KILLARNEY film star Michael Fassbender has won the top prize at the prestigious London Film Critic's Circle awards.

And despite the fact that he was born in Germany and raised in Killarney, he picked up the gong in the "best British actor" category for his universally-acclaimed portrayal of Maze hunger striker, Bobby Sands, in the Steve McQueen-directed hit, Hunger.

Fassbender's Hunger co-star Liam Cunningham - who played the priest in the smash hit movie - was nominated in the best supporting actor category and they picked up their awards at a glittering ceremony in Grosvenor House in London.

But there was no joy for the Killarney-reared actor at the BAFTA awards at the weekend despite a nomination in the "rising star" category although Hunger director, Steve McQueen, received a special achievement award for the film.

The new golden boy of the cinema world also stepped onto the international stage last December to accept the prestigious best actor prize at the 11th British Independent Film Awards.

This is the latest international accolade for the Kerry actor for his work on Hunger which gained international recognition in summer when it took the prestigious Camera D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

And the famous Killarney son had better not put his tuxedo away just yet, as he is nominated for the top award at the IFTA (Irish Film and Television Awards) which will be held in Dublin next Saturday night.

The former Fossa National School pupil is still a regular visitor to Killarney where his parents, Josef and Adele, run the West End House restaurant.