If the name Versace conjures up images of glitz and glamour, it is not always so behind the scenes. House of Versace, a TV film set to air on U.S. channel Lifetime this weekend, goes right behind those scenes to focus on Donatella Versace and the difficult period that followed her brother Gianni Versace's murder in 1997.
The film is based on the widely-read book House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genius, Murder, and Survival by Wall Street Journal reporter Deborah Ball. Ball recounts the struggles – both creative and business – of Donatella as she stepped out of her brother’s shadow and took control of the House of Versace: the enormous challenges she faced in living up to Gianni’s creative genius, her struggle with a cocaine addiction, her battles with her brother Santo and the mystery of why Gianni left control of his house to Donatella’s young daughter, Allegra (Allegra inherited 50% of the company stock, while Donatella only 20% and Santo 30%).
A very blonde Gina Gershon plays Donatella, while Gianni is played by the Italian-Canadian Enrico Colantoni and Santo by Colm Feore.
On playing Donatella, Gershon said: "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...".
Asked to comment on the film, the Italian fashion company said, “Versace has neither authorized nor had any involvement whatsoever in the forthcoming TV movie about Mrs. Versace. Since Versace did not authorize the book on which it is based, the movie should only be seen as a work of fiction.”
House of Versace airs October 5 at 8 p.m. on Lifetime. Watch the trailer:
Want to know more about the Versace? Read Italy Magazine's story about the family that built a fashion empire: /featured-story/italian-families-versace
