In 1994, Martinez won a
César Award as "Most Promising Actor" for his role in the film
Un, deux, trois, soleil (1993). This was followed by a leading role in the
Jean-Paul Rappeneau period film
The Horseman on the Roof (
Le Hussard sur le Toit) in 1995 in which he starred alongside
Juliette Binoche as an Italian nobleman. The film was hailed as the most expensive French film at that time in history but failed to reach its $35 million budget. In 1996/7 he appeared in
Bertrand Blier's romantic comedy
My Man (
Mon Homme) alongside
Anouk Grinberg,
Gérard Lanvin, and
Valeria Bruni Tedeschi. Later in 1997 he played a leading role in
Bigas Luna's drama
The Chambermaid on the Titanic (
La Femme de chambre du Titanic) alongside
Romane Bohringer, set during the time of the
Titanics sinking voyage in 1912. Martinez portrays a French foundry worker who wins a strongman contest and the prize of a trip to view the departing maiden voyage of the ill-fated Titanic. The film was well-received; Mick LaSalle of the
San Francisco Chronicle praised what he felt was a rare honest portrayal of male sexuality by Martinez. Martinez first came to mainstream attention in
Hollywood films with his performance in
Julian Schnabel's
Before Night Falls (2000) opposite
Javier Bardem and
Johnny Depp. The screenplay is based on the
autobiography of the same name of
Reinaldo Arenas, which was published in English in 1993. The film was highly critically acclaimed, although Martinez's performance was overshadowed by that of Bardem in the eyes of critics. In early 2000s Martinez was in the peak of popularity, reached the status of
sex symbol and was called "French Brad Pitt". Unbelievably handsome actor with aristocratic looks was predicted to have a great future and was offered more and more roles in Hollywood. He was later noted for his performance opposite
Diane Lane in
Unfaithful (2002). He has since appeared in a television adaptation of
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (2003),
S.W.A.T. (2003) and
Taking Lives (2004). He also starred as Gabriel in the 2007 movie adaptation of
Blood and Chocolate, a popular book. Martinez plays Mauritius, prefect of
Mamertine Prison in
Paul, Apostle of Christ (2017). ==Personal life==