Michael Fassbender has revealed that being Irish and German is the perfect combination.
The actor explained that being German helps him to stay focused for work but his Irish side helps him to enjoy himself.
He explained: “I’m half-Irish, half-German. I apply my disciplined German side to my work and my Irish side is what draws me towards the more crazier and riskier side of life.”
Michael attributes his love for adrenaline to his Irishness: “I loved driving as a young boy where I would sit at the wheel of my father’s car and I was allowed to drive a little bit behind the back of our house. As I got older, I noticed that I loved to go a lot faster than other people and I probably took a lot of risks I shouldn’t have.”
The 40-year-old added that he has a strong work ethic and has a busy schedule now because he struggled to get work when he started out.
He said: “You can’t predict what’s coming down the road so if I have the chance to be part of an interesting story it’s hard for me to say no.
“It’s something that stays in the back of your mind. I love acting and from the age of 17, when I first got started in this business, until I was 27, I couldn’t find any work.
“So when a good project winds up in my lap my instinct is to take it.
“I have an enormous appetite for work and over a three-year period I made ten films without having much of a break in between. I can always take some time off later if I need to and I have done that.”
Thankfully, doing so many movies means that Michael can afford the finer things in life, but this was not always the case.
I still remember not having enough money to ride the Tube some days.
“I grew up under modest circumstances. I had to work if I wanted some spending money and at the age of 12 I was working odd jobs on weekends and in the summer.
“When I was 15 or so, I was a dishwasher at a five-star hotel. Then I worked as a bartender in London while trying to find acting jobs.
“I never had much money and I still find all I need to be happy in life is to have some good books to read and to be able to travel as much as I can.”
