SNP’s word of the day: Fassinators

Illustration by Lewis Mirrett

Illustration by Lewis Mirrett

Word: Fassinators

Meaning: A self-appellation belonging to superfans of the actor Michael Fassbender

Usage: “Fassinators! Which Michael Fassbender film are you looking forward to the most?” — Michael Fassbender Online

You should know it because: Michael Fassbender has had a very good year. He swept away all the sensitive girls in Cary Fukunaga‘s Jane Eyre; he got naked and mournful in Shame (the real Shame? I still haven’t seen this movie! How funny am I?); he stars opposite Viggo Mortensen and Keira Knightley‘s jaw in the new Cronenberg film, A Dangerous Method (in theatres… soon!). He will undoubtedly be nominated for an Oscar. He will undoubtedly stride onto the stage looking lanky, lean, intense, sardonic, and like he hasn’t slept in days. I love this man. I hope Ryan Gosling becomes more like him, less like George Clooney. Sorry, Clooney.

My fassination with the 34-year-old man-actor began late with Fish Tank (2009), which, if you haven’t seen it, get real. Directed by Andrea Arnold and set in some grimy low-rent English place, it’s essentially the anti An Education, with Fassbender as the dreamy, dirty older man. I won’t tell you more ’cause you should see it yourself. Then, to calm yourself down, go to fassynated.tumblr.com and look at Fassbender in a(n actual) fascinator. You’re welcome.

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