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Michael Fassbender Reveals At Oscars 2014: 'Steve McQueen Changed My Life'

BROMANCE: Michael Fassbender Gushes About Steve McQueen
Daniel Welsh
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Whatever Steve McQueen does next, the chances are Michael Fassbender will be by his side.

The 12 Years A Slave star, who has appeared in McQueen's last three films, has no doubt about the importance of their partnership - the German-born actor admits the director "changed" his life.

Fassbender, who grew up in Ireland and lives in east London, has become one of Hollywood's biggest stars but almost slept through his first TV acting job when he fell asleep on the operating table while playing a patient in 'Holby City'.

The film industry really woke up to his talent when it saw his performance as IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands in McQueen's 2008 film 'Hunger'.

He went on a drastic diet for the role - getting his weight down to nine stone - and wowed the critics in the process.

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Steve McQueen with Michael Fassbender.

Fassbender, the son of a German father and Irish mother, reunited with McQueen for 'Shame' where he co-starred with Carey Mulligan and played a sex addict.

Other roles include Mr Rochester in 'Jane Eyre', Magneto in 'X-Men: First Class' and an android in the sci-fi epic 'Prometheus', but it is his work with McQueen that impresses the most.

At the 2011 London premiere of 'Shame', he joked that he "liked the pain" of working with McQueen before paying him a fulsome tribute.

He said: "'The fact of the matter is, Steve changed my life.

''I want to keep learning in this game and if I can keep working with people like, and especially, Steve, then I'm happy.'

''Steve and I have a really good understanding. We are on the same page, we see things in the same light and we want to take risks and stretch boundaries".

12 Years A Slave Cast and Crew at the Oscars
86th Annual Academy Awards - Press Room(01 of14)
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HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 02: Director Steve McQueen, winner of Best Picture for '12 Years a Slave', poses in the press room during the Oscars at Loews Hollywood Hotel on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
US-OSCARS-ARRIVALS(02 of14)
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Nominee for Best Actor In A Supporting Role in '12 Years a Slave' Michael Fassbender (R) and his mother Adelle arrives on the red carpet for the 86th Academy Awards on March 2nd, 2014 in Hollywood, California. AFP PHOTO / Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
86th Annual Academy Awards - Show(03 of14)
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HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 02: Director Steve McQueen (L) and actor/producer Brad Pitt accept the Best Picture award for '12 Years a Slave' onstage during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
US-OSCARS-PRESS ROOM(04 of14)
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Actress Lupita Nyong'o celebrates winning Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role award for '12 Years a Slave' in the press room during the 86th Academy Awards on March 2nd, 2014 in Hollywood, California. AFP PHOTO / Joe KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
86th Annual Academy Awards - Show(05 of14)
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HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 02: (L to R) Michael Fassbender, Angelina Jolie, Lupita Nyong'o, producer Brad Pitt and actor Chiwetel Ejiofor celebrate as '12 Years A Slave' is awarded Best Picture during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
86th Annual Academy Awards - Press Room(06 of14)
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HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 02: Producer Brad Pitt, winner of Best Picture for '12 Years a Slave', poses in the press room during the Oscars at Loews Hollywood Hotel on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
86th Annual Academy Awards - Show(07 of14)
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HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 02: Actress Lupita Nyong'o accepts the Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role award for '12 Years a Slave' onstage during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
86th Annual Academy Awards - Show(08 of14)
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HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 02: Director Steve McQueen (3R) accepts the Best Picture award for '12 Years a Slave' with actors Sarah Paulson, Kelsey Scott, Benedict Cumberbatch, producer Dede Gardner, producer Jeremy Kleiner, screenwriter John Ridley, actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Paul Dano, producer Bianca Stigter, actress Adepero Oduye, producers Anthony Katagas, Arnon Milchan, and Brad Pitt onstage during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
86th Annual Academy Awards - Governors Ball(09 of14)
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HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 02: Filmmaker Steve McQueen, winner of Best Motion Picture for '12 Years A Slave' attends the Oscars Governors Ball at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
US-OSCARS-PRESS ROOM(10 of14)
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Screenwriter John Ridley, winner of Best Adapted Screenplay for 'Twelve Years A Slave,' poses in the press room during the 86th Academy Awards on March 2nd, 2014 in Hollywood, California. AFP PHOTO / Joe KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
86th Annual Academy Awards - Show(11 of14)
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HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 02: Cast and crew of '12 Years A Slave' inlcuding (back row) Sarah Paulson, Lupita Nyong'o, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Fassbender, screenwriter John Ridley, (front row) producers Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Paul Dano accept the Best Picture award onstage during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
86th Annual Academy Awards - Show(12 of14)
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HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 02: Director Steve McQueen (C) accepts the Best Picture award for '12 Years a Slave' with (back row) actors Sarah Paulson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Lupita Nyong'o, screenwriter John Ridley, actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, producers Arnon Milchan, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Anthony Katagas, actress Adepero Oduye and producer Brad Pitt onstage during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
86th Annual Academy Awards - Press Room(13 of14)
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HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 02: (L-R) Producers Anthony Katagas, Jeremy Kleiner, Dede Gardner, Brad Pitt and director Steve McQueen, winners of Best Picture for '12 Years a Slave', pose in the press room during the Oscars at Loews Hollywood Hotel on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
86th Annual Academy Awards - Show(14 of14)
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HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 02: Actress Lupita Nyong'o (L), winner of the Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role award for '12 Years a Slave,' with actress/singer Liza Minnelli (R) during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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