You are the ambassador of L’Homme Sport by Yves Saint Laurent. But how sporty are you really?
Olivier Martinez: It is actually a part of me. I come from a sporty family and my father was a professional boxer. I grew up in gyms. This is my culture. What is interesting in this adventure is the ability to trace a scent with regards to several aspects a man’s personality. We can be, at times, classic, sporty or adventurous, all whilst remaining the same man. When I was offered L’Homme Sport, I identified with it very naturally because I spent the first part of my life in sport.

Would you say that this new fragrance suits you more than L’Homme by YSL, for which you were already Ambassador?

Olivier Martinez: These are two complementary facets, as I said, and it is precisely the exploration of a person’s depth of personality that was created together with the YSL teams.
At the same time, I find that there are many similarities between sports and acting, especially the selflessness in the work. And often an actor, before taking on a role, must prepare as an athlete before an event. Sports have helped me a lot in becoming an actor. There is a rigor and discipline that we must have, and we must remain humble.

In the commercial, we see you riding a motorcycle in extreme conditions. Are you addicted to thrills?

Olivier Martinez: Who isn’t? Now, thrills for you may not be the same thrills for me, but I think everyone in the world is a fan of an adrenaline rush.

The role that has given you more thrills?

Olivier Martinez: For me, playing has always been a strong feeling, whatever the role.

Is being the ambassador of a perfume like acting in a role for you?

Olivier Martinez: In a way, yes. But there are several ways of interpreting a character. The narration is different in each film, depending on the director, the story, the way it is filmed. Surprisingly here, it would be closer to a documentary, in the sense that when we were shooting for L’Homme Sport, we went with things that are close to my heart. They would not have been able to put me in a world too far from my own because we would have lost a lot of authenticity. Here, it is a role close to what I am really like – I come from a sports background and I have known and loved biking for 30 years.

And thanks to the talent and creativity of Megaforce (editor’s note: A group of artists and filmmakers of French video clips and advertisements), I found myself on a motorcycle at the same time it felt like being in the middle of the ocean. It was a quirky universe that speaks to me because I love the sea, sailing (I even had a sailboat!). The feel of the bike is similar to that of the ocean, it’s a bit surreal because as you can see, I am experiencing both at the same time. I can really see myself in this portrait.

It is very important as an actor to be find yourself in the image of the product to which you are associated. I would say it is even more important. So, finally, I would say yes, being an ambassador is a bit like playing a role, but the role of a very realistic character…

Tell us about the L’Homme Sport commercial shoot.

Olivier Martinez: It took place in the United States. Three days in the desert, and two days in Los Angeles. I live in Los Angeles and sometimes I’m a little homesick. So the fact that I found myself there with a group of French youngsters brimming with talent, I was delighted. It was fun. After a day spent together in the middle of nowhere, we seemed to have the impression of a group of friends when in fact we had never known each other before. Apart from Romain Gavras, a director of cinema I knew by reputation, I only got to know the team members during the shooting and I found them really talented. I think we can predict a great future for them!

You embody roles for Spanish, English, Italian or American cinema. Is being an ambassador for a brand like Yves Saint Laurent a desire to affirm your commitment to your French origins?

Olivier Martinez: I have travelled quite a bit in fact, but we must know where we come from. The idea, in fact, is to not forget your roots. Especially when you travel a lot. This is a plus, it becomes a kind of natural compass. And I do not forget where I come from and who I am.

A big thank you to Olivier Martinez for his availability and good humour, as well as the Yves Saint Laurent team for allowing this meeting to happen.
Discover the fragrance L’Homme Sport in more detail here.

Marlène Vautrin