Interview with Gilles Marini (Part One)

My roommate was super jealous when I left for work this morning.  She, like most of the country, has a huge crush on Gilles Marini.  And who would I be interviewing today?  None other than the famous Frenchman himself.  Gilles was, as always, extremely gracious and very generous with his responses.  Enjoy!

Cole: What was your life like before you moved to America?  

Gilles:  Well, I grew up in south of France.  When I was 7 years old, I started working with my father at his bakery, helping make bread, pastries.  And it was a pretty hard job, let me tell you.  That was my job until I turned 18.  This is when I became a fire fighter in Paris.  The army owns the fire fighters in Paris.  It’s very different than here.  During my service, my father got sick, and this is why I decided to go back down and work with him until he passed.  After that, I was a little bit sick of my situation in France, so I decided to seek a different horizon and move to America.  

Cole:  And how did you first get into modeling?  

Gilles:  A friend of mine named Sandy would come to the bakery all the time.  We really liked each other, she was the sweetest girl ever.  And her uncle was a photographer.  And she told me, when you get to Paris, you’ve got to meet him.  I got to Paris, I met him, and actually he’s one of the best photographers in the world.  And I just didn’t know it at the time.  His name is Fred Goudon. I became very, very close to Fred.  We took a lot of pictures together along the way when I was a firefighter.  Next thing you know, after that, I had these beautiful pictures. 

Gilles in his days as a firefighter, photograph by Fred Goudon

Cole: And did you move to America to pursue modeling?  

Gilles: That was in my mind.  But when I moved to America, I had already met my wife and she was pregnant.  So for me, in my mind, it was like, oh God, I have to do whatever it takes to provide for her and the baby.  It went smooth in a way because in America I was really welcomed.  With the photos from France, I was able to quickly get a Visa for work.  I got one campaign and next thing you know, an agency wanted me to work with them.  I was doing modeling and able to spend so much time with my family.  It was awesome.  

Cole: And was it an easy transition going from modeling to acting?  

Gilles:  Everything went slowly but surely.  Acting was always in the back of my mind.  It is what I’ve always wanted to do.  Now, there’s a big difference between what you want to do and what’s going to happen.  But, I never gave up.  I said, this is what I want to do.  I will take it step by step and take my time.   

Cole: So it took a ton of perseverance?  

Gilles: Oh yes.  And by the way, I didn’t speak a word of English.  I came here with 400 dollars.  It wasn’t easy.  I couldn’t say, oh I want to be an actor, so let me spend money to take acting classes.  No.  It really was way more complicated than that.  

Cole:  Your French accent is one of your trademarks.  But I’m wondering, when you were first starting out, did agents or casting directors pressure you to change your accent?  

Gilles: I didn’t speak a word of English.  Obviously acting wasn’t something I could ever do because of the language barrier.  With modeling, I had a chance to go to some commercial auditions.  And right away, I was booking commercials.  And that’s when you understand, okay, there’s something going on here.  So I decided to explore it a little bit more.  I didn’t jump in the mix and say, “I want to be an actor.”  I took my time. While I was in Miami, I was going back and forth to France a lot.  I was also working as a model with Giorgio Armani in Italy.   

Cole: Sounds like you were quite the globetrotter.  So when you were trying to make this transition, were there any actors in particular who inspired you?

Gilles: I actually met Will Smith when I was working at the Delano Hotel in Miami. I was waiting on him every day, bringing things to the room.  It was him, his wife Jada, and the kids.  They were there while he trained for the movie Ali.  It was a while ago.  I think that was 2002.  I’m not sure.    But anyway, it felt so real, and I remember looking at him and saying this is really cool and possible.  I told him, you know, I would love to act.  It’s something I really want to do.  I do modeling and commercial acting.  We talked and he told me really, the thing is everything happens in Los Angeles, so if you want to keep going and doing what you love to do, you have to move there.  And when someone like that is telling you something like this, you take it very seriously.  

Cole: So what did you do next?  

Gilles: I decided to move to Los Angeles and also to kick it up a notch with my English, I mixed more with the crowd to learn faster. I kept telling myself Los Angeles is the place for me to become an actor.  I know it’s a long shot.  I know I’m not from here.  I know I don’t speak the language.  I know it’s a long shot.  But why not me?  I feel in my bones that this is possible.  This is something I feel.   I also started taking acting classes at Vincent Chase on Sunset.  I met with an agency here called L.A. Model and they threw me in the mix.  I worked more than ever as a model.  That helped me a lot because I could actually have a regular, normal living, not thinking too much of what was happening tomorrow.  I kept doing a lot of commercial acting.  One year, I did six commercials.  It was pretty involved, but one thing leads to another.  I started doing acting starting with the soap Passions and then I did Criminal Minds and did an independent feature, Ugly Betty, The Bold and the Beautiful, Dirty Sexy Money.  All those things.  It wasn’t major.  It was always a little part here and there, where you would just see me quickly.

Cole: Taking the classes and getting these roles, what did you discover to be your favorite part of acting?  

Gilles:  Being able to expose things.  I was very moved by the fact that you can get into a different character.  You can just dream of being this person and be them.  You can also explore your dark side and what not.  There’s no limit when it comes to acting.  And it’s great to tell a story and entertain people.   

Cole: A lot of people recognize you as Dante, Samantha’s sexy neighbor from the Sex and the City movie.  Were you at all intimidated when you found out how sexually provocative the role would be? 

Gilles:  Well, I did not think too much of that just because the script…I didn’t know how far we’d push it.  Michael Patrick King had an idea about the character.  I felt like, well, maybe we’re going to see a little bit of a butt.  

[Cole laughs] 

Gilles: And when I got on set, I let it go.  You know why?  Thinking about being this character.  As this character, why should I be ashamed of anything?  Who cares?  It’s my house, my shower.  Samantha comes onto my property.  Maybe she wants to see that, you know.  I really felt I became one with Dante and found a way to be this kind of person.  I’m always dressed up and I never walk around the house naked.  I’m very shy when it comes down to that.  So I just pushed the envelope a bit, and next thing you know, it went from a bit part to a scene-stealer and it changed my life.  It changed my life.  So I have no regrets for pushing the envelope a little bit.  I went full frontal.  Who cares?  And what you guys saw on camera, it was really nothing compared to what was happening on set.  It was much more provocative and they toned it down quite a bit.  

Gilles bares it all as Dante in Sex and the City

Cole: So there was a lot more that happened in that shower that we didn’t see?!  

Gilles: Absolutely.  

Cole: Yikes.  Well, a lot of people talk about a difference in French and American attitudes on nudity.  Have you noticed a difference?  

Gilles:  Here, people don’t really talk about what’s happening behind closed doors.  I think in Europe, we’re much more open and it’s more of a natural thing, especially when it comes down to sex.  It is what it is.  And here, it’s a little more taboo.  But in the end, people are all the same.  Culture can alter you a little, but what it comes down to is our nature.  And it’s weird to me that people are so taboo about something that’s natural and actually the reason why we’re all here.  My character, if it comes down to Dante, is really nuts, crazy.  It’s pushing the envelope.  But really, what is normal anyway?  Who are we to judge anything?  It was a pretty interesting movie.  

Cole: What was it like to find yourself cast in such a big-name movie?  

Gilles: I realized it was a big movie when Michael Patrick King told me on set that day, this is going to make you a superstar.  I was like, what?  He said, “You’re going to hate me.  Your phone is going to keep ringing.  It’s going to be insane.”  I was shocked.  

Cole: And was he right?  I think he was right…  

Gilles:  He was right.  What can I say?  He really was right.  When the movie came out, my life changed.  I got one part after the other...

The interview continues next week, as I ask Gilles about Dancing with the Stars and his experience so far working on Brothers & Sisters.

Comments

[will]

This is a terribly superficial interview.

Not Gilles fault, by the way. He can't control the questions asked. It's your fault Cole.

Modeling, persuing modeling in America, acting, "Sex and the City", beefcake...

Ugh. You've asked no questions that might actually reveal an inner life. That would give us a sense of Gilles as an individual unique human being.

How do I help to boycott this type of silly pablum? What means do I have at my disposal to pesuade other readers that these fluffy, no-thought questions are the equivalent of watching a Hostess Twinkie commercial?

[Arllys]

What a great interview, can hardly wait for part 2. Gilles is so open and willing to share his experiences and life with his "friends" fans. You just have to love his for the great human being he really is inside.

[Lou]

He's completely adorable.

[Sylviane]

I don't really care much about Luc, nor do I think he's that hot, but Gilles story is very interesting to read. Waiting for part two.

[Nicole Trudell]

Fantastic interview. You asked great questions, made more so because Gilles is so forthcoming with his answers. I love his character on B&S. 7 days never went so slow as they do now, waiting to get from one Sunday night to the next.

Great interview!

[EleanorS]

I'm a 50 something grandma and at my age, it's not all about sex anymore. So Gilles appeal is not because of his sex appeal. It's mostly because he is a real, down-to-earth human being -- a good husband and family man and the fact that he can dance like a dream is just an added bonus. This interview further proves that a celebrity can function as a normal human being without being caught up in the stereotype lifestyle of booze, drugs, scandal and insanity. Hope fame won't change him a bit.

[jackie]

Didn't see Gilles on DWTS, but I am getting such a kick out of Luc's character. Hope he sticks around. Also, Gille's personal story is really compelling! Loved him in SATC as Dante. I thought the same thing... this scene stealer is the next big thing. He's too hot and down to earth not to be!

[Patty]

Seriously, success couldn't happen to a nicer guy! Gorgeous... inside and out! Great interview! I also can't wait for Part 2!

[Geri]

You MUST keep Gilles Marini !!! A goup of varied sexual persuasion watch faifthfully. We all agreed the screen MELTS when he is on camera. Surely you can write him in...maybe not as Sarah's love interest (although that is pretty hot) but at least a "good guy". Maybe he's a zillionaire and saves the family business. Whatever you do...do NOT let this electric presence depart. This is your best character since you kept Rob Lowe.

[BC]

Congrats to David Marshall Grant on his promotion. Well deserved and hopefully one that heralds thoughtful storylines and better creative direction for the show.

[leilani]

Giles is so humble and down to Earth, so glad he's getting more room for work. Hollywood needs more men like him

[Tori - FREE KEVIN]

Merci, Gilles! Nice interview! You must keep that guy. If the ensemble gets too crowded... cut that twilight-boy, or David.

Luc and Kevin should definitely make out. That would bring the two hottest men of the show together in one sizzling scene. Nice!

Oh, btw, is Saul still gay? Is he still with Henry?

FREE KEVIN

[Ana from NJ]

Thank you for the added bonus by bringing Gilles to an already great show.
Gilles is a one man show an not matter if he is dancing, acting or making love he does it with style and great ease. Definitely he is old Hollywood glamour. Please keep it coming!!!!!!!!!!

[Anne]

Please, please keep Gilles Maarini on Brothers and Sisters - Writers... PLEASE.