Playing designer ‘transformative’ life experience
Playing the iconic, ill-fated fashion designer Gianni Versace, who was killed in 1997, was a “profound, transformative life experience,” says Edgar Ramirez. But it was the themes of prejudice and homophobia in FX’s “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” that really resonated for the Venezuelan-born actor, who on Thursday earned a supporting actor nod for the role.
Where are we catching you?
I’m in Atlanta. I’m shooting a movie here. This was just such a surprise, honestly.
The series’ undercurrent is really about homophobia. How does that idea intersect with the search for Andrew Cunanan, the serial killer who slew Versace?
We have to remember that America in the late ’90s was all about “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” And when you look at the story of this serial killer, what comes up over and over again is this denial of sexuality. And the almost refusal to acknowledge that there was a gay world out there.
How relevant is the show, those social dynamics, today?
Clearly. Any type of discrimination or overlooking the rights of any individual is very worrisome. That’s what makes this show so relevant — it was 20 years ago, and yet we see signs of discrimination. This show is a good way to revisit history, so history doesn’t repeat itself.