Michael Fassbender will refuse to do any campaigning for an Oscar, it has been revealed. Speaking to GQ magazine, the German-born, Irish-raised actor, the actor called the awards season campaign "a grind".

Fassbender failed in his attempt be gain an Oscar nomination for his role in the Steve McQueen sex-addict film Shame two years ago, and this year he is one of the key figures in McQueen's follow-up, the hotly-tipped 12 Years a Slave, but the actor is not keen to repeat the experience.

"You know, I get it," he said. "Everybody's got to do their job. So you try and help and facilitate as best you can. But I won't put myself through that kind of situation again."

"It's just a grind. And I'm not a politician. I'm an actor."

Fassbender plays plantation owner Edwin Epps in 12 Years a Slave, and said that work commitments, including producing and starring in the Assassin's Creed movie, as well as acting in a film version of Macbeth opposite Marion Cotillard, will effectively keep him out of the awards-season zone.

In his stated desire to avoid the pre-Oscar hoopla, Fassbender is echoing the views of Joaquin Phoenix, who called the Academy awards "the worst-tasting carrot I've ever tasted in my whole life".

Phoenix's outburst didn't stop him gaining a best actor nomination for The Master, and there's no reason to suppose Fassbender has scuppered his chances of doing the same. Winning, though, will be another matter.

More on 12 Years a Slave

• First look review

• Toronto film festival: 12 Years a Slave's top prize makes it Oscars favourite

• Michael Fassbender and Steve McQueen speak at the Toronto film festival press conference for Slave