The Household Items That Turned Gina Gershon Into Versace

Ali Wentworth

In the Lifetime biopic "House of Versace," Gina Gershon is transformed into the iconic Italian designer Donatella Versace, giving viewers insight into the complexity of the designer's life after her brother's murder. With such a convincing portrayal, viewers might be surprised to learn she initially turned down the role.

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"I was like, 'Are you kidding me? No way,'" Gina says. "But then I read the script, and I fell in love with the script. ... It's a great story."

Gina explains that the designer's complexity drew her in. "You know about her extravagance and her fabulousness and her look and her hair, but [not] what she actually went through," she says, alluding to Donatella's past drug use. "She got herself together, she came out and basically finds her own voice."

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So how did the actress achieve the designer's notorious mouth shape? Gum, cotton balls, and even a little surgical tape. "I just made different concoctions, and finally I got my mouth in the right place," she says.

To find out what Gina says was the hardest part about playing Donatella Versace, check out this episode of "Daily Shot," and be sure watch "House of Versace" Saturday, Oct. 5, at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.