Viewers of the BBC drama 'The Assassination of Gianni Versace' have criticised Penelope Cruz's attempt at an Italian accent in her portrayal of Donatella Versace. The series, which chronicles the 1997 murder of fashion designer Gianni Versace, aired in the US in January and on BBC2 on Wednesday.
Many viewers took to social media to express their disappointment, noting that Cruz, who is Spanish, sounded distinctly Spanish rather than Italian. One Twitter user wrote: 'Didn't realise Donatella Versace was Spanish.' Another commented: 'I know next to nothing about the Versace empire but puzzled to hear Penelope Cruz speaking in a strong Spanish accent.'
The drama is the second series of the true crime anthology 'American Crime Story', following the trial of OJ Simpson. It is based in part on Maureen Orth's book 'Vulgar Favors' and stars Edgar Ramirez as Gianni Versace, Darren Criss as serial killer Andrew Cunanan, and Penelope Cruz as Donatella Versace.
The series explores the mysterious assassination of Versace, who was shot outside his Miami Beach mansion by Cunanan. Cunanan had murdered at least four others in a three-month killing spree before turning up at the designer's home. He was found dead eight days later from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
