Michael Fassbender thinks his father will have "images playing in his head" after watching him in Shame.

The German-Irish actor plays a sex addict on the edge in the Steve McQueen-directed movie. The erotically-charged role required full frontal nudity and explicit sex scenes, which Michael has joked his family probably won't appreciate.

"I saw it for the first time last night, my dad was with me. He's now on the road heading back to Ireland, and he's probably got the images playing in his head," he laughed in an interview with the UK edition of OK! magazine.

"My mum was supposed to see it, but I was actually thinking it was better that she stayed at home. I'm sure it's going to be difficult for her to see."

Michael broke a lot of taboos will filming the risqu film. The star is comfortable with that.

"I realised this character was going to be quite repulsive and what was important was that the sex scenes aren't exploitative, it's not gratuitous," he said.

"They are there for a reason, to show this guy's inner life and his battle. He is at war with himself."