After being plucked from obscurity at 17, Natalie Martinez has already served as spokesmodel for a fashion line, starred in a primetime series and co-starred in the action packed box office champ “Death Race.” 

But how did this beautiful, sexy, talented Cubana come so far so fast?  HOMBRE discovers it all as she prepares for her first big screen debut.

Let’s start with the early days.  How were you discovered?
I wanted to study nursing.  My mother kept hearing this contest on the radio for a Jennifer Lopez spokesmodel and she kept inviting me to go. I’m 17 so of course I do what my mom tells me.  I went to this contest and out of 6,000 girls I win.  I had no idea, I never expected it.  I just kind of went out there to have fun and do it for my mom and then I got it.  That’s how it started, so once I started that it just opened these gates, all these offers started coming. Was acting or performing ever in your dreams, a part of your plans?
No, not at all.   

So it was all your mother’s vision?
Yes, I also had a great grandma, ‘vizabuela’, she used to say ‘one of my girls is gonna be on TV, a news anchor or soap opera star.’ That was one of her biggest dreams. She thought it was gonna be my mom. 

How was the experience of being spokesmodel for the line?
It was exciting.  I was born and raised in Miami. I was there until I was 18.  Then I went to LA for a photo shoot and never left. 

What happened once you began modeling for the line?
It opened all this doors. I started really liking it.  I started opening up, started taking pictures, guess I had a knack for it.  The thing with JLo is that it was just supposed to be one spread but then they got the feedback and they got me for all four seasons.   Afterwards I started doing jobs.  I just went with the flow. Si me dan trabajo lo voy a cojer!   

What happened next?
I did JLo for one year after that I just went around with a modeling agency modeling.  The agency sent me out on this audition for a miniseries on MyNetwork TV, it was called “Fashion House.” That’s when the acting thing started.  They called me and told me “We’re gonna book you on this TV show” and I was like ‘No wait, I don’t know what I’m doing (smiles). I was just kidding!’ 

You never acted before?
I tried a class here and there, went to commercial auditions but this was really my first audition for a TV show and then I got it! 

How was that experience?
It was probably one of the craziest experiences ever. Just because of the speed in which it was shot. We shot 55 episodes in 65 days!
So I worked anywhere from 16 to 20 hours – 20- 25 pages of dialogue a day.  In a normal set it’s maybe 2 or 3 pages the most.  Doing 20 pages a day for a first job was kind of giving me a head start but I know that it was probably one of the best learning experiences. 

Is that when you decided it was what you wanted to do?
Yeah, it started this thing inside of me and it just all made sense. It’s kind of therapy, it’s like a thing inside of you and it started growing and now I can’t imagine myself doing anything else.  I’ve grown so in love with my career.  In the beginning I never knew what I wanted to do.  I think it was just being open minded and letting myself go through experiences and just kind of seeing where life takes me. 

What happens after “Fashion House”?
After “Fashion House” I did pilot season and then right away there were three series I was negotiating with;  Do they want me?  Do I want them? I shot the pilot for “Chuck,” but the character was cut out. And then there was another show I did right after, I did 2 episodes. And in the middle of that I got “Death Race.” It kind of happened quickly “Death Race” was my first film. 

Tell us about it.
It was a fun role, my name was Case, I was prison and basically the warden, Joan Allen, she has set up this race that if you win 5 races you get your freedom; but it’s kill or be killed and it’s all televised on the internet so they make money – post apocalypse.

Everything is very raw and dirty kind of like “Mad Max.” There’s machine guns in the car, you have a Mustang but it’s iron and dirty.  It’s not like “The Fast and Furious” at all, it’s very raw.

It was a remake of a cult classic but it’s very different.  PG rated, it looked amazing,  actual stunts, no cgi, nothing put into the film.  You actually see cars flying through the air, it’s pretty amazing.  I’m with Jason Staham.  I’m his navigator, so we go around testing weapons and we drive over just trying to basically survive the race and get out of prison, cause if you make it then you survive, he’s the driver and I’m the navigator, basically telling him ‘make a right.’ I keep an eye out while he focuses on the road.  It’s an obstacle course, to make it more difficult. It’s kind of a fun role and we kind of get closer and our relationship develops from there.

 What was your training for the role?
I got into cars a week or two before I started the film. I kind of got to know what everything was, what napalm was, learn all the switches in the cars, the seatbelts were like the ones in racing.  I had to strap them on like I knew what I was doing, so I spent an hour or two in the car section.  I trained a few weeks before I headed out and then I trained with Jason.  It was great! The most fun work ever! 

Tell us about working on the film.
It was wild and in your face.  Definitely fast paced, an action film full of action and speed crashes, death and blood everywhere, everything you wanted, cars and lots of thrills!

I love action; I love to get my hands dirty. I loved doing the stunts.  In one of the scenes I got ejected out of the seat; that was so much fun. One of the problems was they had to keep telling me to stop smiling because I was having so much fun.

 And what’s next?
There are a few projects here and there I’m taking a look at and seeing what works. But nothing definite yet. 

What other kind of roles do you want to do?
I like drama, dramadies.  I like them all.  I really would hope I can fill that gap where I can take on everything.  I don’t just want to stick to one thing. 

What kind of career do you see for yourself?
I want a career like Jlo’s.  She’s done it all, movies that are serious, movies that are funny and of course I also like Angelina Jolie, she ha s lot of different movies, like “Girl interrupted” and “Gia.”  I love roles like that. 

Now your personal life, do you have a man?
Yes 

Aww, too bad.  What do you look for in a man?
Someone’s whose confident.  I like a man’s man.  I like hard hands.  My best friend, I can laugh with him. I can cry with him.  Go to the beach.  I like to do a lot of outdoor things.  My best friend. 

Your idea of the perfect date?
He picks me up; I love to eat but comida rica.  I love someone who knows how to eat and then do something – outside the car, walking, talking… just doing something.  I like to do activities.

What advice would you give our readers to get a woman like you?
Patience! (laughs). Be yourself. Don’t be anyone else.
 

Natalie Martínez: Carrera al Estrellato 

Natalie Martínez está acelerando sin parar.  En muy poco tiempo esta joven y talentosa actriz ha pasado de ser la modelo representante de la línea de ropa de JLo, a con-protagonizar la serie “Fashion House” en MyNetwork TV, a estelarizar la popular película de este verano, “Death Race.” Y todo comenzó sin planearlo, como algo que el destino le tenía ya preparado. 

Y cuando de hombres se trata, “Me gusta alguien que esté seguro de sí mismo. Un hombre entre hombres. Y quiero alguien que tenga manos fuertes, alguien con quien pueda reír.  Mi mejor amigo.”Y su consejo para conquistarla? Paciencia! (se ríe). Se tu mismo.  No finjas ser alguien quien no eres.”