Crash Into Me

NATALIE MARTINEZ is the sexiest thing on four wheels in Death Race. Rev your engines.

By Justin Monroe
Photographs by Ellen Stagg

MORE CREDITS »

(STYLING) ANOMA YA WHITTAKER; (HAIR) KERRIE URBAN; (MAKEUP) JOE J. SIMON FOR GIORIO ARMANI COSMETICS. (CLOTHING) THIS PAGE: TOP BY ELLE MACPHERSON INTIMATES; BATHING SUIT BOTTOMS BY VICTORIA'S SECRET; BRACELET BY AGENT PROVOCATEUR; SHOES BY MALO. (FOLLOWING SPREAD) DRESS BY GUESS; BELT BY ROCK & REPUBLIC; DRESS BY HERVE LEGER BY MAX AZRIA; SHOES BY DERERCUNY

As long as we come in to contact with her bumper, Natalie Martinez can run us down in the street anytime. Why so motor-morbid? The Cuban-American model/actress, once known as the face of Jennifer Lopez’s JLO line, is making her big-screen debut in Death Race, a re-imagining of Roger Corman’s exploitation gem Death Race 2000 (1975). Vehicular homicide is the theme, which is fitting, since she kinda has a thing for scars. But can she drive...stick?

What does the “Fuck it” tattoo on your heel mean?

Natalie Martinez: It’s positive, like, “Fuck it, I’m all in.”

Do a lot of guys ask you if they could be “it”?

Natalie Martinez: Like, if they could “fuck it”?

Maybe.

Natalie Martinez: No, they don’t ask that.

Good, because that would be crass. You’ve said that you like guys who are motivated. Is it enough to be really, really motivated to get you in bed?

Natalie Martinez: Oh, no, no, no. [Laughs.] Don’t be too hungry. Or too thirsty, either.

Gulp. When you look at yourself in the mirror, do you think, “Damn, I’m hot?”

Natalie Martinez: I’m on my own dick. [Laughs.] I can clean up pretty nice, but I’m funny looking, I think. My ears have been the same size since I was 5. I was a tomboy, so I have scars everywhere.

Scars are hot.

Natalie Martinez: I have one that goes from my eyebrow all the way down my face. When I was 2, a rooster attacked me with its claw.

Cockdamn! When did you last hurt yourself?

Natalie Martinez: Two weekends ago. I was skateboarding downhill with a bag of bocce balls and scratched up my side.

That always happens when we skateboard with bocce balls. Speaking of scrapes, have you ever hit anyone while driving?

Natalie Martinez: When I was 15, I was in my parents’ car and the brakes went out. I was about to run this guy over, but he jumped up and sat on the hood.

That’s slick. What’s the wildest thing you’ve done in a car?

Natalie Martinez:The wildest thing…like sex?

You tell us.

Natalie Martinez: [Laughs.] I’ve done some pretty crazy stuff. Let’s just leave it at that.

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