Michael Fassbender: 'Shame' director: Americans 'too scared of sex'

(CNN) - Author: By Breeanna Hare, CNN
Published On: Feb 21 2012 05:51:31 PM EST

Michael Fassbender's turn in "Shame" was one of the resounding snubs from this year's Academy Award nominations, and the film's director, Steve McQueen, believes the prudes could be to blame.

Fassbender stars in the film as a sex addict, and his performance was "mesmerizing," one that cemented the actor as "one of the biggest breakout stars of 2011," Entertainment Weekly said of the Oscars oversight. 

Director McQueen agreed that Fassbender had been overlooked by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, reportedly telling the 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 is not on the list?'"

Fassbender is "a once in a generation actor," McQueen continued. "He's an actor who can transform and transcend, and you actually believe him, so that's the kind of guy that he is."

There's also the Academy's prevailing demographic to consider. According to a Los Angeles Times study, the voting members of the Academy are close to 94 percent Caucasian, are 77 percent male, and have a median age of 62. If the demographics were more varied, said Academy member Alfre Woodard, perhaps "Shame" would have stood a better chance.

Read further:  http://www.local10.com/entertainment/-Shame-director-Americans-too-scared-of-sex/-/1716846/8827952/-/ua2vpq/-/