Ricky Martin was ‘in tears’ filming ‘American Crime Story’

PASADENA, Calif. – “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” has yet to premiere, but much has already been said about the Ryan Murphy-led miniseries, with the family of Versace decrying the show as a “work of fiction.”

FX’s Versace series stars Darren Criss as murderer Andrew Cunanan, Edgar Ramirez as Gianni Versace and Ricky Martin as Versace’s love Antonio D’Amico. Penelope Cruz plays Donatella Versace.

Martin, 46, said he experienced intense emotions while filming the story about the murder of the Miami-based fashion icon in 1997. He spent his time after filming wrapped each day “reliving everything that I went through that day on set” while locked in a hotel room alone in Miami.

“And I went to bed with the tears, and I would wake up mourning while I was having breakfast,” he told reporters at the Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour. “It was very methodic what I did…”

His co-star Criss had a drastically different experience while taping.

“It didn’t come home with me… I can sort of disassociate,” the former “Glee” star said. “The most difficult part was just me thinking about the people who are still alive and affected and wanting to do right by them.”

Martin was concerned about those that were impacted by the murderer as well and spoke to D’Amico before filming.

“I just told him, ‘I just want to do justice, and your life is full of injustice. And I want to let people know what your love was about and what your love with Gianni was about … because there is a lot of misinterpretation,’” Martin revealed.

D’Amico was emotional during their conversation, Martin said.

“Of course it was very touching. After 20 years, all this is getting stirred up again, and emotionally it’s very draining and exhausting, and it was a lot for him, but he goes ‘It would be even more difficult if I see something that’s not true on television,’” Martin revealed.

The experience filming the second installment of “American Crime Story” left Martin itching to act again.

“The amount of feelings that I went through putting this show together was very addictive, and I really want to go back to that,” Martin said.

The first season of “American Crime Story,” titled “The People v. O.J. Simpson,” was nominated for 22 Emmys in 2016 and won the coveted award for Outstanding Limited Series.

Murphy said the second season of the anthology series is drastically different from its famed predecessor. The show focuses on the five murders committed Cunanan, not just on the slaying of Versace, he said.

“Every season of this show is so different,” the showrunner said. “I really love how we [got] into everyone who was affected.”

“The Assassination of Gianni Versace” premieres Jan. 17 on FX.