

      @Maria

      I was just being sarcastic, in case that wasn’t clear.

  4. MeowuiRose says:

    I love him…swoon…I told my husband that if anything ever happened to him, to not worry because I would find love again….with Fassbender. Oddly enough my hubby didn’t seem very reassured :-/

  5. Sixer says:

    Despite being fully prepared to hit it – any time, any place, anywhere – I think he’s a big ol’ fibber. That man is not a nerd.

  6. He’s the total package, isn’t he? Smart, well-spoken, funny, telanted, humble and outrageously handsome. I love him!

  7. Elodie says:

    Ah the old “sort of”…pretty surprised he said it only once or then when they edited the interview they cut it out 😀

    Well nerd…doesn’t he have an Ewok village in his possession or something?… *stares at Superman doll on top shelf*

  8. Joan says:

    I loved him in X-men and thought he was totally hot! I think he has a great sense of humor, the interviews with him and James when they were joking about being lovers are so hilarious.

  9. blue marie says:

    I would watch the Meryl + Fassy movie, someone should make that happen. Anyway, he does nothing for me but I’m looking forward to The Counselor.

  10. Darkladi says:

    Mmmm

  11. Just me says:

    Everytime, I saw a new pic of him I think he looks older…, sad, he was hotter last year

  12. jen says:

    Is it the cool thing now to call yourself a nerd? ugh.

  13. toto says:

    Fassy WB are morons for not choosing you as batman bruce wayn, you are the perfect replacement for my great love christian bale.

    • stace says:

      with you 100%

    • Harriet says:

      @Toto I’m always a little scared that someone I really like is going to be the worst/most hated edition of a franchise…Daniel Craig surprised everyone in 007 but I don’t think Fassy could carry it off…(batman that is)

      • toto says:

        Harreit I totally agree with you but Fassy as a batman version of chrestian bale would be much acceptable transaction than any other actors IMO.
        Put fassy and chrestian bale side by side picture and remeber thier roles in diffrenet films, you will find so much similarties between them as if they carry sàme mannerisim in acting.thats why I think if Fassy had the part he will not creat a far version from bale rather than adding his touch and face to the charcture.

  14. ShakenNotStirred says:

    He’s not a fake nerd. He’s been into comics since he was a kid. In fact, Batman was one of his favorite comic-book heroes.

  15. mia girl says:

    I really like that he cited male and female actresses as his inspiration. Pretty cool.

  16. Zane says:

    Finally looked up how old he is and to my discovery he is only 36. So why does he look like he could pass for 40s even 50s sometimes? Also I am sooo tired of people claiming to be “nerds” and “geeks” now. I guarantee he doesn’t even know the difference between the 2. I like him but I’m not in love with him. He really creeps me out sometimes. Never was attracted to him like that.

    • Lucija says:

      I’m foreign and don’t know the difference between nerd, geek and dork. Please explain.

    • vixo says:

      Thank you ! As a nerd myself, I find this misuse of the word quite insulting ! lol! It became a hip thing. People that don’t even like studying call themselves nerds. Fassy, I like you but you’re not a nerd !!

  17. Blue says:

    I’m so happy Fassy is doing interviews again it’s been too long. He seems like such a sweet down to earth guy. He doesn’t seem like he’s let the whole Hollywood thing go to his head yet. I know he’ll be fantastic in both films he stars in this year. And I’ll be front row and center for both. I just love this man!

  18. Shy says:

    I love him but he needs to get his teeth whiten.

  19. Camille (TheOriginal) says:

    Love!

  20. Stacie says:

    I have missed Fassbender ! Can’t wait to get this mag ! Love him 🙂