Fassbender discusses 'Jane Eyre' role

Michael Fassbender has admitted that while he was preparing for his role in Cary Fukunaga's adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, he took inspiration from the many different actors who have played Edward Rochester

The actor, who has raised his profile in recent months thanks to upcoming roles in X-Men: First Class and Prometheus, said that he initially looked at his favourite performances of the character from the likes of Orson Welles and Toby Stephens.

"Then I threw it all away and then I sort of concentrated on what was in the book, and what was in the script," Fassbender told Coming Soon.

The actor also admitted that he was persuaded to take on the role because his family loves the original gothic classic.

"My sister and my mother were big fans when I was a child and when I was in my teens as well, they were always talking about it because my sister was reading it," the actor explained. "That was the reason why I wanted to do it, so they could take a took."

Mia Wasikowska takes on the titular role of Jane Eyre in Fukunaga's version, while both Jamie Bell and Dame Judi Dench have been cast in supporting roles.

Jane Eyre receives a limited release in cinemas on March 11.