Her futuristic brand of pop may well be rooted in the present, but Lady Gaga was stuck in the past on Monday as she filmed her latest scenes on the set of forthcoming drama House Of Gucci.
The singer and actress takes a starring role in celebrated director Ridley Scott’s autobiographical drama about the 1995 assassination of Italian businessman Maurizio Gucci by his ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani, who was later given a 29 year prison sentence for ordering his murder.
Dressed in character as Reggiani, Gaga, 34, appeared to be ready for action after returning to work in the Italian Alps following the kidnapping and eventual safe return of her pet dogs.
Bold: Gaga looked sensational in her red ski-suit while playing Patrizia Reggiani in the autobiographical drama. Reggiani was given a 29 year prison sentence for ordering the 1995 murder of fashion mogul ex-husband Maurizio Gucci
Wearing a vintage red ski-suit and black belt, the star relaxed with crew-members on the Gressoney-Saint-Jean set in the north west of Italy while waiting for her next scene.
She added to the character’s retro look with a faux-fur hat, while a large pair of vintage Dior ski-goggles with changeable crocodile embossed fronts were perched on her head.
Gaga, real name Stefani Germanotta, was later joined by co-stars Adam Driver, who takes the lead in Scott’s latest project as the late Gucci fashion house creator, and Camille Cottin – cast as his love interest Paola Franchi.
The film, which documents Reggiani’s plot to murder her ex-husband, is based on the novel The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by author Sara Gay Forden.
Leading lady: The singer and actress caught the eye in her vintage outfit as she made her way across the outdoor set
Resentment: Patrizia Reggiani, nicknamed the ‘Black Widow’, was found guilty of paying a hit man €300,000 (£240,000) to murder 46–year–old Maurizio Gucci, an heir to the fashion empire
Hard to miss: Gaga’s snug fitting vintage outfit drew attention to her figure as she mingled with crew-members
Here we go: Dressed in character as Reggiani, Gaga, 34, appeared to be ready for action after returning to work in the Italian Alps following the kidnapping and eventual safe return of her pet dogs
In good company: Wearing a vintage red ski-suit and black belt, the star relaxed with crew-members on the Gressoney-Saint-Jean set while waiting for her next scene
Patrizia Reggiani, nicknamed the ‘Black Widow’, was found guilty of paying a hit man €300,000 (£240,000) to murder 46–year–old Maurizio Gucci, an heir to the fashion empire, in 1995.
He had left her for another woman 10 years previously after telling her he was going on a short business trip.
Outrage: Reggiani (pictured) was reportedly furious that Gucci had started seeing other women and was frustrated with how he managed his $170million fortune
High profile: During the murder trial, which transfixed Italy, Reggiani arrived each day wearing head-to-toe Gucci clothes and accessories. She was sentenced in 1998 (pictured)
Reggiani was reportedly furious that Gucci had started seeing other women and was frustrated with how he managed his $170million fortune.
She also wanted more than the $650,000 she had been offered in a divorce settlement, the court heard.
Reggiani eventually hired hitman Benedetto Ceraulo, a debt-ridden pizzeria owner who shot Gucci dead on the steps of his office in Milan as he arrived for work. Ceraulo was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Well-known for her luxury lifestyle, Reggiani once said: ‘I’d rather cry in a Rolls than be happy on a bicycle’ and turned down the offer of day release while in prison because it would have meant doing ‘menial’ work.
In 2017 a court ruled Reggiani was entitled to receive £900,000 a year from her ex-husband’s fortune.
Maurizio Gucci was the grandson of Guccio Gucci, founder of the fashion company made famous with its double G logo.
In the early 1990s it was hit by problems and he sold the label for $120 million, just two years before his death.
The new film is scheduled to go on general release from November 24th 2021.
Cosy: Gaga added to her character’s retro look with a faux-fur hat, while a large pair of ski-goggles sat atop her head
Main man: Co-star Adam Driver was later seen chatting to an assistant as he idled on set
Hard to miss: Gaga looked incredible in her red ski suit while on set in the Italian Alps
Co-stars: Gaga stars alongside Adam Driver, who takes the lead in Scott’s latest film as the late Gucci fashion house creator
Upbeat: The American star laughed and joked with members of the crew during a break between scenes on Monday
Racy in red: Gaga looked incredible in the suit which made the most of her figure despite the thick materials
She was convicted after her clairvoyant and confidante Pina Auriemma turned informer and told police about the plot.
During the murder trial, which transfixed Italy, Reggiani arrived each day wearing head-to-toe Gucci clothes and accessories.
The court heard how she had ordered the murder of her husband after he offered her $650,000 in a divorce settlement.
Chilly: A sound-man clutched a large boom on the freezing set in picturesque e Gressoney-Saint-Jean
Pleased to meet you: Gaga warmly embraced a colleague as they waited for orders from the director
Cheers: The singer and actress settled down with an espresso during a welcome break
Don’t mind me: Gaga sat alone as crew members surrounded her on the exterior set
Step by step: The star was soon back on her feet and ready for action as Reggiani
She described the offer as a ‘plate of lentils’, insisting she wanted at least $1 million, and when he refused she hired hitman Benedetto Ceraulo.
She was also said to be furious her former husband had started seeing other women, and feared her daughters’ inheritance was at risk if he remarried before ordering the hit.
Reggiani was initially sentenced to 29 years in 1998, which was reduced to 26 on appeal. She served 18 – with her pet ferret Bambi as a companion for some of the time – before being released in October 2014.
Coming soon: The forthcoming film is based on the novel The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by author Sara Gay Forden
Success: It will be Gaga’s first prominent role since winning accolades for her performances in American Horror Story
Controversy: Reggiani was sentenced to 29 years in prison for ordering the 1995 murder of ex-husband Gucci
Supporting actress: Camille Cottin was also seen waiting for her latest scenes as Paola Franchi on Monday
Centre stage: Gaga held court as she prepared to slip into character as Reggiani
Pals: Gaga finished her coffee while Camille ate lunch in the Alps, where the crew have been stationed over recent weeks
Let’s talk: The singer and actress leaned in for a chat with Camille as they sat alongside each other
It’s been little more than a fortnight since Gaga’s dog walker Ryan Fischer was shot by thieves who stole her two bulldogs on February 24.
The American Horror Story actress was left stranded in Europe when Ryan was shot in the chest by thieves and two of her pets stolen in the US.
The dogs, Gustav and Koji, were returned to the pop star by a mystery woman who said she found them tied to a post in Los Angeles.
A manhunt for the two attackers is still underway.
Busy: Dozens of crew members gathered as filming commenced on a ski resort in the Italian Alps
Freezing: Adam Driver rubbed his hands to stay warm after pulling on a thick white ski suit for his latest scenes as Gucci
All star cast: The film also stars Al Pacino as Aldo Gucci and Jared Leto
Stuck: Gaga was left stranded in Europe when two of her three dogs were kidnapped in Hollywood a fortnight ago
Moving on: But with the dogs now back in Gaga’s custody she has returned to work on her latest film
Not long to wait: House Of Gucci is scheduled to go on general release in November 2021
Bizzard: Gaga chatted on her phone as snow rained down across the outdoor set
Ryan, who is expected to make a full recovery, praised Gaga’s third dog, Miss Asia, who avoided capture and returned to be by his side, calling her his ‘guardian angel’.
Gaga has reportedly said she will pay for Fischer’s $97,500 medical bills.
A source close to the Black Jesus singer told the Mirror: ‘Gaga feels horrendous about what happened to Ryan and wants to make sure he is looked after. She absolutely adores him and is forever indebted to him for his bravery.’
The unnamed source said that Lady Gaga also wanted to compensate Fischer for lost work and ‘has been wishing him a speedy recovery’.
Recovering: Her dog walker Ryan Fischer is expected to make a full recovery and has recounted the terrifying incident of being shot in the chest from his hospital bed
Relief: Gaga’s beloved dogs, Gustav and Koji, were returned to the pop star by a mystery woman who said she found them tied to a post in Los Angeles on Friday. A manhunt for the two attackers is still underway
Lady Gaga put up a $500,000 reward for information leading to the safe return of her stolen dogs, who finally came home safe last Friday.
Law enforcement sources told TMZ that the woman was a Good Samaritan who recognized the dogs from media coverage of the robbery in which the singer’s dog walker was shot.
She contacted an email address shared on social media by Lady Gaga and was told to head to the nearest police station.
Sources also told TMZ that the Star Is Born actress will ‘gladly’ follow through on her promise of a reward.
The pet pooches: The three French pitbulls previously accompanied Gaga on the red carpet for the American Music Awards in November 2017 – Miss Asia (centre) evaded capture at the time