This is a fan forum to discuss Darren Criss\'s career and his public activities, including his theater, film, and TV projects, his music and musical performances, charitable work, interaction with fans, and interviews.
Aw, this is sweet of him to send this message to his fans. Is the next thing a new album (CG or your own)? He is the true Energizer bunny.
DarrenCriss THANKS EVERYONE! oh what a night
via Darren Criss Army
EMMYS AWARDS 2018 | DARREN CRISS E SEUS PERSONAGENS ÉPICOS | #EmmyTNT
(Source: youtube.com)
Tramp Stamp Granny’s Instagram Story, September 18, 2018
(Source: instagram.com)
Via Ricky Rollins’ Instagram Story, Sept 18, 2018
(Source: instagram.com)
StarKid love and pride.
Met this kid in high school in an after-school acting class. If you’d told those 16-year-old punk-asses what today would hold, they wouldn’t have believed it. They’d also be freaking the fuck out. Not a ton has changed. Congrats @DarrenCriss.
~ Dylan Saunders via IG
Very sweet message.
jonyricker Watching @darrencriss win an #Emmy last night was such a remarkable experience. Through our years of friendship, Darren has, through immensely hard work, incredible talent, sheer determination, and an infectious spirit, achieved this feat. Pictured here, he invited me to the SAG awards with him and we got to see our heroes be recognized for their work. And that was just a little over 5 years ago. Big things can happen in such a small amount of time. Watching my friend reach that goal last night made me proud, nostalgic, overjoyed, and hopeful for the future all at once. Congrats D!! You fuckin earned this one hard!
calebfoote @darrencriss you’re an inspiration! Still in awe of last night, you stacked up against some huge names and came out with the W! #thanos#americancrimestory#emmys2018#goblue
Benj looks exactly the same as now (and Darren has such a baby face here).
ourladyj: Lucky to be surrounded by this much talent. Congrats on your much deserved #Emmys @mrrpmurphy @darrencriss @crashbpm @ninajacobson @alexisvmw @bradfalchuk @loueyrich
*Bottom two photos from her IG Story
This wins the Emmy for the cutest pic! Look how happy he is!
d-criss-news:
mikemekash: Congrats to Darren Criss ! This couldn’t have happened to a more kind, talented human being!
Darren Criss with the award for outstanding lead actor in a limited series, movie or dramatic special for “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” attends the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Congrats from many friends:
d-criss-news:
Via Britney Coleman, Erich Bergen, Jwan Yosef, Matt Beckley, Jodi Benson, Cole Ramstad, Molly Texeira-Torres & Brett Maline’s Instagram Story (September 17-18th, 2018)
Jeremy wrote:American Horror Story comes back on 12 september. Hope Darren gets a role (eventually in the least scary episodes, so everyone is able to watch ).
What?!!
My first reaction: Wait, is this on your wish list or did you read somewhere Darren is going to be on AHS next season?
My second reaction: What? AHS can be not-scary? (yea!)
From dcriss-archive:
Such a shiny counter.
mabuhaymagazineofficial: A resident of both New York and Los Angeles and now proud co-owner of a piano bar in LA, actor and musician Darren Criss takes time out from his busy schedule to talk about his Filipino heritage and show us the best his second home has to offer, beyond the sparkle of Hollywood. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ @janetrnepales @mscottphoto
I didn't have a chance to post this earlier. As I read on tumblr, Darren's perfect for these kind of articles, b/c he's enjoys experiencing restaurants (and shows and concerts and other spots). Very interesting to read about Darren's experiences as a young person with mixed heritage and his connections with Filipino culture and the Philippines. How fun for him to walk down the streets of his mom's town, Cebu, and her efforts to achieve the American Dream. Very nice article.
jrnepales: When you fly @PhilippineairID , be sure to read the @MabuhayMagazine and my @DarrenCriss article in their July issue. Darren, who is nominated for an #EmmyAward this year for #TheAssassinationOfGianniVersace, talks of his Filipino mom, heritage and his love for Los Angeles.
So many supportive words from friends and peers and others. I'll post some of them.
Note: I added more messages of congratulations today (Friday, July 13).
rockerrick: Wow. Congrats to @darrencriss and the rest of the @americancrimestoryfx team and cast on 18 Emmy nominations
via dcriss-archive
Via Ricky Rollins’ Instagram Story (July 12th, 2018)
Aw, I knew Max and Joaquin would be sending their support. So nice of Lea and Michael Hitchcock as well (haha. But I was waiting for a funny congrats from Michael Hitchcock).
Added Harry Shum's and John Stamos's messages:
Such nice messages from Curt Mega, fellow Warbler.
Aw, Ashley.
ashleypweston: #TBT to when we were last in Milan CONGRATS on your EMMY NOM, #DarrenCriss!! What a wild 8 year journey we’ve been on together - I couldn’t be more proud & excited for you! SO WELL DESERVED Love you tons!! #Emmys2018#ACSVersace
Aw, look, Alex from DCN also posted his sweet congrats! I love Alex!
latimes_entertainment: Swipe for some of this year’s first-time Emmy nominees! #Emmys
Aw, some more nice messages. Nice of Mandy Moore (wish she was nominated too).
Craig Zadan.
alysiareiner: OMG CONGRATS @pamelaadlon @betterthingsfx @televisionacad #emmy nom!! And @darrencriss too!! You are genius talent beloved humans. A million hugs & kisses of congrats.From now on will only call you Pammy #likeaboss Adlon.
X
Via Tony Marion’s Instagram Story (July 12th, 2018)
Via Kindra Mann’s Instagram Story (July 12th, 2018)
Via Troy Williams’ Instagram Story (July 12th, 2018)
X X
umichtheatre: Alumni News | Congratulations to #umichacting alum Darren Criss on his Emmy Nomination for best “Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie” as Andrew Cunanan in ”The Assassination of Gianni Versace”!!! We are so proud of you Darren!!! #GoBlue#UmichTheatre#EmmyAwards#DarrenCriss#AmericanCrimeStory @umichsmtd @umicharts
Via Caleb Foote’s Instagram Story (July 12th, 2018)
Via Jaime Lyn Beatty’s Instagram Story (July 12th, 2018)
Via Julia Albain’s Instagram Story (July 12th, 2018)
Via Devin Lytle’s Instagram Story (July 12th, 2018)
via dcriss-archive
Via Etai Benson’s Instagram Story (July 12th, 2018)
ecarenphoto: Congratulations @darrencriss on your Emmy Nomination for Best Actor for your extraordinary performance in American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace! #outtake of our #photoshoot for @thewrap #creativedirector @guerin_ad .
variety: Check out the new kids on the #Emmy block! Congratulations to this year’s first-time nominees. To see the full list, click the link in bio.
American Crime Story’s second season to centre on Gianni Versace’s assassination
The highly anticipated second season of American Crime Story is returning to Foxtel, centring around the murder of legendary fashion designer Gianni Versace. Actor Darren Criss spoke to Sky News about the show and his role as the fame-seeking Andrew Cunanan. | 19 May 2018
via dcriss-archive
The bottom left pic is cute.
realdemeterstamell: Some stills from my interview with the lovely @darrencriss for #TheAssassinationOfGianniVersace. I saw him again later that night & he remembered how to pronounce my name, so he’s pretty much one of my favourite people now. That’s it. That’s all it takes. #DarrenCriss#Sydney#latergram
aaronjayyoung: DARREN CRISS // photographed in LA. Assist - @joshuabae_
This is cute. I like how comfortable everyone is with each other. ha! The way Darren has his hand on Edgar's head.
sascha_breuer: FUN TIMES ON SET! Tunes, friends & laughter @edgarramirez25 @darrencriss @ricky_martin @penelopecruzoficial during the Cover shoot of Emmy Magazine shot by my talented fried @robertascroft #hair & #malegrooming for Edgar @sascha_breuer #hairbysaschabreuer using @baxterofca @starworksartists & @blossommanagement.gmbh #ACSVersace#edgarramirez#emmymagazine
via dcriss-archive
acsversace-news:
Preview of Emmy magazine via writesinblue Instagram story | 17 May 2018
via dcriss-archive
Aw, very cute pic. I want to hear Penelope and Darren duet on "Father Figure."
acsversace-news:
televisionacad: American Tragedy, The cross-country murder spree of #AndrewCunanan leading to the 1997 killing of designer #GianniVersace — is “a very American story,” says #RyanMurphy, executive producer–director of the FX anthology series that brought the real-life tale to television. A distorted desire for the good life and the pain of hiding in plain sight are just two of the themes explored by stars #DarrenCriss#EdgarRamírez#PenélopeCruz and #RickyMartin. Written BY#TATIANASIEGEL in the new issue of #emmymagazine#ninajacobson#bradsimpson @mrrpmurphy @darrencriss @edgarramirez25 @ricky_martin @penelopecruzoficial Photographed by @robertascroft lead stylist @jolene.nava
televisionacad: American Tragedy, The cross-country murder spree of #AndrewCunanan leading to the 1997 killing of designer #GianniVersace — is “a very American story,” says #RyanMurphy, executive producer–director of the FX anthology series that brought the real-life tale to television. A distorted desire for the good life and the pain of hiding in plain sight are just two of the themes explored by stars #DarrenCriss#EdgarRamírez#PenélopeCruz and #RickyMartin. Written BY#TATIANASIEGEL in the new issue of #emmymagazine#ninajacobson#bradsimpson @mrrpmurphy @darrencriss @edgarramirez25 @ricky_martin @penelopecruzoficial Photographed by @robertascroft lead stylist @jolene.nava
ashleypweston: This. Shoot. Was. Everything. CALIENTE So much fun styling @darrencriss and being around @ricky_martin @penelopecruzoficial @edgarramirez25 #AWerk#ACSVersce#DarrenCriss
carolynjuliet: More fun with man of the hour Darren Criss thanks to @foxtel If you’re looking for a new series to sink your teeth into, The Assassination of Gianni Versace is seriously compelling viewing - I binged all nine episodes in two days, for which Darren both thanked me and apologised to me for! Catch it this Thursday night on @showcase - you won’t regret it! #darrencriss#ryanmurphy#americancrimestory#theassassinationofgianniversace#glee#foxtel#foxtelmagazine#maglyf
laurachel: Work perks… sitting in a Q&A with @darrencriss
Work that charm, Darren.
foxtel: Look who popped in to #Foxtel HQ. Darren Criss posed for photos and spoke about his new series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, coming Thursday, May 24 on showcase.
kell.brown: Interviewed the captivating & talented Darren Criss today - can’t wait to share my interview on all things ACS - The Assassination of Gianni Versace. A MUST-SEE new event series coming to @showcaseaustralia May 24! #BingedALL9EpsIn3Days
OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES American Vandal The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Godless Howards End Twin Peaks
It’s a tough year to call for limited series, since nothing really took the nation by storm like Big Little Lies or The People v. O.J. Simpson in years past. Even if initial critics were divided on Gianni Versace I think the final product was immensely powerful and will probably be the frontrunner as such. I also expect something as high profile as Twin Peaks to be nominated despite its divisiveness. From there it’s anyone’s guess, so I’m betting on two Netflix series that have earned acclaim, American Vandal and Godless, since they have both done fairly well in precursor awards. I’m guessing Howards End will round out the five, as the TV Academy loves prestigious British dramas, especially those written by legendary writers like Kenneth Lonergan.
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE
Darren Criss – The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Benedict Cumberbatch – Patrick Melrose Michael B. Jordan – Fahrenheit 451 Kyle MacLachlan – Twin Peaks Al Pacino – Paterno Evan Peters – American Horror Story: Cult
Darren Criss should be the runaway frontrunner for his stellar performance as Andrew Cunanan in Gianni Versace, but Kyle MacLachlan will ideally be hot on his trail for playing three different characters in the Twin Peaks revival. Al Pacino will likely get in for yet another HBO TV movie where he plays a controversial public figure, while Benedict Cumberbatch gets in every year for whatever he does, so why not Patrick Melrose, too? After the great year Michael B. Jordan is having I’m guessing he can sneak into this category, even if Fahrenheit 451 doesn’t have the best reviews. For the last slot I’m going with a passion pick, but Evan Peters gave his best performance on American Horror Story yet this past season and I’m going out on a limb and saying the remaining AHS fans in the Academy will push him through.
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE
Jeff Daniels – Godless Brandon Victor Dixon – Jesus Christ Superstar Edgar Ramirez – The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Jason Ritter – The Tale Michael Shannon – Fahrenheit 451 Sam Waterston – Godless
No idea. Seriously, this category is an absolute mess this year and the winner could be anyone. For now I’m going with people associated with what I expect to be the limited series and movies Emmy voters will watch, so Jeff Daniels, Edgar Ramirez, Michael Shannon, and Sam Waterston it is. Tentatively adding in Jason Ritter as well. Then there’s Brandon Victor Dixon, who had extremely strong reviews for Jesus Christ Superstar and could angle himself into becoming the first actor from one of these recent live musicals to get an acting nomination.
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE
Ellen Burstyn – The Tale Penélope Cruz – The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Laura Dern – Twin Peaks Nicole Kidman – Top of the Lake: China Girl Angela Lansbury – Little Women Judith Light – The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Hooray double nomination for Laura Dern! Like with Supporting Actor it’s hard to say exactly who will get in here, so it’s best to go with the seen contenders, like Ellen Burstyn in The Tale, Penélope Cruz and Judith Light in Gianni Versace, and probably Nicole Kidman for Top of the Lake. Then I expect there to be a big narrative for 18x Emmy loser Angela Lansbury to get a nomination that could even propel her to a win.
Miro Magazaine wrote: The subtle brilliance of American Crime Story’s ‘Versace’ second season
May 18, 2018
I am a huge fan of producer Ryan Murphy. After his hit shows Nip/Tuck and Glee, I’ve gone on to watch American Horror Story, Scream Queens, Feud and, most recently, American Crime Story – not a spin-off, but more of a cousin to AHS. When the first season of ACS came to BBC2 in 2016, my friends and I watched together in unison and live-texted each other updates. In fact, I’d go as far as to say the debut of American Crime Story was perfect and was, I think, one of the best seasons of television ever seen.
[. . . ]
. . . In fact, I enjoyed the show a whole lot more than I anticipated I would and thought it was a fantastic series as a result of the perspective it took; even Ryan Murphy himself suggests that this season is “the best thing [he] has ever made”. I think that writer Tom Rob Smith did a fantasic job on breaking apart the character of Andrew Cunanan and exploring him from as many angles as possible. By the end of the season, I felt like I knew everything that could possibly be known about Cunanan – maybe even too much – and it was fascinating to see. It’s the kind of character study that you could only possibly explore over the course of 10 hours, something that a limited series really allows Smith and Murphy to do perfectly.
[. . . ]
Marketing campaigns aside though and I do really think that ACS’s sophomore run was fantastic in its own right. As I said previously, what struck me initially as being brilliant was its structure and detail that it was given thanks to head writer Tom Rob Smith. The story really was liberated in regards to time and had no problem in moving backwards and forwards through Cunanan’s timeline to serve different perspectives on the character. Its structure and its writing felt fresh and unique: while season one was pretty linear in how it told the story and was incredibly well written in its own way, Versace managed to be brilliant too and its structure served its story beautifully.
Of course, the show is only as good as it is because of its cast, too, and Darren Criss really knocked it out of the park with his portrayal of Andrew Cunanan. I think it’s hard to see people in different lights when you’re used to seeing them one way and after seeing Criss on Glee for so many years, I really didn’t think I’d be able to shake that off. But I did and Criss was amazing in a performance that surely earns him at least an Emmy nod, if not a win. Yes, the writing did an incredible job at making Andrew layered and extremely complex, but it was Darren’s performance that really brought that to life and made it so endearing. Kudos to him and his work.
jonjonbriones: To my UK friends! This episode of @americancrimestoryfx #TheAssassinationOfGianniVersace is tonight! With the amazing @darrencriss Exquisitely directed by @mattbomer and written by the excellent Brit Tom Rob Smith. Hope you’re enjoying the whole series! The cast is just insane! @edgarramirez25 @penelopecruzoficial @ricky_martin @judithlight @codyfern @edouardholdener #JoannaAdler @mrrpmurphy
This is really nice.
Variety wrote: Variety, PBS SoCal Announce Lineup for Eighth Season of ‘Variety Studio: Actors on Actors’
April 18, 2018
Variety and PBS SoCal KOCE have announced the lineup for the eighth season of “Variety Studio: Actors on Actors.”
The Emmy Award-winning series will air in two episodes on PBS SoCal KOCE, the first on Tuesday, June 19 at 7 p.m. and the second on Thursday, June 21 at 7 p.m. Both episodes will stream on pbssocal.org following their premieres.
This year’s lineup of pairings includes: Issa Rae (“Insecure”) with Michael B. Jordan(“Fahrenheit 451”); Laura Dern (“The Tale”) with Angela Bassett (“9-1-1”); Tiffany Haddish (“The Last O.G.”) with John Legend (“Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert”); Benedict Cumberbatch (“Patrick Melrose”) with Claire Foy (“The Crown”); Jason Bateman (“Ozark”) with Bill Hader (“Barry”); Debra Messing (“Will & Grace”) with Sharon Stone (“Mosaic”); J.K. Simmons (“Counterpart”) with Edie Falco (“Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders”); Alison Brie (“GLOW”) with Jessica Biel (“The Sinner”); Maggie Gyllenhaal (“The Deuce”) with Jonathan Groff (“Mindhunter”); Frankie Shaw (“SMILF”) with Sara Gilbert (“Roseanne”); Jeff Daniels (“The Looming Tower”) with Laura Linney (“Ozark”); Darren Criss (“American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace”) with Mandy Moore (“This is Us”); David Harbour (“Stranger Things”) with Kyle MacLachlan (“Twin Peaks”); and Dakota Fanning (“The Alienist”) with Freddie Highmore (“The Good Doctor”).
“There’s no better way to celebrate another groundbreaking season of television than with our ‘Actors on Actors’ franchise,” said Debra Birnbaum, Variety’s executive TV editor. “We’re proud to shine a light on this year’s most remarkable performances with this series of revealing, one-on-one conversations. And we’re thrilled as always to partner with PBS SoCal to share this content with their audience.”
Variety’s “Actors on Actors” issue will hit newsstands June 5 with clips appearing on Variety.com starting at the beginning of June.
“Southern California’s creative industry inspires and excites our PBS audiences like few others. And this season of ‘Actors on Actors’ is sure to please, with compelling conversations between some of today’s most popular protagonists,” said Andrew Russell, president and CEO of PBS SoCal. “It’s terrific to team with Variety to produce and share ‘Variety Studio: Actors on Actors.’”
This was a really wonderful interview. Darren was great! Very articulate, thoughtful, and charming. Well done, Darren! I confess I never heard of Lorraine before, but she is very cute, very charming and enthusiastic (she called Blaine an all-American hero). Here is the full interview:
Darren Criss on the Lorraine Show - Full Interview (April 18th, 2018) | Source
via dcrss-archive
Here is a shorter interview on YouTube:
Darren Criss Attributes His Success in TV Drama to His Character in Glee | Lorraine (April 18th, 2018) | Source
Some pics (but unfortunately with watermarks):
Darren Criss on ‘Lorraine’ TV show, London, UK - 18 Apr 2018
Cute.
Darren Criss on ‘Lorraine’ TV show, London, UK - 18 Apr 2018
Darren Criss on ‘Lorraine’ TV show, London, UK - 18 Apr 2018
A cute pic (and with no watermarks):
lorraine: ‘This is from Coachella and my publicist was trying to get me to take it off and I was like, ‘No way! I’m meeting Lorraine, I’ve got to look pretty today - this is a big deal for me!’’ @darrencriss ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ @lorrainekellysmith #glee#darrencriss#assassinationofgianniversace #gleek#coachella
Article about Darren's interview with Lorraine. I thought it was funny that they use an old photo--he looks so different in this photo.
Independent IE wrote: Actor Darren Criss calls reaction to serial killer performance ‘mind-blowing’
April 19, 2018
Actor Darren Criss has said playing the part of serial killer Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination Of Gianni Versace is what he has worked for for his entire life.
The former Glee star said he was encouraged by viewers’ attempts to rationalise why his character in the biopic drama series murdered fashion designer Gianni Versace in 1997.
He told ITV’s Lorraine: “Any time people respond to it, it’s encouraging. It speaks less of our show and my performance, and more about the compassion people have.
“The aptitude for sympathy or empathy that people have displayed is a little mind-blowing.
“It means we are looking for something to redeem somebody, which is a beautifully poetic thing, even though it’s a difficult thing to wrap your head around as it’s something so horrible and unforgivable.”
Criss discussed his role as Blaine Anderson in hit musical TV series Glee as well as his forthcoming acoustic concert at St Pancras New Church in London.
He also impressed host Lorraine Kelly with his choice of nail polish, which he wore while attending the Coachella music festival last weekend.
However, he was quick to play down suggestions that his performance as Cunanan would earn him a nomination for an Emmy Award.
“I know it’s an exciting thing to talk about but I already feel like I won the lottery.
“This is no hyperbole but I have literally waited and worked my entire life for this moment.
“I feel so privileged to have gotten just a small part of what I’d hoped for in my life that awards are just peripheral stuff.
“If and when then that time comes though – rock ‘n’ roll!”
Track: Darren Criss on The Assassination of Gianni Versace: "It's a Shakespearean tragedy that you can't believe is a real story." Artist: Steve Wright in the Afternoon
acsversace-news:
Darren Criss on The Assassination of Gianni Versace: “It’s a Shakespearean tragedy that you can’t believe is a real story.”
Darren discusses playing the serial killer Andrew Cunanan, who murdered Versace in 1997. | 18 April 2018
Entertainment Tonight wrote: Barbra Streisand Reveals What She Really Thinks of Lady Gaga's 'A Star Is Born' Remake
March 16, 2018
Streisand had no trouble, however, judging TV shows – including Murphy’s newest American Crime Story series, The Assassination of Gianni Versace.
“I binge-watched your show last night, Gianni Versace, but it’s very scary to me. I have to go fast,” she adorably revealed. “I like the parts with Penelope Cruz and Edgar Ramirez [who play Donatella and Gianni Versace, respectively], but I don’t like [Andrew Cunanan, whom Darren Criss plays]. He’s so good that it’s so awful.”
“Oh, this poor individual. Is any of this true stuff about him?” she asked Murphy, who replied with a resounding “Yes!” as the audience chuckled.
“That poor older guy he was with!” she remarked.
“Barbra, why did you watch that?” asked Murphy. “That’s not for you!”
Critics' Reviews of "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story"
My thoughts on this week's episode (Episode 6):
Spoiler:
-Yea! No violence!
-I assumed there would be no violence in this episode, so I thought to myself, "whew, I can just kick back and not worry about having to jump up and leave the room (or close my eyes behind my hands) when a murder scene occurs!" But this episode still was a tense episode, where you see Andrew Cunanan emotionally unraveling and falling apart before your eyes.
-I try to pay attention to language, and I noted in the previous episode (Episode 5), that the word "crazy" and words to that effect, were used frequently by Jeff and David--both when they talked about Andrew between themselves, as well as when they talked to Andrew. But in this episode, the word "love" is used very frequently, highlighting how desperate Andrew was for love, and how Andrew does not recognize what love really is. -When his girlfriend (who we saw in an earlier episode, Lizzy? not sure what her name is) asked Andrew who is he trying to be, he looked down and said in a vulnerable moment, that he wants to be someone that David Madson could love. But one of the problems is that Andrew doesn't understand what love is (and we're given an indication why that is, at the end part of the episode, where his mother doesn't seem to really care about what Andrew is going through, how she doesn't care how unhappy her son is). Andrew thinks he could morph and mold himself into a man who David could love, instead of realizing that David ideally should love Andrew for who Andrew is (well, Andrew doesn't even know who he, himself is, since he changes himself and lies according to the situation and the people he's interacting with).
--Another mention of "love": Andrew argues with Norman's wealthy friend, with Andrew declaring he has friends at the party who love him. Norman's friend replies, that this is because they don't really know Andrew
--Love comes up again, when Andrew recruits poor Jeff into Andrew's scheme to impress David, where Jeff is to show his love for Andrew, by giving Andrew an expensive gift. Jeff replies he does love Andrew, and that he doesn't understand why the fancy shoes that Andrew also wants Jeff to wear have anything to do with love. In this scene, you can see how Andrew doesn't even recognize the value of the love that Jeff as a friend has for Andrew, when Jeff sweetly gives his birthday present to Andrew, a book of hiking trails, for hikes they can do together. And you also see how Andrew doesn't really love Jeff as a friend, or else Andrew wouldn't put Jeff through the pain of pretending to be a Navy officer, when Andrew knew how painful being in and leaving the Navy was for Jeff.
--Regarding "love"--how can another man, such as David, love Andrew romantically, if that man cannot figure out who Andrew is, and love Andrew for who he is, when even Andrew doesn't know who he--Andrew Cunanan--is? Andrew lies just as much to himself, as he lies to others. David tries to get to know Andrew. David, being a kind person, sees how desperately Andrew wants David's love, so David tries to give Andrew several chances to connect with him. But David cannot form a solid emotional connection with Andrew, because Andrew cannot stop lying.
--In the fancy hotel, Andrew tells David that David is the only man Andrew really has loved. Both David and the audience are doubtful, given that Andrew and David only had one date before.
There was a wonderful scene in the fancy hotel when Andrew says he'll answer all of David's questions, and David looks excited. You see David thinking, that he finally will have a chance to see who Andrew really is, to get to know the real Andrew. [size=13] I love that moment when the very first question David asks of Andrew, is the one Andrew probably dreads the most, when David asks Andrew about his parents. I admired Darren's acting at this moment, because you see a moment of panic in Andrew's eyes when David asks about Andrew's parents. Can you imagine the inner conflict occurring in Andrew at this moment? For a split-second, Andrew may have considered answering honestly, but only for a split-second. Then comes lie after lie from Andrew's mouth. I suspect some of Andrew's lies are mixed with truth, but nothing smells true to David and to the audience. I[/size][size=13][size=13] also continue to love Cody Fern's acting.[/size] As Andrew's lies continue, you see in David's eyes, the fading hope of having any real chance of seeing Andrew being open and genuine with David.
--Andrew never wins David's love. And he loses Jeff's love as a friend when Andrew sends a postcard to Jeff's father, in an attempt to threaten Jeff and retaliate against Jeff because Jeff and David hit it off at Andrew's birthday party. It doesn't appear that Norman ever loved Andrew, but he seemed fond of Andrew, and wants Andrew to be happy. Andrew loses Norman's emotional and financial support when Andrew leaves, after Norman refuses to agree to all of unreasonable Andrew's demands.
--As stated earlier, the audience doubts that Andrew ever was shown love by his mother, who is clearly mentally ill and obsessed with appearances and her own delusions about her son. She completely ignores Andrew's plea for help, when in a rare moment of raw vulnerability, Andrew exposes his deep unhappiness to his mother.
--So there was no violence in this episode. But this episode was pretty bleak, with Andrew desperate for love, but failing to understand love, and unable to attain David's romantic love or his mother's parental love, and unable to keep a friend's love (Jeff's). You see Andrew becoming increasingly despondent and progressively unhinged, alienated, lonely, friendless, financially destitute, and addicted to drugs. You see in the drug-induced dream/nightmare with the figure of Gianni Versace, that Versace says he has something valuable that Andrew does not: Versace is loved. [/size]
From dcriss-archive:
Slash Film wrote: ‘American Crime Story’ Review: ‘Descent’ Begins The Downward Spiral
March 1, 2018
Darren Criss continues to impress with his layered, frantic performance. Some of the best moments of this episode revolve around Criss showing Andrew’s often pathetic desperation – during the party, when he senses David not paying enough attention to him, he attempts to stage a big, flashy scene that doesn’t go according to plan. Watching Criss portray Andrew’s panicked desperation at that moment is remarkable.
James Burgess is an actor, an Emmy nominee, and a film critic.
Radio Times wrote: Assassination of Gianni Versace viewers praise Darren Criss for his “gripping” performance as Andrew Cunanan
March 1, 2018
The Assassination of Gianni Versace, the follow-up to 2016’s true crime drama The People vs OJ Simpson, debuted on BBC2 last night – and viewers were blown away by former Glee star Darren Criss’ striking performance.
The second series of American Crime Story centres around the killing of the legendary fashion designer, but his alleged murderer, 27-year-old socialite Andrew Cunanan, is the real focal point, as the show’s writers attempt to build a narrative around the crime and Cunanan’s personal life.
Criss is undoubtedly brilliant in the role, creepy, manipulative and alluring all at once. Fans took to Twitter to lavish him with praise after episode one.
#TheAssassinationofGianniVersace proving to me once again how great an actor @DarrenCriss is and it’s only 28 mins in — Anna (@annactara) February 28, 2018
Opening ep. of Versace @ACSFX: Wow! Gripping, sharp, stylish & extraordinary performance Darren Criss. @MrRPMurphy amazing! #ACSVersace — James Burgess (@Jamesfilmcritic) March 1, 2018
I know it's only March but I really can't envision anybody this year giving a better TV performance than @DarrenCriss as Andrew Cunanan. Just scary good. #ACSVersace — Jase (@jaseeeeeeeeeee) March 1, 2018
[. . . ]
Just finished watching the 1st part on BBC iPlayer. I'm hooked, Darren Criss was superb as Andrew Cunanan — Mark (@CumOnOver99) March 1, 2018
Enjoyed #acsversace but then I look a good old crime drama. Darren Criss is amazing, Penelope I barely recognised (then she spoke) and Ricky Martin was better than I expected — Jo-Anne Rowney (@JoAnne_Rowney) February 28, 2018
Joe Reid is senior writer/producer at Decider. David Oliver (@doliver8) writes for US News. Audrey Irvine is senior director of coverage at CNN. Max Weiss is editor in chief for Baltimore Magazine. Nick Guillory is a photographer. Rufio is tech producer ofr Fred + Angi Morning show (1035 Kiss FM). Allison Hagendorf is global head of rock at Spotify, host of Time Square NYE Times Square host.
From acsversace-news:
Dailybreak wrote: "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story" Episode 6: It Was Never About Versace, Was It?
March 1, 2018
The portrait of Cunanan, a pathologically lying psychopath wrapped in self-loathing and designer clothes, has been much more compelling. I think a lot of that is owed to Darren Criss for laying on the charisma thick like honey. Finn Wittrock and Cody Fern have also sparkled as two of Cunanan’s friends-turned-murder victims, Jeff Trail and David Madson.
Edge Media Network wrote: Recapping 'Versace': Episode 6, 'Descent'
Mar. 1, 2018
The show is less an examination of how the fashion designer was murdered but why he was murdered, putting the spotlight on his killer, marvelously portrayed by the dynamic Darren Criss.
Indiewire wrote: Emmy Predictions 2018: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Mar. 1, 2018
Can Darren Criss follow in the footsteps of Courtney B. Vance and Cuba Gooding Jr. in “American Crime Story”?
[. . . ]
Below are IndieWire TV Critic Ben Travers’ predictions for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie (listed in alphabetical order), which will be updated throughout the season. . .
Predicted Nominees: 1. Darren Criss, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” 2. Benedict Cumberbatch, “Patrick Melrose” 3. Michael B. Jordan, “Fahrenheit 451” 4. Antonio Banderas, “Genius: Picasso” 5. Kyle MacLachlan, “Twin Peaks” 6. Al Pacino, “Paterno”
Michael Roffman is president for Consequences of Sound.
Jeremy wrote:I found Darren perfect and I personally don't try to have sympathy for Cunanan. I consider him as the vilain of the show and that's it.
Donatella is indeed a bit special but I do believe she's trully sad for his brother. I'm surprised you think Ricky was a bit restrained, his character seemed devastated to me.
Spoiler:
I also liked Darren's acting. I agree, that Cunanan is the villain of the show. Absolutely no doubt about that. But I kept in mind what Darren said, that even with villains, we share some commonalities. I think Darren also said something to the effect that (I'm paraphrasing) he didn't want to portray Cunanan as simply 100% evil, that he wanted to portray him as a complex human being. The first time I watched, I saw at a few points, Darren showing us Cunanan's humanity. As I said earlier, I felt a twinge of sympathy for Cunanan when his friend Lizzie finds him trying on Lizzie's husband's suit. At first she's angry at him, but when he said to her, "I have nothing" (which we saw in his almost empty closet), I did feel something for him. It also is interesting when Cunanan was so moved by the opera that he cried. (And we see Versace behind the stage, who--to me-- looked also moved by the emotion in the opera singer's voice.) I watched parts of the episode again and noticed how Cunanan was curious about the pretty objects on stage (while he was waiting for Versace). Cunanan picked up the top portion of the decanter and fumbled with it, a little clumsy. And he seemed interested in another crystal looking object (I don't remember what it was), showing his curiosity.
Intellectually, I think Donatella must be incredibly sad because of her brother's death. The point where I felt her emotion the most was when she paused when she saw her brother's blood on the steps. I'm just saying, though, I didn't really feel an intense grief from her. I lost a family member, and it was so intense that I was unable to stop my emotions from pouring out. But that is me, and I admit, I may be projecting here. Everyone grieves differently.
Likewise, I may be projecting regarding Antonio's grief. I think the part where I felt he was a bit restrained was when he was being interrogated. He was so polite to that infuriating and homophobic officer (FBI?). But don't get me wrong, I thought Ricky did a wonderful job. I thought Darren, Ricky, Edgar and Penelope all were wonderful.
From dcriss-archive:
I loved this article. I'm very appreciative of Darren clearing things up for me. I'm also very appreciative about how the producers were committed to representation, by having a half-Filipino actor play Andrew Cunanan, who was half-Filipino. Racism does not have to be malicious to perpetuate itself. There is intentional racial discrimination, but there also is systemic racism that will continue to cause a disparate impact on members of a group. I also appreciate what Darren said about Jon Jon Briones, a wonderful actor with years of experience who because of his race, gets limited roles. I hope Jon Jon Briones gets recognized for his acting and hopefully, more doors will open for him.
Indiewire wrote: Darren Criss on Not Whitewashing Half-Filipino Andrew Cunanan In ‘Versace’ — Turn It On Podcast
1/19/2018
Darren Criss calls it “serendipity” that he already was in Ryan Murphy’s orbit when the producer focused in on telling the tale of serial killer Andrew Cunanan for “The Assassination of Gianni Versace,” the latest edition of “American Crime Story.” Cunanan was half-Filipino, just as Criss is, which gave the actor a rare opportunity to play his ethnicity.
“I believe there are a lot of great half-Filipino actors out there that could have done this a lot of justice, [but] when Ryan talked about doing this three years ago, before we actually got the ball rolling last year, I would joke with him saying, ‘Hey man, I would love to do this, but if you don’t want me to do it with you, I defy you to find another guy who looks kind of like him, who’s in the same age range, who’s in your Rolodex of actors. Because if you don’t cast a half-Filipino guy, the Filipino community is going to cry bloody murder. So I don’t know what your other options are!’
“I would have never held that against him but I would jokingly think that. I’m glad it all came to fruition when it did.”
Executive producer Nina Jacobson said it was important that the actor playing Cunanan was half-Filipino, especially after having just produced the upcoming film “Crazy Rich Asians.”
“We did not want to whitewash a role,” she said. “Andrew was half-Filipino, and it was really important to not just get a guy and say that he was. We wanted to be authentic in terms of Andrew’s background. And the fact that Darren had kind of this striking resemblance physically, the chops of an actor and professionalism to take on a role of this disturbing hard role to play that he also could authentically play a half-Filipino character as opposed to the usual Hollywood thing.”
Criss said that he doesn’t think whitewashing comes out of any conscious malice, but admits that he may harbor “half-white privilege” in that view.
“What makes good casting work is when you have good actors. There are a lot of great Filipino actors that I think people just aren’t thinking outside of the box enough,” he said.
Criss pointed specifically to Jon Jon Briones, who plays Modesto Cunanan in “The Assassination of Gianni Versace.”
“He’s a tried and true Broadway veteran, he’s been acting for years, he’s not just some newbie — maybe to the film and television world but certainly not as a craftsman of acting,” Criss said. “And Ryan asked me, ‘Who is this guy, I love him! Where’s he from, how come he doesn’t get roles?’ I said, ‘Ryan, he does but he’s a Filipino man who looks a certain way. You have to understand the roles he’s being offered.’ The Thai terrorist on ‘CSI.’ And he’s from the original cast of ‘Miss Saigon,’ he’s doing Miss Saigon right now. He’s the Engineer on Broadway. What it takes is a role like this, hopefully, where people go, ‘oh! This guy is really good!’ It sucks we have to wait around for roles that show you off within the corner you’re put in to be able to play in the larger room.”
“The Assassination of Gianni Versace” may have Versace in the title, but it’s really the story of Andrew Cunanan, and the tale of how he became the killer of not just Versace but several other socialites across the country. It was a juicy role for Criss, and IndieWire’s Turn It On podcast recently met up with the actor to discuss the mystery of Cunanan, the sensitivity of the fact that so many people impacted by Cunanan may be watching, and how his ethnicity as a half-Filipino man made him the perfect fit for the role. Later in this episode, we also talked to American Crime Story producers Brad Simpson and Nina Jacobson about the franchise. But first, we talked to Criss about how this role impacted him. Listen below!
Another interview (along with podcast, see below):
Variety wrote: Remote Controlled: ‘Versace’ Star Darren Criss on Playing Andrew Cunanan, Plus ‘The Four’ Experts
January 19, 2018
Welcome to “Remote Controlled,” a podcast from Variety featuring the best and brightest in television, both in front of and behind the camera.
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV Debra Birnbaum talks with Darren Criss, who stars in the new installment of FX’s “American Crime Story” franchise, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace.”
Criss says that he’d been discussing playing serial killer Andrew Cunanan with series creator Ryan Murphy for several years. “My reaction was, I’d be thrilled to do this,” he says. “I thought it was something he forgot about and was just spitballing. But he stuck to his word, and I’m so glad he finally decided to do this.”
But he knew the part would always be his, he admits. “I almost defy you, Ryan, to find someone else in your camp who somehow looks like this guy, is actually half-Filipino, is in the same age range,” he says. “Good luck!”
Criss wasn’t intimidated, though, by the thought of playing a serial killer. “People always think that’s some sort of departure, and while I understand that curiosity, I can’t help but feel that same curiosity would be present if I had started with something like this, and this is what you knew me for,” he says. “People forget that actors are actors, and we depart for a living.”
And he says he found ways to relate to Cunanan, and hopes other people will, too. “We all have more in common not only with each other, but the worst person you can think of than we like to admit,” he says. “The differences are small in number but huge in content.”
Criss did his own research and talked to people who knew him. “The show explores the best parts of him and the worst parts of him,” he says. “It’s really a healthy mix of a lot of unhealthy things.”
The more he learned, the more he sympathized with Cunanan. “My heart just broke constantly for this guy,” he said. “The wasted potential is the most heartbreaking tragedy of all of it.”
Remote Controlled with Debra Birnbaum Ep76 - Darren Criss on 'American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace Darren Criss discusses transitioning from "Glee" into the role of serial killer Andrew Cunanan on "American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace." Plus, "The Four's" panel of experts — Diddy, DJ Khaled, Meghan Trainor and Charlie Walk — weigh in on how their music competition show will find the next big music star.
Interesting interview. From acsversace-news (via dcriss-archive):
Entertainment Weekly wrote: The Assassination of Gianni Versace: Darren Criss compares Andrew Cunanan to an Instagrammer
January 17, 2018
There are a ton of great performances in FX’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story but perhaps the most revelatory is Darren Criss as serial killer Andrew Cunanan.
[. . . ]
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Were you at all nervous stepping into this? It’s the biggest and most complicated role you’ve tackled. DARREN CRISS: There were no nerves whatsoever. This was the most exciting, I-can’t-wait-to-do-this experience I’ve ever had. This is an opportunity I’ve been waiting and working my entire life for… This is a role of a lifetime. I’m dripping with gratitude and overwhelmed. I’m so fully aware that this is not something that comes around often. So that’s what it felt like every day. There’s not nervousness or trepidation or fear. I sort of always loved things that look to other people like they’re hard to take on. I’m not saying anything is easy.
There’s so many things about this that are great. Not only is it a great role but it’s a fantastic story with a lot of fantastic weight that I really think sheds light on a lot of things that haven’t been able to be exposed.
So no, I wasn’t nervous at all. I think people have this fixation with dark things — they think they’re scary or hard. Maybe I’m just a dark person. I just find that all dark, scary, conventionally negative things come from pretty relatable places: fear, embarrassment, ambition, and disappointment.
You’re thinking about the emotions that bare them. It doesn’t come home to me. It doesn’t make me afraid of Andrew. It doesn’t make me love him or hate him any less. I get disappointed by him. My heart breaks for him, mainly because of all the good things we get to see about him.
On a professional level, it’s the excitement of being with people that I love working with within a story I think is really important and really matters. On a personal, role level, it’s so nice to be in something that has so many layers and has an opportunity to challenge audiences senses of empathy. Being able to be a part of that is like being able to go to do the most invigorating work one can do.
How did you get inside the character of Andrew? He’s so complicated and mysterious. What was the preparation?
. . . The only thing you can really do is not so much preparation but being available to all emotions at all times which I think is probably the most important thing. At any point, he’s ready to fire off in any direction. You can’t really prepare for that. . .
What was the biggest challenge of this?
. . . We all remember what it is to want to be liked or stand out or use whatever wiles you have to assert yourself or not assert yourself. All these things that are extremely relatable that I really do relate to him and we have more similarities than that. Obviously, the things that make us different are big but I think they’re few in number.
Ryan Murphy launched your career in so many ways. What was it like working with him this time? He was adamant you play this role.
This was the first time I got to work with Ryan in a real sense as far as us getting in the kitchen and getting our hands dirty and really working on the material. By the time I got to Glee, he wasn’t really directing and he didn’t direct me on American Horror Story [Criss guest-starred on AHS: Hotel]. I never worked directly with him. We’ve been friends obviously as my boss and seen him at events and parties and stuff and he’s always been a great supporter of me. But we never had really made something like this together. It was cool for me to see.
Ryan is a very prolific guy and he’s created this whole brand around himself and that’s the guy I knew and would have rosé with. But seeing him actually at the helm, creating this world, doing what he does best is really cool. It’s really inspiring. It was really a thrill to work with someone in that capacity. Actors are only as good as the moments they get and he’s given me quite an extraordinary moment.
It could easily have veered into camp or gone over the top. But you all keep it very human and grounded.
If that’s what came out, great because I would like to think all of us were shooting for that. You always want something to be as grounded as possible. My interest from day one was showing the humanity of Andrew and that’s something everyone has been interested in from day one. If you just have a cut and dry good guy/bad guy, that’s not interesting. We can’t just vilify Andrew and then what’s the point of following this person if we’re not going to mess with her our sense of relatability to a conventional “villain.” We have to humanize him — that’s the only route to get to know him on a larger level.
I’m really excited to see a lot of the Ricky [Martin], Edgar, and Penelope [Cruz] stuff because I was not there for any of that. It was like shooting two completely different shows. I have no idea how it’s going to play out. I can’t wait to see the parallels.
What do you want people to take away from this?
I really want people to question their sense of empathy and really try and figure out at one point this could have been their own selves. It’s not about Andrew specifically and more people like Andrew: people who idolize excess and how they obsess over the things they don’t have and it ultimately destroys them and the dangers of that. Andrew is somebody that curated his image very well, like with doctoral accuracy, surgical accuracy. He really wants to make sure he was viewed a certain way by certain people. It’s not too dissimilar with how many of us filter our own lives now. I’m talking in extremes here but it can be related to the social media world with how we literally filter our lives and we’re obsessed that people perceive us in a certain way. . .
I think people will relate to that anguish and what it feels like to want to have your image of yourself be as fantastic and larger than life as possible, even if it is false. . . I think he was the pre-Instagram filter Instagrammer. He filtered his own life. The thing people said about him was that he was a storyteller. He wanted people to think a certain way of him. That to me is less devious and more misguided and heartbreaking. I don’t get mad at Andrew — my heart breaks for him. The enormous potential that someone so creative and charismatic put his energies in a totally misguided place: that’s the stuff that really interests me.
Via Aaron Kurlander’s Instagram Story (January 18th, 2018)
wmag: Former Glee star @darrencriss still sings and dances in American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace, but this time, it’s to the deranged ballad of a serial killer. Visit the link in bio to get inside the mind of the precocious star and murderer next door.
via dcriss-archive
Via Michael Beckert’s Instagram Story (January 18th, 2018)
dcriss-archive: [UHQ] Darren Criss Still Sings and Dances in The Assassination of Gianni Versace, But to the Deranged Ballad of a Serial Killer
W Magazine wrote: Darren Criss Still Sings and Dances in The Assassination of Gianni Versace, But to the Deranged Ballad of a Serial Killer
January 18, 2018
Within seconds of meeting Darren Criss, you can tell that his mother raised him right. He has a firm handshake, repeats everyone’s name, and looks them right in the eye. He has the casual affability of a Cub Scout troop leader or someone sitting next to you in the back row of a SoulCycle class. He hands out compliments like full-sized candy bars. In a room full of people, waiting to take his picture and ask him questions, he seems most excited to talk to a fifth grader about the minutia of Harry Potter mythology.
This wouldn’t be so odd except that all of these people are waiting to ask him questions about playing a serial killer. Criss’s latest role is Andrew Cunanan, an openly-gay escort turned spree murderer whose last crime before he killed himself is the titular one in American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace, which premiered on Wednesday night . . .
But maybe Darren, the precocious star next door, and Andrew, the precocious killer next door, aren’t so far apart after all. “Of the many things that break my heart about Andrew is that after this all came out, and friends and loved ones of his found out about it, they were mortified. They couldn't believe it,” Criss says. “Andrew was a very bright, affable, lovable guy. He had so much promise, and you wonder a little, then, how does a kid with all this go down such a destructive path.”
[. . .]
His unique genes might have been part of the reason why Ryan Murphy, the executive producer of the series, thought of Criss for the part. Murphy first gave Criss his big break when he was cast as Blaine Anderson on Glee. It would appear there's a trendlet of former song-and-dance teen stars graduating to serial killer roles, with Zac Efron signed up to play Ted Bundy and Disney Channel star Ross Lynch on screen as Jeffrey Dahmer.
“I really am allergic to the notion that playing somebody who did terrible things somehow elevates a career, or validates someone's ability, or qualifies somebody as a serious actor, although I think it does,” Criss says of this serial killer mini-boom. “I spend the same amount of time and due diligence to fictional characters in a lighter world, like Glee, that I do a real person in a much darker world for Andrew Cunanan. I'm still putting the same amount of tokens in the machine, and I do the work, I read the script, and I am very much in tune with the common denominators between myself and that person.”
Still, Criss says that inhabiting the role didn’t affect him too much, and that months of playing grisly murder scenes didn’t come home with him—at least not to a dangerous degree. “I had a dream, it was really hyper-violent, and I had offed several people, I don't even know who they were, it was abstract,” he recalls. “But the dream was not about the violence or the homicide, so much as it was being on the run, on the lam. It was more tied to what was going on when we were shooting the show. And I woke up next to my girlfriend, and seeing her and being terrified, not because in my head I had killed anybody in my dream, but because I was like, ‘Oh my god, she's gonna find out.’”
[. . . ]
“I was less shocked and scared and disturbed by Andrew, and more just utterly heartbroken,” Criss says, looking deep into your eyes like he’s about to ask you out to a school dance. “The thing is so sad to me, and it's such a loss of promise and potential. He could have been a creator, and he decided to be a destroyer. It's just the worse crime of all.”
This article is a nice summary of Darren's work over his career, beginning with A Very Potter Musical with StarKid Productions. Here's an excerpt:
Refinery 29 wrote: American Crime Story: Versace Proves This Is The Year We Need To Make Darren Criss Happen
January 18, 2018
On Wednesday night, Darren Criss debuted one of his most high-profile roles yet as Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. It’s also his most intense role to date — an unhinged serial killer — that’s expertly delivered by someone who, up until now, has kept things pretty lighthearted. For many people, however, this might be the first time you’re seeing the 30-year-old actor. His role in ACS is garnering much more press than any of his other work to date, and to those finally getting on board: welcome! The Darren Criss fan club has been waiting for you.
[. . . ]
Watching Criss become a fan favorite on Glee for almost five seasons felt like a triumph for geeks everywhere, and the support of these day-one fans is something Criss told Refinery29 in an interview (brag) that he’d never take for granted.
Clearly, Criss has been doing well these past few years. He has a band with his brother called Computer Games. He had roles in American Horror Story, Supergirl, and the Transformers: Robots In Disguise animated TV show, but none of his work has managed to spark widespread interest the way ACS has. He just landed a profile in The New York Times, glowing write-ups in places like The Daily Beast and Newsweek, and appearances on Jimmy Kimmel and Good Morning America.
When I see stuff like this, as opposed to the knee-jerk I-knew-him-first reaction, I’m positively elated. Yes! Finally! Criss is great, and after watching just the first episode of ACS, I can tell he’s going to surprise even long-time fans with just how talented and emotional his work can be. Until then, here are some flyers for the fan club. We meet every week. Bring snacks.
Into More wrote: Finn Wittrock On Playing Andrew Cunanan's First Victim in "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story"
18 Jan. 2018
We had a good time,” Wittrock said of working with Criss. “There are some projects where you really take the relationship off screen and this one was more us talking as co-conspirators figuring it out together. He is a very generous person on set and a remarkable versatile actor and really jumps in and out of the character very fluidly.
Track: Darren Criss on Andy Cohen Live (01-17-18) Darren Criss on Andy Cohen Live (January 17th, 2018)
via dcriss-archive
Aw, that's nice of him to get a cute Winnie the Pooh gift for his mom when he was in Japan.
Darren Criss: BUILD Last Minute - Watch as Darren Criss shares a hilarious little Siri secret, as well as some other funny responses in his minute backstage with us. Make sure to tune in to his new series, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.” | Source
Pics from MTV's TRL:
Darren Criss attends MTV TRL at MTV Studios on January 17 2018 in New York City
Darren celebrating with friends.
nellcan: I love spending time with and getting inspired by amazing people @priyankachopra @maneeshkgoyal @madhumalati @alanpowell10 congratulations to my fellow Aquarian @darrencriss you are killing it in @americancrimestoryfx (no pun ) #latergram .
Darren Criss: Today’s the day. I’m very proud of all the hard work our cast & crew put into this, and I’m excited to share it with the world. I’d like to remind viewers that these were very real crimes that destroyed very real people. My heart goes out - as it did every day going in to work- to the victims and their loved ones, who, 20 years later, still must cope with the tragedies that our series depicts. My hope is that our show can bring some kind of justice to those whose stories have, until now, lived mostly in the shadows. And my prayer is that with all the darkness we explore, we can create some kind of light- by igniting discussion and encouraging much larger questions about ourselves and the society we live in. The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story premieres tonight at 10pm ET on FX.
via dcriss-archive
#ACSVersace is #1 Worldwide trend on Twitter (January 17th, 2018)
Via Maneesh K. Goyal’s Instagram Story (January 17th, 2018)
via dcriss-archive
Drink up, Darren. You earned it!
Via Priyanka Chopra’s Instagram Story (January 17th, 2018)
A lot of love and support and well wishes for Darren.
maneeshkgoyal: On his big night, celebrating our wedding singer @darrencriss who happens to also be a superstar assassin with his big premiere tonight in #americancrimestory. #proud
maureen_orth: Can’t wait for tonight! #acsversace begins 10 pm FX and @darrencriss will emerge a huge star! Whole cast is outstanding. They all read my book so carefully. #darrencriss
vanityfair: Andrew Cunanan would have relished being portrayed by @DarrenCriss, but Criss is empathetic enough to understand that, for all its juicy details, @americancrimestoryfx is an epic story of real-life suffering: “My heart is really sensitive to the people who experienced something so horrible that I’m trying to breathe life into.” The #ACSVersace star and #Glee alum opens up at the link in bio. Photograph by @aspictures.
Via Ricky Rollins’ Instagram Story (January 17th, 2018)
calebfoote: MUST SEE TV! Tonight at 10pm on Fox, Eddie and D Criss are absolute powerhouses @americancrimestoryfx #versace
1/17/2018
nicolaseftaxias: Today is the premiere of ACS VERSACE #acsversace Good luck @darrencriss and your team on the show ! Was great to meet and work with you ! You are an amazing actor and friend ! Good luck #nofilter we don’t need it !! Xoxo
jonothonmitchell: Met @darrencriss last year and he was one of the nicest people ever. So happy to see his performance on #AmericanCrimeStory#Versace tonight. People calling it one of the performances of the decade. Come back to ATL anytime, Darren. I’ll take you to the Clermont!
coryazy: I’m truly unsure of which show I’m more excited to watch. #ACSVersace#AllStars3
She is with MTV TRL
tracymeltzer: do yourself a favor and watch the incredibly talented + wonderful @darrencriss in @americancrimestoryfx tonight. SO GOOD! #darrencriss#acsversace#versace#mtv#trl
From Darren Criss Army:
Darren Criss Army wrote:ACS Versace Premiere Schedule
We apologize if anything is missing or incorrect, but this is what we’ve got compiled for the #ACSVersace premiere schedule.
(Sorry, still no info for UK/Australia. Check if iTunes/Amazon are available in places without an air date.)
Thanks @ricky_martin for much of the info!
And Darren Criss Army previously had stated:
Premiere date and viewing info for ACS Versace in Mexico/Latinoamerica on Canal FX_LA (@Canalfx_la )
ChristinaRadish: THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE: AMERICAN CRIME STORY premieres on @FXNetworks on January 17!!! @ACSFX #ACSVersace @DarrenCriss @edgarramirez25 #PenelopeCruz @Ricky_Martin
[size=16]Darren Criss talks about his most challenging role to date—playing Andrew Cunanan[/size]
by Ruben V. Nepales
June 29, 2017
(First of two parts)
LOS ANGELES—In a room inside the Versace mansion in Miami, just a few steps from where Andrew Cunanan fatally shot the designer, Darren Criss was told that Ryan Murphy, who cast him in “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” paid him the supreme compliment.
Hearing that the award-winning executive producer-director cast him as Cunanan because he always knew there was a great dramatic actor in him, Darren gave a fittingly serious answer. Playing the serial killer, who murdered at least five people, is a big shift for Darren, who first worked with Ryan as Blaine Anderson in the musical TV series, “Glee.”
“Oh, how far we’ve come,” Darren quipped with a laugh. He has taken off his gray suit jacket. “Miami heat is getting to my head,” he explained.
We were in a room with walls gilded with mosaic tile work and stained glass windows, typical of the designer’s lavish home.
Like Cunanan, Darren is Filipino-American. The actor— the son of a Cebuana, Cerina (nee Bru), and Charles William Criss from Pennsylvania— noted his eerie resemblance to Cunanan. The latter’s mom (Mary Anne Schillaci) is Italian-American, while his dad, Modesto Cunanan, is Filipino.
For the actor who starred on Broadway in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” this role represents his biggest and most dramatic challenge yet.
Ryan, on a career high with his “Feud: Bette and Joan” and “The People v. OJ Simpson,” picked a fine cast to join Darren: Edgar Ramirez (Versace), Penelope Cruz (Donatella Versace) and Ricky Martin (Antonio D’Amico, Versace’s longtime lover).
The FX miniseries, which continues to shoot, debuts in early 2018.
Excerpts from our interview: Ryan Murphy said he always knew there was a great dramatic actor in you, and he wanted people to see that in this show. How scary or daunting is that for you? Actors are only as good as the parts they get to play. It’s a passive art form. People will hate me for saying that because obviously, when you’re doing it, it isn’t passive. But if I’m a musician, I can pick up my guitar and play it. If there was no one in this room, I can still play my guitar. I can proactively be a musician.
I always say the best actors in the world, we’ll probably never know about. We’ll never get to see that guy do “King Lear,” that woman do “Hedda Gabler.” You have to wait for those moments.
This is a moment for me, and I recognize that. I do feel like my ship came in for this one. “Glee” was a big hit before I was on it. I had a very objective relationship with it. I was in college when it was all over the place. So, to suddenly be thrust on it was a strange but very wonderful experience.
It brings me here for which I’m unfathomably grateful. But I studied acting. I treat acting like a real craft as much as you love to roll your eyes at that little word. But it’s true. There’s no sense of entitlement. But I worked hard. I believe in doing the necessary steps to get to a certain place.
So, to be finally be given this opportunity, I feel prepared. Whether or not it’s good is a whole other story. It could be horrible, crash and burn. But it’s like that—give me the ball, coach. And Ryan certainly gave me a good throw. So I’m very excited about that. You were 10 when Versace was killed. At what point in your life did you know about him? I knew Versace was killed in front of his home. I’d been here before, the first time I went to Miami. I remember looking it up, seeing the steps. This is so eerie. I vaguely remembered that he was half-Filipino. If there’s any half-Filipino in the media, you tend to pay attention to it.
I had, through the fabulous world of “Glee,” met Donatella. I had been to Versace’s home in Milan. But, that was about as far as a connection that I had. Can you talk about filming the crucial assassination scene? It was gruesome. Because we were not shooting this in a sound studio in Los Angeles. This is the house—and people walking around here were there for that. We couldn’t hide it. It was in broad daylight. So, to feel that energy of this very real event, it weighed heavily on me.
When I shot it, I was thrilled because Edgar wasn’t here for that. If I had to look in Edgar’s eyes and do something like that, that would have been tough, because it weighs on your conscience.
But, as an actor, when you’re doing something like that, I’m not thinking of my conscience. As far as I’m concerned, I’m the hero in this story. That’s how I have to play it. There’s a certain longing, loss, confusion, hurt and just a f**kload of pain that is coming into an act like that.
That’s what you have to channel. It helps that we’re in paradise because we do this really gruesome stuff, then I can go home and have a cocktail on the beach. It’s like, “All right, real life is OK.” Can you clarify why you didn’t film that scene with Edgar around? Only because that had to do more with the technical aspects. It’s highly technical, but the biggest meat of the shot was of me making the decision [to kill Versace] and going up [to him]. It’s giving a little bit away. So now, you know about that shot. Sorry, Ryan. How did you research on Andrew Cunanan? The series is mainly based on the book of Maureen Orth, who’s an extraordinary journalist and did mind-bending work and collection of data from friends, family and all records available.
What’s interesting about this particular case is, as famous as Versace is, there’s not a whole lot of stuff [about it]. There’s only one book, at least one that’s pretty serious. The others are trashy pulp novels.
There are three different versions of Andrew that I have to deal with. There’s the real version that none of us knew. There is the version that people did know, then there’s the version that we’re telling.
As an actor, I can contact the family members or friends, but they’re all going to have different answers of who he was. My job is to serve the script. As much as I want to stay true to who Cunanan was, we really don’t know what kind of person he was. We just have to humanize him as much as possible and hope for the best. (Conclusion tomorrow)
via dcriss-archive
I love that Ryan Murphy said that about Darren. According to this article, Ryan "said he always knew there was a great dramatic actor in you [Darren], and he wanted people to see that in this show." Again, very grateful that Ryan has been so supportive of Darren and has so much faith in Darren.
I love how deeply grateful Darren is for this opportunity. And I like that he clarified that he does not feel entitled to this opportunity, but yet, he feels prepared for it. He feels that he is up to rising to the challenge. (Just a minor point: No need for Darren to add that he may be horrible and crash and burn.) I like the sports analogy--of Ryan passing the ball to Darren, and now that the ball is in Darren's court, he is able to convey what he can do. Nicely said.
Darren Criss wrote: This is a moment for me, and I recognize that. I do feel like my ship came in for this one . . .
It brings me here for which I’m unfathomably grateful. But I studied acting. I treat acting like a real craft as much as you love to roll your eyes at that little word. But it’s true. There’s no sense of entitlement. But I worked hard. I believe in doing the necessary steps to get to a certain place.
So, to be finally be given this opportunity, I feel prepared . . . But it’s like that—give me the ball, coach. And Ryan certainly gave me a good throw. So I’m very excited about that.
This is an interesting quote, in terms of giving us some insight as to how Darren is portraying Cunanan:
Darren Criss wrote: But, as an actor, when you’re doing something like that, I’m not thinking of my conscience. As far as I’m concerned, I’m the hero in this story. That’s how I have to play it. There’s a certain longing, loss, confusion, hurt and just a f**kload of pain that is coming into an act like that.
That’s what you have to channel.
Hmmm. It may be a stretch to call a psychopath or sociopath--a serial killer--a "hero." Maybe more like an anti-hero, such as in the film The Godfather. But I understand what Darren is saying. He said they are attempting to humanize Cunanan, to provide some depth, some context, some background, to help the audience understand what drove Cunanan to commit such horrific acts.
So interesting to learn that "the biggest meat of the shot was of me [Darren as Cunanan] making the decision [to kill Versace] and going up [to him]." Again, the scene will give the audience some insight as to Cunanan's frame of mind, his thoughts and emotions.
I'm also relieved to hear that Darren is doing well emotionally. I really hope he continues to stay grounded as he films.