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Tag: House of Versace

  • Gina Gershon: Being Donatella Versace

    Gina Gershon almost flat turned down the role of Donatella in the new Lifetime TV movie “House of Versace”. It is based on Deborah Ball’s book “House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genius, Murder, and Survival”. The movie tells the story of Donatella Versace trying to keep her family and the family business together after her brother, Gianni’s murder in 1997. However, according to an interview she did with Katie Couric, the script won her over.

    “I think because I hadn’t read it (the script) yet, and they said, ‘Oh, you’ve been offered Donatella’, and I was like, ‘There’s no way I’m touching that’, just because I think, when we think of Donatella, you think, ‘Oh, she’s so flamboyant, she’s a bit of a caricature’, but then I read the script and I just thought, it’s really a family drama at the end of the day and I found it so compelling, her story, I almost wish it hadn’t been her. I was like, ‘I’ll play this no matter what’, because I love the rise and fall and rise…”

    The famous voice of Donatella Versace was not that easy to hone, according to Digital Spy. “They even tried to give me the fake cigarettes because they thought they would be better, but those just killed me. There’s so much oil in them. So I just started smoking a lot before I went into it, so I could work myself up to it. As soon as it was over, I was like, ‘Thank God!’, and then I smoked a little bit when I was doing the looping… but I wasn’t used to it and I got bronchitis.”

    The things we do for the work we love…

    Image via youtube

  • Raquel Welch To Star In Lifetime Versace Biopic

    72-year-old screen siren Raquel Welch is set to star in a made-for-television movie on Lifetime in October. The film, “House of Versace,” will be about the rise and (almost) fall of the infamous fashion house formally known as Gianni Versace S.p.A.

    A journalist, Deborah Ball, first wrote the book that the movie is based upon; House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genuis, Murder, and Survival, which was published in February 2010.

    More commonly referred to simply as, “Versace,” the posh Italian design studio was founded by Giovanni “Gianni” Versace in 1978. He would become one of history’s most popular designers for the rich and famous. In 1997 Gianni was murdered on the steps of his Miami home; his sister, Donatella Versace, who was the P.R. head of the company, was then left to take over.

    The film airing in October will be about the near-collapse of the corporation after Gianni’s July 15, 1997 death, and then its ultimate upturn, headed by Donatella.

    Racquel Welch, one of the most famous sex symbols of the 60’s and 70’s, will star in the film as Aunt Lucia, Donatella and Gianni’s aunt who helped inspire Donatella to regain control of the family fortune after she nearly lost the company to bankruptcy. Donatella and Gianni’s brother, Santo, also aided in rebuilding Donatella and, thus, Versace, and will be a prominent character in the film.

    Gina Gershon has signed on to portray Donatella in the film, and Colini Feore will play Santo Versace.

    Interestingly enough, Lifetime will also be airing another network exclusive about the Versace’s in October, a documentary about the life of the late fashion mogul.

    Possibly the two specials’ real significance – Gianni’s famous death scene-home in Miami will be going up for auction on September 17, less than a month before the film and documentary will be broadcast. Coincidence? Only Lifetime network officials and the Versace’s know for sure, and they’re definitely not saying.

    “House of Versace” is set to air on Lifetime on October 5 at 8 p.m.