February 21, 2012 13:01

'Shame' director blames Michael Fassbender Oscar snub on 'fear of sex'

Steve McQueen denounces the decision as 'kind of crazy'

Shame director Steve McQueen had put Michael Fassbender's Oscar snub down to an American 'fear of sex'.

The rising star plays a New York sex addict in the film, and despite widespread acclaim, his performance was not acknowledged by the Academy ahead of Sunday’s (February 26) ceremony.

Fassbender's omission has been one of the talking points of this year's Oscars, alongside snubs for Tilda Swinton in We Need To Talk About Kevin and Albert Brooks for Drive. Now, the director has described the decision as "kind of crazy".

He told Press Association: "In America they're too scared of sex, that's why he wasn’t nominated. If you look at the best actor list you're saying, 'Michael Fassbender's not on that list?' It's kind of crazy, but that’s how it is, it's an American award, let them have it."

McQueen described Fassbender, who can also currently be seen as feted Swiss psychologist Carl Jung in A Dangerous Method, as a "once in a generation actor", adding: "He's an actor who can transform and transcend, and you actually believe him, so that's the kind of guy he is."

Fassbender himself has not spoken about his Oscar omission but described the possibility of a nomination as "just a bonus". His Shame performance won him the Volpi Cup for best actor at the 68th Venice international film festival last August, as well as the British Independent Film Award for best actor last December.

You can watch the trailer for Shame below.