He used his body to convey a sense of being "trapped" within himself.

For Fassbender, Shame wasn't about being "brave" or "shocking." It was a clinical, unflinching look at a man losing his soul to a dopamine loop. He remains proud of the film for sparking difficult conversations about mental health and the darker side of urban loneliness.

He joked about the "distraction" of the nudity but expressed hope that audiences would see the profound sadness behind the character.

He often pointed out that graphic violence is accepted in cinema, while the human body remains a "taboo."

Despite the critical acclaim, much of the media coverage centered on the film's explicit nature. Fassbender’s take on the frenzy was characteristically blunt:

Many believe the film’s NC-17 rating and Fassbender's exposure led to his surprising lack of an Oscar nomination that year. 💡 The Takeaway

He viewed the nudity as a way to show the character's vulnerability.