I always say I was born too late in the world, too old.
Olivier Martinez
My father was champion of North Africa and he beat the European champ. He was very good, a professional for 12 years. We're from a big family of boxers. My father has seven brothers.
I'm not a movie star like other actors in the way that I need to walk with a bodyguard.
I never analyze why I was with one woman instead of another.
It's not only imagination, it's the distortion of the vision. You suddenly think, This person is idealistic, this person is strong, this person has dreams, when you know better most of the time. You put what you want to see on people.
I was born and raised in a suburb of Paris by a working-class family.
It's like all the signs were telling me that I shouldn't be a boxer, so I quit.
I'm French - it's less important. Meaning, I remain a Frenchman in America, but I adapt to American culture. I feel good there - but I'm still a foreigner.
Love is based on imagination.
I like Brad Pitt; I just have nothing to do with him.
I don't want to dig in the truth all of the time. Let me dream.
Every morning, I can lose myself just by looking at my son.
The big difference with Juliette and the others in that film is that she goes beyond acting.
And I think it is the genius of actors to be able to escape whatever people are expecting of them. Otherwise you become like a factory worker.
Otherwise, to be a movie star, it's a lot of compromise and also a lot of headaches. You can't do what you want. You become a prisoner of your fame. This happened to me in France and I don't want it.
The longer you stand with people, the better it becomes.
I'll always be a foreigner.
I want just to be happy and peaceful. And that's not always the case when you're married.
And what's more I've got no need for anyone to tell me how to do it. I am not interested. You act how you want to and leave me alone to do my own thing.
The first time Adrian saw me was on tape. But you should know that this never works - never in the history of movies has someone been cast from a video.
People sometimes recognize me here, but they are very nice.
I really believe great actors, even with disease and age, can be great.
Sometimes you have to laugh about what gets published; sometimes it's annoying, but in general I don't care.
In Hollywood, you can live alongside very famous but still incredibly boring people. I've never wanted to be immortal. Even if nobody remembers me after my death, it's still okay with me.
I see my friends, my family, my cousins work all day long for very little money, and if I have this problem of not being able to wall on the streets, it's not a big deal.
Imagination creates some big monsters.
But what I really like are old Hollywood movies. Very often I watch AMC.
Just being famous feels cheap to me.
There are two smells that I can recognize right away. The smell of the boxing ring and the smell of a garage. That's where I grew up. I can recognize these places with my eyes closed.
I wanted to become a champ - I was surrounded by champs in my family and in my neighborhood - and because of this stupid accident, I lost my opportunity.
I quit after a bad car accident. The thing about boxing is that you can be a star for five or six years, but when you go back to the old life, it's tough.
I don't feel restricted by the language: I feel more free.
I don't have goals in life.
Also, I have found that I really like to work in English. It's very strange because it's exactly the opposite of what I thought it would be like.
Before, I was so stupid. But, you know, when you have friends who died on the street, you say, okay, let's calm down. It's not the kind of energy I want to have in life. I want to go slower, and longer.
If you want to be happy, live discreetly. Does that make sense in English?
But when you work with the director and the real person who is playing opposite you, it changes everything. You are almost in a working session. I was very comfortable, and that's maybe what helped me to get the part.
If you compare me to an actor, I'm probably one of the best boxers in the profession. But if you compare me as a boxer, I'm probably one of the best actors.
I played a scene at the end of my first year, and that's how I was discovered.
My son will be an American, but I remain French.
It's nice to have some distance with your family. As long as you're closer to them by love.
Who knows what happens tomorrow? We'll find it tomorrow.
