Gina Gershon Plays Donatella Versace In TV Biopic

Gina Gershon will step into the designer shoes of Donatella Versace in Lifetime biopic House of Versace.

The made-for-TV fashion flick will trace over the story of how Donatella became the leader of the premiere fashion house. House of Versace will begin in Italy, where Donatella’s designer brother Gianni was tragically murdered in 1997. It'll then follow his less famous sister as she makes her way in the industry, having to prove herself worthy of picking up her brother’s torch at every turn.

Donatella, throughout her tenure at the helm of Versace, became just as well known for her larger than life persona as she did for the products her fashion house produced. In taking on the role of the Italian designer, Gershon had to master Donatella's voice and mannerisms, careful not to slip into a caricature – see: Maya Rudolf’s SNL impersonation.

Gershon recently opened up about playing the known personality in an interview with Katie Couric. “I think because I hadn't read [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',” Gershon admitted. “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."

One Million Year’s B.C. actress Raquel Welch, who stunned in a curve-hugging leopard print dress at a pre-Emmy party will play opposite Gershon as Aunt Lucia.

– Chelsea Regan

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