Los Angeles, Jan 23 (IANS): Irish actor Michael Fassbender, seen as a brutal plantation owner and slave master Edwin Epps in "12 Years A Slave", describes it as one of the most petrifying characters he has come across.

The 36-year-old, who has been nominated in the best actor in a supporting role category for the 86th edition of the Academy Awards, said that he had difficulty getting in and out of the character while shooting the movie.

"I've come across unpredictable characters before, but none as terrifying as Epps. It was gruelling to find the inner workings of a human being in the character of Epps," Fassbender said in a statement.

"There's always a residue and effect left by a character but I have learnt to slip in and out of it," he added.

Set in the 1900s "12 Years A Slave" is the story of Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, who is abducted and sold into slavery.

"12 Years A Slave" will release in India Jan 31.