Lady Gaga portrays Patrizia Reggiani, dubbed as “The Black Widow,” in the film “House of Gucci,” which will be shown in Philippine cinemas starting on Jan. 19.
“House of Gucci,” directed by Ridley Scott, is a true-life dynastic saga and a riveting tale of ambition, greed, betrayal and murder set against the glamorous backdrop of high fashion and high finance.
Lady Gaga won best actress Award at the New York Film Critics Circle ceremony for her portrayal of Reggiani who plotted the murder of her husband Mauricio Gucci, played by Adam Driver.
One of the reasons why Lady Gaga became attracted to the film was the complexity of Reggiani, a fallible and, at times, morally compromised woman who is, at the same time, sincerely in love with Maurizio Gucci and eager to help him forge his way ahead in the family’s fashion business.
“Before they see the film, some people might think Patrizia is a gold digger. But when they got married, his family had turned their back on him. So, she didn’t marry for money, she married for love,” said Lady Gaga.
She added, “I believe that trying to better her situation in life came from an innocent place, not a guilty place. Tragically, by the end, not only did she not achieve her goal, she wound up way below where she was when she started.”
Lady Gaga praised Scott as an “architectural visionary. He’s painterly in the way that he approaches his films. He also understands the emotional quotient of a script and how to work with the actors and navigate what they’re trying to say.”
On Lady Gaga, Al Pacino said, “She owned that character. It’s so different from what she did in ‘A Star is Born.’ It’s a total revelation.”
“Part of the secret of her talent is that she is special in everything she does. It’s what makes her a true artist. She goes beyond just being a singer, or just being an actor. There’s a level of commitment and passion and strength. She throws herself completely into everything she does,” said co-star Salma Hayek.
“House of Gucci” stars Lady Gaga, Driver, Pacino, Hayek, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons and Jack Huston. It will open on Jan. 19 in Philippine theaters from Universal Pictures International.