Irish actor Michael Fassbender has been nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Independent Spirit Awards, a precursor to the Oscars.
The Killarney native, whose mother is from Co. Antrim, has been nominated for his role in ‘12 Years a Slave’ in which he plays a ruthless slave owner in pre-civil war America.
The film is the third collaboration between Fassbender and director Steven McQueen following ‘Hunger’ and ‘Shame.
Fassbender is nominated alongside James Gandolfini, Jared Leto, Keith Stanfield and Will Forte.
The film leads with field with seven nominations including Best Feature, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Male Lead and Best Supporting Female.
Fassbender is currently starring in Ridley Scott’s ‘The Counselor’. He will next be seen in Lenny Abrahamson’s ‘Frank’ alongside Domhnall Gleeson and will reprise his role as Magneto in ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ which will both be released in 2014.
He is currently filming John Maclean’s ‘Slow West’ in New Zealand, of which Fassbender is also a producer.
The 29th Independent Spirit Awards will take place on 1st March 2014.
For the full list of nominees go to www.spiritawards.com .
The trailer for ’12 Years a Slave’ is available below: