Gilles Marini
French-born international movie and television star with a natural gift for dancing and model good looks is also an animal lover and believes that rescuing an animal in need and fostering it is life-changing and can enrich one’s life. He is most proud of being a husband to his wife,
Carole, and father to his two children, Georges and Juliana.
Interview by Dina Morrone
Read Our Magazine…
You were born in France to a Greek mother and an Italian father. What is one positive takeaway from each of these three cultures you feel best describes who you are?
Without being too simplistic or making a general distinction, I believe the one positive takeaway from each would be:
The French try and bring sophistication, flair, and romanticism to every area of life.
The Italian side has a sly way of expressing themselves with a smile and quirkiness, and Italians are always there for the family.
The Greek side of my family was always strong and determined.
I think it’s a great mix of things that are essential to a full life. So, I was fortunate to experience all that under the same roof.
Food is an important part of all three cultures. Your father was a baker, and you worked in his shop. Please name your favorite desserts from each of the three, Italian, Greek, and French.
Absolutely. I was born and raised in a French bakery, I’m more inclined to know the French way of cooking.
Not that I think the French are better at cooking, but let me say I do believe the French are better at cooking.
My personal favorite is the Strawberry Shortcake. I was so good at doing that in my father’s bakery. I also was in charge of making all of the pastry. So, I have plenty more to tell.
Regarding Italian pastry, I love creating a Tiramisu. I probably use a bit more alcohol than most recipes, but it will never be dry by any means and full of flavor without getting tipsy.
As for the Greek, Baklava. My mom was making it. So, while a favorite, I can’t take credit for making that one.
Did you have a chance to spend time with your grandparents when you were a child? If so, what life lessons did they teach you that have served you well in life and your career?
I had a fantastic relationship with my grandparents. It was more on the tough side of things because both lived through and survived the 2nd World War and were pretty affected by it, which I have only come to realize more so now. When I was three years old, my grandfather sent me to the forest with a massive butcher knife with a cork at the tip, and a box of salt, and told me to go hunt for my own food. Of course, it was more of a trick/ metaphor to show me how hard it is to survive and how anything we may have in life should be acknowledged as a blessing.
My mom always reminds me about it. My grandpa was a rock wall builder. He was a very strong, humble man, who didn’t have much, and the two of them lived in a small, little studio. My grandma was the pillar of the family and also very strong. Her real stories from WWII are quite harrowing. She was involved with the resistance and had done very difficult things during the war. She carried a lot of what we now recognize as PTSD (post-traumatic stress). She was always on the violent side of things and taught me to realize I can have that inside of me – draw upon that strength – to be able to protect myself.
Her stories and ways were always about being on the defensive and telling us the stories from her time. She was a war hero forgotten by the French government. So I have profound admiration, respect, and love for my grandma. In a nutshell, I learned how to work hard and be strong through them and by their example. They worked hard their whole lives and were true survivors. It was a different time. But it’s still happening in too many areas and countries of the world – power and greed, by a few, to the suffering and destruction of many.
As a firefighter in the Paris Fire Brigade, what can you tell us about the time you spent doing this work and how it affected you?
The firefighters of Paris are part of the Elite Special Forces of France—very intense and challenging training. I was incredibly proud to have been accepted into the brigade. Not only did I learn how to do everything in my power to be able to save a human life, I learned how to be a man. To embrace and understand hierarchy with my head down, working countless days in a row, and of course, the ultimate satisfaction of knowing you are doing something extraordinary for your community. Truthfully, I had to use the skills I have learned there many times, and in later year for real-life moments. So, I was incredibly blessed to have been part of La BSPP.
Growing up, what did you aspire to be and do?
I have always wanted to entertain. It was in my DNA. That’s it. At the bakery, I was constantly recreating scenes from movies, stand-up comedians, and all. I loved making my father laugh.
But when you come up the way I did, your goals and dreams must stay in your mind. The possibilities in life are super narrow. Well, that is what the world likes you to believe. But, in truth, it’s not the way it works. If you want something, just go get it. I wanted to be an entertainer, so I went to the world’s most challenging place without speaking the language and made it happen. So, if I can do this, you can too!
What did you tell yourself as a young boy back in France that helped guide you to where you are today?
I did not have to tell myself. I just had to listen to all the negative sounds coming from everyone (besides my mom) saying that I was crazy and there was no way I could do anything like that and make it happen.
I think my mentality was, “hold my beer,” and I went forward. Look, it was no shortcut. I had no money or career. I had no connections, but I also had a newborn baby boy and my wife. That drove me to succeed, or perhaps, more accurately, not to fail, and to find a way.
Honestly, when I think about it now, I realize my family may have been right. I was crazy! But it worked out. And what guided me? Me. I owe lots of my success to myself and my perseverance, along with my wife, Carole, who is the heart and rock for our two children and me. She is insanely strong, positive, and incredibly supportive of me, our kids, our family, and our friends. She amazes me every day.
How did you make the leap from model to actor?
It came naturally through TV commercials at first. I then got a manager who sent me out on auditions. Little by little, I learned how to be an actor by taking classes. I like to be ready, prepared, and blow away people with my readiness and hard work, from modeling to TV commercial acting to film and TV acting. So that was the path for me.
You are an animal lover. Please tell us about your relationship with your pets. What do your pets teach you?
Animals have a special place in my heart. The love that I have for all creatures was passed on to me by my mother. She is the queen of saving animals and still is to this day. Animals around you, wild or domesticated, clearly understand that food and shelter are crucial to their life. They don’t take anything for granted. So many of my friends joke and call me Dr. Doolittle because I seem to get along with even the most fierce or obstinate animals, from horses, to dogs, cats, birds, the puma that visits our cabin outside of LA, to the squirrels that live in our backyard. I guess I sense their energy, or they sense mine, that I’m not there to hurt them, just to be chill and enjoy that they are there.
So perhaps the most vital aspect I have learned from animals is to take them for who they are, and not what anyone else thinks they should be. One excellent rule to carry into your interactions with people is to accept and appreciate. I observe animals all the time. It’s insane. I would spend my day getting close to their mindset to see if I could improve myself. I appreciate everything more when my adventures involve animals.
I read that you recently rescued a squirrel. When did you first realize that nature, animals, and the environment were important issues for you?
Yes, I rescued Benny Ben and raised him from a tiny newborn when he was less than a week old. He’s so cute. He acts like a human child at home and then goes out and becomes a terror. Wild versus domesticated. He adapted very well, and now he is able to live outside and comes to the house to get some cuddles from my wife and, of course, food. Squirrels are amazing.
If I had to do something again in my life, I would choose to be a survivalist teaching people how to be autonomous and understand the animal kingdom, to help embrace the synergistic nature of the world and be able to co-exist – stronger together versus trying to dominate and conquer – one versus the other.
There are so many things we can do to live in greater harmony with our Earth. Every day, start little, with small steps in your own life. Everything contributes to being a better, more responsible person. We have to become more the caretakers, or we won’t be here.
Tell us something about Gilles Marini that most people don’t know and that you want everyone to know.
I take the most pride in trying to be a good family man, a mentor, and a friend you can always count on.
What do you do to stay physically fit and spiritually grounded?
No secret there, I just get up and do it. I’ve worked with weights and recently, also jiu-jitsu. I’ve been training my daughter in the backyard. But, the mental aspects of staying centered and grounded, are something else. I believe we cannot do it alone. That is why I feel so blessed to have my wife. We all have insecurities and demons that we fight at all times. For me, it is very important to have one person in your life you can speak to, and whom you trust above all else.
What are you currently working on as an actor? Are there any future projects you care to share with us?
Yes, I just finished a new series that will air on Amazon/FreeVee later this year. I’m afraid I can’t say much more until it’s officially announced, as I’m not allowed to talk about it. Also, I shot a few feature films that will be coming out, a thriller called Dangerous Game and Dark Feathers with Michael Madsen, and Blunt, with Amy Smart and Billy Zane. Both were super fun to shoot in Maine. I also had a blast working with Neil Patrick Harris on his series Uncoupled which started on Netflix and didn’t get renewed. But now it’s been picked up by Showtime, which is fabulous. So, I hope they’ll bring my character back sometime in the new season. I’m also working on developing several TV shows, dramas, and unscripted both, as well as a movie or two for myself to act in and/or produce. It’s a way to extend my creativity to the world with my input. Lots of creative things for me now. I’m super excited.
Special Thank you to:
Amy Lanier
Alexia Melocchi
Julien Dahl
Sean Black
Yvette Marie
Charlie Nunn
Comments