Oscar Watch: Michael Fassbender

Over the last two years Michael Fassbender has experienced the sudden rush to fame that typically comes from salacious sources (sex tape, drug scandal, legal issues) -- but unlike his heavily Googled contemporaries, Fassbender's sky-rocketing star is solely driven by talent.

MORE: Fassbender is a GQ Man of the Year

It also doesn't hurt that the 34-year-old projects that special brand of old school, make your knees week sex appeal that has become rare in this post-Robert Redford world.

His skill and sexuality magnificently merge in a pair of provocative new films: A Dangerous Method and Shame.

ETonline recently caught up with Fassbender during a junket for both films where the conversation quickly turned to sex -- and America's mystifying problem with it.

A Dangerous Method is now playing, while Shame opens Friday in New York and Los Angeles.