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ACS star says she has Donatella Versace's blessing

Photo credit: Getty
Photo credit: Getty

From Digital Spy

The role of Donatella Versace in American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace is no doubt an attractive one, playing a real-life icon in a Ryan Murphy production... it's got awards written all over it.

But it's also a terrifying role to take on, so you can imagine that when Penelope Cruz was offered the job, she had to make sure it was okay with the real Donatella first.

Speaking to Net-a-Porter, Penelope said; "I said to Donatella, 'This is keeping me up at night because it's such a big responsibility to play someone who's not only alive, but someone I respect so much.'"

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

"And she told me, 'If somebody's going to do it, I'm happy that it's you.'

"Her words gave me the freedom to do this. I think she could hear in my voice that everything was going to be done from a place of respect."

The actress also talks about working to create the authentic voice for the iconic fashion designer, revealing that she worked with a voice coach to get her tone just right.

"Her voice is much lower than mine, and I worked for months and months with the voice coach Tim Monich.

"I was not interested in doing a caricature, an imitation; I want you to feel her there. Everything about Donatella is rock and roll – even when she's just sitting in a chair, she does it with an attitude."

Photo credit: Anthony Harvey / Getty Images
Photo credit: Anthony Harvey / Getty Images

But despite her blessings for Penelope, the Versace family have released a statement branding the series, produced by Ryan Murphy, "a work of fiction".

American Crime Story season two airs on FX in the US. BBC Two will air the series in the UK, but has not given a date beyond 'early 2018' as of yet.


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