MICHAEL Fassbender has been named as a contender for Best Supporting Actor in this year’s Oscar nominations with fellow Irishmen U2 nominated for Best Original Song.
Fassbender has been nominated for the first time for his barbaric portrayal of brutal slave owner Edwin Epps in 12 Years A Slave – the film adaptation of the 19th-century slave memoir of Solomon Northup.
The Kerry-raised actor has been commended for his truthful depiction of the cold-hearted Epps and for his dramatic scenes with Chiwetel Ejiofor (Northup).
He is joined by Barkhad Abdi, Bradley Cooper, Jonah Hill and Jared Leto in the category for Best Supporting Actor.
12 Years A Slave has been nominated for Best Picture alongside Philomena, which was filmed in Ireland and has also received further nominations including Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay.
U2 have received their second Oscar nomination for the song 'Ordinary Love', which features in the movie Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom. This follows their success last week when the band received a Golden Globe award for the song.
The winners will be announced at the Oscars ceremony on Sunday 2 March at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres.
