Tony Winner Donna Murphy Joins Lifetime's HOUSE OF VERSACE

Stage, film, television actress and singer Donna Murphy joins the cast of the upcoming Lifetime movie House of Versace, premiering October 5, 2013 on Lifetime Television.

Murphy, who portrays "Maria," the loved and trusted head seamstress who has been with Versace from the start, is an Emmy Award winner and a two-time Tony Award winner. She received the first of her two Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as "Fosca" in Passion. Her second Tony for her portrayal of "Anna Leonowans" in the 1996 revival of The King and I. Her Daytime Emmy Award came from her first television film, HBO's Someone Had to be Benny.

This talented and respected actress has had a diverse career, making a number of appearances on both the big and small screens, working in such films as The Bourne Legacy, Tangled, World Trade Center, Spider-Man 2, The Door in the Floor, Star Trek: Insurrection, Center Stage and The Astronaut's Wife. Murphy has also appeared on television shows The Mentalist, Damages, Law & Order and The Practice.

Based on Wall Street Journal reporter Deborah Ball's widely-read book House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genius, Murder, and Survival, the movie brings to light the story of Donatella Versace (Gina Gershon), who, following the brazen murder of her brother, world-renowned designer Gianni Versace (Enrico Colantoni) at the height of his success, is suddenly thrust into the spotlight as head designer of his fashion empire. At first ridiculed by critics worldwide, Donatella falls victim to drug addiction and nearly bankrupts the company. With the help of her family, including daughter Allegra, Aunt Lucia (Raquel Welch) and brother Santo (Colm Feore), she enters rehab to confront her demons and soon comes back stronger than ever to re-ignite the beloved Versace brand with her own vision and builds one of the most powerful and influential fashion houses ever known.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride