Marini¡¯s story arc begins with THE hit show¡¯s October 18 episode. He phoned SheKnows TO discuss (exclusively with us!) what it means TO be a Frenchman adored by tens of millions of Americans. His passion for America is beyond compare -- he now resides IN California with his wife, Carole, son Georges AND daughter Juliana.

Brother Gilles

SheKnows: Thanks for visiting with SheKnows.

Gilles Marini: Thanks for having me -- are you kidding me?

SheKnows: First of all, your experience with Brothers AND Sisters. Did you have any expectations going into THE show playing Luc Laurent?

Gilles Marini: When I was doing Dancing with THE Stars, I got a call from my manager that THE people from Brothers AND Sisters would like TO meet me for a guest-starring role. I thought, "This is great. I would love TO go there." I met Ken Olin AND some of THE writers AND producers, AND we had a long conversation. Next thing I knew, they offered me a part on THE show. I realized it was one of THE best shows on TV, so it was a kind of "Oh, my God. How is this going TO work out?" Now, here I am, AND everything is going really well.

SheKnows: Well, it¡¯s hard when you show up as a new player on a show with a set cast that has BEEN working together for years.

Gilles Marini: It¡¯s like coming into a family, you know? [They're] a family on THE screen. Pretty much, they are a real family IN life, too. They are all really close. They accepted me AND welcomed me better than I ever imagined. I started by sitting down next TO Dave Annable, who gave me a big hug. Imagine sitting next TO Sally Field AND Rob Lowe¡­ you¡¯re kind of freaking out. You¡¯ve BEEN watching those people AND admiring their work for a long time. Now, it was like I was home. They opened their arms. You know, I¡¯m a non-threatening guy. I have NO agenda. I¡¯m always myself, AND I love people. I came into THE show TO really do my job and respect everyone. There¡¯s NO ego when it comes TO me at all.

Marini¡¯s monster work ethic

SheKnows: I can tell that by watching Dancing with THE Stars. One thing that also struck me is your work ethic. You¡¯re willing TO go 300 extra miles TO get something right. Where did that arise from?

Gilles Marini: I don¡¯t understand anything else. Since I was a child I have BEEN working. It is a normal thing TO do. I come every day TO the set, AND I know all my lines. You can never BE completely ready, never for a shoot for a show; emotions come into play, director¡¯s ideas, but you need TO be ready. I¡¯m ready every day. I think it¡¯s normal. I¡¯m thousands of miles away from where I¡¯m from. I came here with nothing. For me, it¡¯s normal TO be a little bit more ready than anybody else who lives here AND belongs here. I have TO prove that I¡¯m part of this AND deserve TO be here.

SheKnows: Your family, very visible at your side during Dancing with THE Stars, is another aspect of your personal story that made America fell IN love.

Gilles Marini: I have TO support that family. We are all going TO die one day, AND I want TO be remembered as a good person. It has TO include every element. When I¡¯m on Brothers AND Sisters, I feel this is my element. These are THE people I should play with.

America loves Gilles

SheKnows: For you personally, what has this BEEN like on your end? America has truly embraced you¡­

Gilles Marini: That¡¯s where I become really emotional, Joel. THE day I landed IN Miami AND I started this adventure here, there was never one obstacle. All my life IN France was land mines. From A TO Z, from where I grew up TO where I worked, TO my family, it was very difficult. As soon as I landed here, my luck turned. Everybody I met was embracing AND welcoming me.

Gilles Marini: (Continuing) It is very natural for me TO have nothing TO say bad about this country at all. I¡¯ve always BEEN a very big advocate of America. I love this country with all my heart. I want TO be nowhere else. I felt it really strongly while I was on Dancing with THE Stars. THE show made you believe that everyone votes, AND all that, but I felt it IN my heart, by THE thousands of emails I received every day -- it was overwhelming. They were like, "You are part of us now.¡¯ I felt this is my completion. This is my Oscar, really. That America opened its arms TO me AND accepted me here. It¡¯s my Oscar.

SheKnows: That¡¯s THE nature of Dancing with THE Stars: You have millions of people who have TO pick up THE phone AND vote for you. It¡¯s a very active process.

Gilles Marini: For me, it was like, "Oh my God. I¡¯m still here!" THE truth is, IN the end, when it was against Shawn Johnston, I thought, "Please don¡¯t let me win." You can read my lips. I felt that I was against a real American hero. Someone who proved TO her country that she did her duty. She¡¯s proud, proud of this country. I did not want TO win. I thought it would BE a bad thing for me. There must BE a God somewhere, because it happened.

SheKnows: America does love its Olympic gymnasts¡­

Gilles Marini: I was so excited for her that she won. Every time I see her, I¡¯m so happy for her. Every time she goes home, she sees that trophy.

Brothers & Sisters Gilles Marini clip!