How Glee’s Darren Criss transformed for new role as Gianni Versace’s killer

Glee star Darren Criss’ latest role is a world away from the one that made him a TV star. In The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, he plays spree-killer Andrew Cunanan.

In 1997, Andrew gunned down the Italian-born fashion icon outside his home in Miami. He’d killed four others in the three months prior.

The manhunt ended when he turned the gun on himself. Twenty years on, the killer’s motive remains unclear.

It’s a dark role for someone who rose to fame as singing, dancing Blaine Anderson in Glee. But Darren points out his latest character was all too human.

“People think what Andrew did was really far away from what they are capable of being or are,” Darren, 31, tells TV WEEK.

“The truth is, we all have access to the same thoughts and feelings someone like him had.”

The nine-part series also stars Édgar Ramírez as Gianni Versace, Penélope Cruz as Donatella Versace and Ricky Martin as Gianni’s partner, Antonio D’Amico.

Darren admits that between the challenging scenes, he and Ricky would “blow off some steam” by singing together.

“Have I sung Ricky Martin songs with Ricky Martin?” he asks. “Yes I have – and it’s awesome!”

Darren will soon be touring the US with his former Glee co-star Lea Michele. The pair will sing Broadway tunes – and, of course, several songs from the TV show.

Meanwhile, former The Voice Australia coach Ricky Martin put his world tour on hold when he was offered a role in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.

The singer plays Antonio D’Amico, Gianni Versace’s long-time partner.

“I was living in Miami when Versace was killed,” he says. “I was obsessed with this character and project.”

The series lovingly portrays the 15-year relationship between Versace and D’Amico. It was he who found him on the steps after he’d been shot by Andrew.

Filming in the real Versace mansion, preserved as a boutique hotel, helped Ricky, 46, connect with the grief.

“I was waiting inside while they laid out Edgar on the steps,” he says. “It helped me so much to reach a level of sadness. All I had to do was see him covered in blood and hear ‘Action!’ to let it out.”

He won our hearts as Glee’s Blaine Anderson, and now Darren Criss has returned to the small screen, joining Penelope Cruz, as Gianni Versace’s killer Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.

And the role officially has us scared out of our skin.

“He is terrifying,” the 31-year-old, who recently got engaged to his producer partner Mia Swier tells OK!.

“But he’s a complex character. It’s a killer role – in every sense.”

Here, we chat to the TV star about all things Versace!

How did you land the job?

Well, it kind of came to me on a plate.

[Director and screenwriter] Ryan Murphy and I talked about doing this four years ago [the pair first worked together on Glee] and because I share a close likeness to Andrew Cunanan – plus we’re both half Filipino and we were both around the same age – we’d talked about me playing the part. I said, “When you’re ready to go, I’m in.”

I’m forever indebted to Ryan for having faith in me to do this role.

Was it intimidating to take on a character who’s a real person?
Yes, kind of.

I was really keen not to do an Andrew Cunanan imitation act, even though nobody really knows much about him.

The other actors like Penélope Cruz and Edgar [Ramirez, who plays Gianni] had to tread that line more carefully than I did because their characters are so well known.

What was it like working with Ricky Martin?

He’s awesome. He’s such a great actor, too, and I think that’s because as a performer, he knows how to connect. He has a fast lane to the human heart.

Did you meet him on the set of Glee?

No, but I knew he was a great actor and he did not surprise me on Versace either – he did such a wonderful job.

And what about Penélope?

We never got to do any scenes together, but it was incredible to be around her and watch her work. It was a real compliment she chose a Ryan Murphy show to be her first TV work – and I’m pinching myself that I got to share it with her. To be around people you truly admire and find they live beyond your expectations, it’s the dream.

For more about The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, pick up a copy of OK! Magazine, on sale now!

EXCLUSIVE: Darren Criss opens up about his killer new role!