EW wrote:
Darren Criss on going from a Warbler on Glee to a killer in The Assassination of Gianni Versace
June 23, 2017
Ryan Murphy was adamant that Darren Criss — best known for his five seasons on Murphy’s Glee as sweet, bow-tied Blaine — play the Andrew Cunanan, the twisted serial killer in The Assassination of Gianni Versace. A Talented Mr. Ripley-type character, Cunanan charmed his way into wealthy circles before his violent break; he’s far from a one-note monster.
It’s unquestionably the biggest and most challenging role of Criss’ career so far. “Actors are only as good as the parts they get. You can only be as good as those moments you get,” Criss says. “This is one of those ship-coming-in moments where Ryan has really given me this massive opportunity, and I’d like to think I am up for the challenge. There’s zero anxiety.”
It’s a definite about-face from the squeaky clean Blaine, but Criss says he treats all roles with equal intensity. “I don’t like quantifying one [role is] harder or easier or funner or more significant than other characters,” says the 30-year-old. “Blaine, by comparison, could be put into a cartoonish box. The very patter of Glee exists in a different world than the one we’re dealing with. But all the same, I treat that silly hairdo and the clothes he wore and the way that he spoke and the things he believed in with the same currency that I treat someone like Andrew, who was a real person and had real friends and family.”
To sell his creative team on his vision, Murphy sent Smith and executive producer Brad Simpson to see Criss in the touring production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. “Once every night he jumps into somebody’s lap and makes out with them,” says Simpson. “In the middle of the show, he jumps in the audience and rips my glasses off and makes out with me. It was very charming and a very Cunanan thing to do, to be a little devilish. Cunanan charmed people and then turned them off. We’re talking about a serial killer people liked.” Criss jokes: “I casting-couched the s— outta that! In my defense, I didn’t know it was Brad Simpson. I’m glad I didn’t know.”
via DarrenCrissArmy
Sorry the video is so small. I couldn't figure out within the code of how to enlarge it.
But the video s fairly clear when you enlarge it.
I really enjoyed reading this article. I didn't know, that Ryan Murphy
specifically had in mind Darren when Ryan was thinking of the casting, thinking of who would play Andrew Cunanan. It really warms my heart that Ryan not just envisioned Darren in particular for this role of Andrew Cunanan, but in addition, that Ryan went through so much effort to ensure that the producers would be on board with Darren in the role. Ryan sent the producers to see Darren in the
Hedwig and the Angry Inch tour (I'm assuming in Los Angeles). That tour was a blessing in many ways, then, for Darren! The last paragraph of the article made me smile, about how
Versace executive producer Brad Simpson found Darren's kiss (Darren as Hedwig) to be charming and devilish, very Cunanan-like.
Interesting quote from Mr. Simpson: "We’re talking about a serial killer [that] people liked." We are getting a glimpse of who Andrew Cunanan was. Quote from the writer of the article: "A
Talented Mr. Ripley-type character, Cunanan charmed his way into wealthy circles before his violent break;
he's far from a one-note monster."
Nice of Darren to show how humble he is, when he said he is thankful for Ryan gifting him with this huge opportunity. (But hmmm. Maybe an overstatement to say he has "zero" anxiety. I watched season 1 of
American Crime Story recently with my hubby, and man, the acting was fantastic. This is a big project. It comes across a bit over-confident to say "zero" anxiety--even seasoned actors express some anxiety about big roles they get--but I get his point about being confident in his abilities. I also have faith in you, Darren, especially after seeing you 4 times in
Hedwig!)
It definitely sounds like the Darren who we know and love when he said he treats all his roles with equal intensity. Darren gives it his all for all his acting roles. I love that about him. Great work ethic. A lot of thought and preparation goes into how he shapes the characters he plays. Despite how cartoonish Blaine was in some ways--his gelmet, his dramatic nature sometimes, his style of clothes--despite all of that, Blaine felt very real to me. The way that Darren played Blaine . . . who Blaine was as a character, his essence, actually reminded me of someone I love very much.
So looking forward to
Versace! Can't wait!