Olivier Martinez (born 12 January 1966)[1] is a French actor. He became well known after roles in several French films such as Un, deux, trois, soleil (1993), which garnered him the César Award for "Most Promising Actor", The Horseman on the Roof (1995), and The Chambermaid on the Titanic (1997). He has also appeared in Hollywood-produced features, including the drama Before Night Falls (2000), the erotic thriller Unfaithful (2002) and playing the role of a French drug lord in the action-crime-thriller S.W.A.T. (2003).

Olivier Martinez
Born (1966-01-12) 12 January 1966 (age 58)
Paris, France
OccupationActor
Years active1990–present
Spouse
(m. 2013; div. 2016)
Children1

Early life

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Martinez was born in Paris, France, to a working-class family. His father was a Spanish professional boxer and his mother was a French secretary.[2] He studied at the CNSAD and began his acting career in his native France in 1990. Martinez was raised Catholic.[3]

Career

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In 1994, Martinez won a César Award as "Most Promising Actor" for his role in the film Un, deux, trois, soleil (1993). This was followed by a leading role in the Jean-Paul Rappeneau period film The Horseman on the Roof (Le Hussard sur le Toit) in 1995 in which he starred alongside Juliette Binoche as an Italian nobleman. The film was hailed as the most expensive French film at that time in history but failed to reach its $35 million budget.[4] In 1996/7 he appeared in Bertrand Blier's romantic comedy My Man (Mon Homme) alongside Anouk Grinberg, Gérard Lanvin, and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi.[5] Later in 1997 he played a leading role in Bigas Luna's drama The Chambermaid on the Titanic (La Femme de chambre du Titanic) alongside Romane Bohringer, set during the time of the Titanic's sinking voyage in 1912. Martinez portrays a French foundry worker who wins a strongman contest and the prize of a trip to view the departing maiden voyage of the ill-fated Titanic.[6] The film was well-received; Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle praised what he felt was a rare honest portrayal of male sexuality by Martinez.

Martinez first came to mainstream attention in Hollywood films with his performance in Julian Schnabel's Before Night Falls (2000) opposite Javier Bardem and Johnny Depp.[7] The screenplay is based on the autobiography of the same name of Reinaldo Arenas, which was published in English in 1993. The film was highly critically acclaimed, although Martinez's performance was overshadowed by that of Bardem in the eyes of critics. He was later noted for his performance opposite Diane Lane in Unfaithful (2002). He has since appeared in a television adaptation of The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (2003), S.W.A.T. (2003) and Taking Lives (2004). He also starred as Gabriel in the 2007 movie adaptation of Blood and Chocolate, a popular book. Martinez plays Mauritius, prefect of Mamertine Prison in Paul, Apostle of Christ (2017).

Personal life

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Martinez began a relationship with Australian singer and actress Kylie Minogue after meeting her at the 2003 Grammy Awards ceremony. They ended their relationship in February 2007.[8]

Martinez began dating American actress Halle Berry in 2010 after meeting on the set of the action thriller film Dark Tide (2012).[9][10] They confirmed their engagement in March 2012.[11] On 22 November 2012, Martinez was treated at a Los Angeles hospital after being injured in a physical altercation with Canadian model Gabriel Aubry, Berry's former partner and father of her daughter.[12] Aubry and Berry had been involved in a custody battle centered on Berry's desire to move with their daughter and Martinez to his native France, a request denied by a judge less than two weeks prior to the altercation, on the grounds that it would interfere with Berry and Aubry's joint custody arrangement.[13] The custody dispute was resolved at the end of November.[14]

Berry and Martinez married in a private ceremony in France on 13 July 2013.[15] Their son was born in October 2013 in Los Angeles.[16][17] They announced their divorce in 2015,[18] and it was finalized in December 2016.[19] In August 2023, issues dealing with custody and child support were settled.[20]

Apart from his native French, he is also fluent in Spanish, due to his Valencian and Andalusian heritage, and English.[21]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Language Notes
1990 Plein Fer Pascal French
1992 IP5: L'île aux pachydermes Tony French
1992 Les Paroles invisibles French Short
1993 1, 2, 3, Sun Petit Paul French
1995 The Horseman on the Roof Angelo Pardi French
1996 My Man Jean-François French
1997 The Chambermaid on the Titanic Horty French
1999 La ciudad de los prodigios Onofre Bouvila Spanish
2000 Nosotras David Spanish
2000 La Taule Le Muet French
2000 Toreros Manuel French
2000 Before Night Falls Lázaro Gómez Carriles English
2000 Bullfighter Jack English
2002 Semana santa Quemada English
2002 Unfaithful Paul Martel English
2003 S.W.A.T. Alex "Le Loup Rouge" Montel English
2004 Taking Lives Inspector Joseph Paquette English
2007 Blood & Chocolate Gabriel English
2010 Knight and Day Beach Scene English Uncredited
2012 Dark Tide Jeff Mathieson English
2013 The Physician Shah Ala ad-Daula English
2018 Paul, Apostle of Christ Mauritius English
2020 Mosquito State Edward Werner English

Television

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Year Title Role Language Notes
1990 Navarro Rollo French TV series, episode: "Barbès de l'aube à l'aurore"
1992 Odyssée Bidon Phil French TV film
2003 The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone Paolo di Lio English TV film
2012 Cybergeddon Gustov Dobreff English TV series (2 episodes)
2012 Cybergeddon Zips Gustov English TV series (1 episode: "Gustov")
2014 Revenge Pascal LeMarchal English TV series, recurring role (5 episodes)
2015 Texas Rising General Antonio López de Santa Anna English Miniseries
2016 Mars Ed Grann English Season 1
2022 Loot Jean-Pierre English TV series, recurring role

Awards

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Year Award Category Result Notes
1993 Prix Jean Gabin Won
1993 César Awards Most Promising Actor (Meilleur jeune espoir masculin) Nominated IP5: L'île aux pachydermes
1994 César Awards Most Promising Actor (Meilleur jeune espoir masculin) Won Un, deux, trois, soleil

References

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  1. ^ "Today in History - Jan. 12". Associated Press. 12 January 2007. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Olivier Martinez - Interview Magazine May 2002". www.cinetropic.com. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  3. ^ Olivier Martinez Interview, Blood & Chocolate
  4. ^ Pidduck, Julianne (14 December 2005). La reine Margot (Patrice Chéreau, 1994). University of Illinois Press. p. 101. ISBN 978-0-252-03090-1. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  5. ^ Ebert, Roger (1 October 1998). Roger Ebert's movie yearbook 1999. Andrews McMeel Publishing. p. 395. ISBN 978-0-8362-6831-7. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  6. ^ Craddock, Jim (20 January 2005). Videohound's Golden Movie Retriever 2005. Thomson/Gale. ISBN 978-0-7876-7470-0. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  7. ^ The Advocate. Here Publishing. 19 December 2000. p. 57. ISSN 0001-8996. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  8. ^ "Kylie Minogue & Olivier Martinez Split". People.com. 3 February 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  9. ^ "The Carousel of Hope Ball". Marie Claire. 25 October 2010. Archived from the original on 15 October 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  10. ^ "Are Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez getting married?". Marie Claire. 4 January 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  11. ^ Henriette, Hadley (10 March 2012). "Olivier Martinez confirms engagement to Halle Berry, clears up ring debate, opens Villa Azur on South Beach this weekend". The Miami Herald. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  12. ^ Michaud, Sarah (22 November 2012). "Gabriel Aubry Arrested After Brawl with Olivier Martinez". People. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  13. ^ "Halle Berry Can't Move to France with Daughter: Report". People. 9 November 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2012.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ Natalie Finn (29 November 2012). Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry Reach "Amicable Agreement" in Court. E Online. Accessed 30 November 2012.
  15. ^ Ehrich Dowd, Kathy; Mikelbank, Peter (13 July 2013). "Halle Berry Is Married: Photos". People. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  16. ^ Silverman, Stephen M. (5 October 2013). "Halle Berry & Olivier Martinez Welcome Their Son!". People. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  17. ^ Chen, Joyce (8 October 2013). "Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez names baby son, Maceo Robert Martinez". US Magazine. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  18. ^ Zauzmer, Emily (27 October 2015). "Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez Are Divorcing After Two Years of Marriage". People Magazine. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  19. ^ Fisher, Kendall (30 December 2016). "Halle Berry Finalizes Divorce from Olivier Martinez". E! News. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  20. ^ Melendez, Miguel (23 August 2023). "Halle Berry To Pay Olivier Martinez $8,000 Monthly Child Support In Divorce Settlement". ET Canada. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  21. ^ Acceso Total - Olivier Martinez
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