Born to a working class family, and raised in the suburbs of Paris, Martinez didn't choose the career until after performing numerous other jobs including a stint as a boxer, fighing professionally as a welterweight in Europe. He made his motion picture debut in 1992's "Jean Jacques Beineix's IP5: "L'île aux pachydermes" (1992). In 1994, he received the Cesar Award for Most Promising Young Actor for his work in Bertrand Blier's drama "1, 2, 3 Sun." Martinez first gained international attention for his performance in 1995's "Horseman on the Roof." His credits also include 1997's "The Chambermaid on the Titanic," Julian Schnabel's critically acclaimed 2000's "Before Night Falls."
Martinez has continued to work in the U.S. after the success of "Unfaithful." He starred opposite Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Farrell in "Swat" (2003). He will next be seen in "Taking Lives" with Angelina Jolie and Ethan Hawke.


