Edgar Ramirez is one of the best-looking men working in Hollywood today. The Venezuelan actor is as ruggedly handsome as they come. It’s what’s made his transformation into Gianni Versace such a revelation. Here is an actor taking a page out of the deglam-yourself-to-prove-you-have-the-chops playbook that’s often the easiest way for gorgeous actresses to earn critical acclaim. It worked for Charlize Theron (Monster), Halle Berry (Monster’s Ball), Cameron Diaz (Being John Malkovich) and even actors like Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant) and Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler). They all successfully pulled attention away from their famous faces to earn praise for their talent. With that receding hairline and a slight paunch, Ramirez is truly doing some stellar work as the Italian designer.
Sadly, despite Ryan Murphy’s title, the FX show hasn’t spent that much time with Gianni. Instead, it follows the story of his killer, Andrew Cunanan (played Darren Criss), going the opposite route of Ramirez, all but exploiting his perfectly chiseled face and abs to deliver a an instant-classic performance (he even gets his very own Gael-in-Bad Education pool scene). That’s the case in this sixth installment, which has a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it scene between Cunanan and Versace in an episode that’s otherwise focused on the former’s birthday party celebration in San Diego months before the bloody events in Miami.
Some viewers may be getting their first glimpse of this talented actor underneath makeup that’s designed to age and deglam him. It’s why we thought this was a good time to look back to the many roles Ramirez has played where he’s made full use of his fetching face and toned body, proving beauty and talent can work side by side.
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story airs Wednesdays on FX.
1
Domino (2005)
There is an entire scene in this Ridley Scott shoot-em-up thriller that features Ramirez (sporting luscious shampoo-ad-ready curls) stripping down to his briefs in a steamy laundromat. Need we say more?
2
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Having chopped off his long hair, Ramirez got to show off his cheekbones in this three-time Oscar-winning entry in the Bourne series as Paz, a CIA assassin.
3
Carlos (2010)
Ramirez earned a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Venezuelan revolutionary Ilich Ramírez Sánchez. (And yes, this is the miniseries where those GIFs and stills of the actor standing naked in front of a mirror come from.)
4
Wrath of the Titans (2012)
Having the time of his life in Greco-Roman gear, Ramirez got to unleash his full wrath as the god Ares in this swords-and-sandals epic. I mean, look at that ab-solutely stylish armor!
5
Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
The polarizing Kathryn Bigelow flick, about the manhunt for Osama Bin Laden, features Ramirez as Larry, a CIA operative with dreamy eyes and the actor’s signature A+ beard.
6
The Liberator (2013)
Trust the Venezuelan native to make one of South America’s most iconic heroes, Simón Bolívar, a total snack. Boy can rock those sideburns!
7
Point Break (2015)
This remake of the 1991 film of the same name, about a group of extreme sports athletes who moonlight as high-octane heist-men, features Ramirez at his swooniest. It’s the breezy haircut. And the tattoos, we think.
8
Joy (2015)
We can’t blame Joy (J-Law) for falling for Tony (Ramirez), especially when you see him showing off his salsa dancing skills.
9
Hands of Stone (2016)
We’re thankful Ramirez got the chance to play Panamanian former professional boxer Roberto Durán, if only for giving us the sight of him in boxing shorts.
10
The Girl on the Train (2016)
Thrillers that depend on sexual chemistry necessarily require actors with a magnetic screen presence. And, in a cast that included Emily Blunt, Justin Theroux, and Luke Evans, we think Ramirez more than fit the bill as Dr. Kamal Abdic.