Gilles Marini, born January 26, 1976, in Grasse, Alpes-Maritimes, France, is a French actor and model, best known for his role as Dante — Samantha’s sexy, scene-stealing neighbor in the 2008 movie, “Sex and the City.”
Gilles relocated to the United States about a decade ago from France to pursue modeling and acting.
Gilles began his career as a model in his early 20s. One of his first jobs was a TV commercial for Bud Light. He made his acting debut at the age of 29, in the 2005 horror flick ”Screech of the Decapitated.” In the following years, he starred in several minor roles playing an Italian bicycle rider in “Passions,” an Italian designer in “Dirty Sexy Money” and French waiter in “The Bold and the Beautiful.”
In 2008, Gilles landed his breakthrough film role when he nabbed the sexy role of Dante, appearing naked, completely naked, in the hit movie “Sex and the City” — after just one callback audition.
Marini remembered, “After the first towel drop, I was very comfortable,” he said with a laugh. “As soon as it was ‘Action!’ everything sort of blacks out. I didn’t really realize anyone was there…There’s even more frontal, because we did different takes.”
“Sex and the City” director Michael Patrick King said he knew as soon as Marini walked in the door, he had found his guy. “He is that rare combination of hot sex with Bambi eyes—irresistible.”
Marini said he has been inundated with emails and job offers since the movie opened in May 2008 and he was branded Hollywood’s newest eye candy.
