Biography for
Olivier Martinez (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

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Mini Biography

Olivier Martinez comes from a working-class family, raised in the Paris suburbs. He left school at an early age, holding various pick-up jobs such as salesman for jeans. Friends urged him to try acting, and at age 23 he enrolled in the International Conservatory of Paris. After several television shows, he reached the international market with Le hussard sur le toit (1995), billed in his American promotional tour for that movie as "the French Brad Pitt".

Trivia

Brother of Vincent Martinez.

The French tabloid press hotly pursued Olivier during and after the filming of Le hussard sur le toit (1995), speculating on a real romance between him and his co-star, Juliette Binoche; the couple threatened to sue one magazine that reported that Binoche was pregnant.

Olivier fought as a welterweight in Europe, taking after his father who had also been a pugilist. His Gallic mother was a secretary and his father worked as a mechanic.

Touted as "The French Brad Pitt" during his American promotional tour of Le hussard sur le toit (1995) (aka "The Horseman on the Roof) in 1995.

Lived with Juliette Binoche [1995-1998]

Dated Mira Sorvino (1999-2002)

Girlfriend was singer Kylie Minogue [2003-2007]

His mother is French and his father is Spanish-Moroccan.

Currently resides in Paris. Plans to move to Los Angeles to begin a career in American cinema.

Ranked #94 on VH1's 100 Hottest Hotties.

Has a dog named Sheba.

Shares birthday with writers Charles Perrault and Jack London.

Plans to buy a house in the Mediterranean.

Adores jazz music.

Studied acting at the French National Conservatory of Dramatic Art (Conservatoire National Superieur d'Art Dramatique).

Wore a black ribbon at the premiere of Taking lives, in sign of mourning after the bombings in Atocha (Madrid).

Owns two motorcycles.

Owns an apartment in Saint-Germain-Des-Prés, a quarter of Paris.

Once worked as a jean seller.

Parents are Robert and Rosemarie Martinez.

French citizen.

In 1995, he was photographed on the cover of French magazine "Studio", with French screen myth Alain Delon. The two actors are sometimes compared.

His role as Paul in Unfaithful (2002) was performed by Maurice Ronet in the original version of the film: La femme infidèle (1969).

One of his favorite movies is The Kid (1921).

Personal Quotes

If I had to fall in love with all the actresses I play with and live the situations I have to play, I would be lost ! I need to be solid and know who I really am to have fun in making something else. I noticed, while talking with other actors, that they often let ambiguity float. I don't like ambiguity, it's dangerous. I need distance. I also think that the result would prevent the audience from identifying to the characters. If you feel the things too strongly, you simply close the doors.

I was not very comfortable. I always say I'm not very comfortable in love scenes because I'm shy, because I don't play naked. It's very rare for a French actor. I have an issue with that. But as I've said, when I punch somebody in a movie, I don't do it for real. [It's] the art of lying and we try to lie very well, in our love scenes also.

I personally think you must believe in something. You must have a point of view on everything even if you have to change it often. That's my terrorist aspect in action! I need to have prejudices to make my choices, I mustn't let myself be invaded by ultra conservatism. Better be wrong in one's decision and then step backwards rather than not choosing at all.

"As a child, you watch the films your parents watch. My father would rather watch Lino Ventura than Ingmar Bergman. Each home has its culture, its roots, its story, which means prime time films".

I came rather close to dying. A serious motorcycle accident. It made me less flippant about danger! It was such a pleasure to walk again after a long period of immobilization. It's an extraordinary joy. And it puts everything into perspective: money, fame... I'm no longer afraid of dying, I'm afraid of suffering.

I was raised in a very traditional and old school way, so I'm not very comfortable with these kinds of love scenes on the screen.

The concept of sex symbol in France is different. They don't like the 'sex symbol' in France. I don't consider myself a sex symbol because all my cousins would laugh at me. "Ah, look at the sex symbol! He's coming today!" So, no, I can't be a sex symbol.

I like Paris. My problem is I don't like Parisians.

Have you not read Romeo and Juliet? People who can turn away from love have not ever been in love. If I love a woman, I love her. Nothing and nobody will stop me.

" It was interesting because we came from different places and cultures. But you know, if you put me, Michelle Rodriguez, Colin Farrell, and LL Cool J together in a car for two hours, you can have some pretty good jokes."(on SWAT).

I'm a macho guy. It's a joke. I feel very well in my world today, in my relationship with women.

Where Are They Now

(2003) Filming Taking Lives (2004) with Angelina Jolie.

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