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It has been a full year since Michael Fassbender started filming Shame, the unflinching sex-addiction drama that would earn the relatively unknown Irish-German actor acclaim for both his brave performance and his prodigious penis. This weekend in Los Angeles, presumably unaware of the anniversary, Charlize Theron used the podium at the Human Rights Campaign Gala to toast her Prometheus co-star’s prized possession. “Your penis was a revelation,” Theron announced, displaying her talent for public advocacy while accepting the Ally for Equality award. “I’m available to work with it any time.”
In honor of Theron’s somewhat bizarre shout-out, as well as Michael Fassbender’s full-frontal birthday, VF.com recalls the milestones along his phallus’s figurative and literal rise to fame.
March 2011: Michael Fassbender begins filming Shame with director Steve McQueen. Playing a struggling sex addict, Fassbender showcases his penis in a range of scenes, while masturbating, urinating, fornicating, and walking around his apartment, ignoring phone calls from family members. Interesting penis trivia, as acquired by George Clooney during the Newsweek Oscar Roundtable: Fassbender actually urinated on cue for one Shame scene, which required three takes.
May 2011: After a total of 28 shoot days, Shame wraps. Fassbender’s penis is still unknown to the public.
September 2011: Michael Fassbender’s penis is unveiled at the world premiere of Shame at the Venice Film Festival, where the X-Men cast member is crowned best actor. Fassbender’s penis does not receive its own honor, but its inclusion in Fassbender’s best-actor title is implied.Time celebrates the premiere by announcing that “Magneto lets it all hang out.”
October 2011: Fassbender’s phallus gets its U.S. debut inShame at the New York Film Festival premiere. Later that month, the film is issued an NC-17 rating because of the gratuitous full-frontal nudity and explicit sex scenes.
November 2011:Shame shocks AFI Festival–goers, one of whom tells Reuters that he will need therapy to deal with the sights seen.
January 2012: It’s a busy month for Fassbender’s penis! Finally, someone addresses the obvious on an awards stage. While accepting his Golden Globe for The Descendants, George Clooney thanks Fassbender for “taking over the frontal nude responsibly that I had.” He adds, “Really Michael, honestly, you can play golf like this with your hands behind your back.”
Fassbender and his gargantuan golf club appear on The Late Show with David Letterman in an innuendo-filled segment just days before the actor is passed over for an Academy Award nomination for Shame. TheLos Angeles Times suggests that the snub could be related to his “superstar” member. Additionally, Fassbender reveals that he is an expert penis identifier.
March 2012: Awards season may be over, but Michael Fassbender’s penis is still on the brain. Charlize Theron toasts her Prometheus co-star’s package at an event completely unrelated to penises or Michael Fassbender, the Human Rights Campaign gala in Los Angeles: “I have to say that I was truly impressed that you chose to play it big. . . . Most other actors would have gone small, trust me. I know because I’ve worked with them.”
But that’s not where the action ends. Stay tuned next month, when Fassbender’s phallic breakout film is released on Blu-ray and DVD.
