Golden-Globe Nominated Darren Criss Gives Back After Very Big Year
*By Carlo Versano and Kate Gill*
After nabbing an Emmy in September, earning a Golden Globe nomination, and gracing the December cover of Entertainment Weekly, Darren Criss has every right to be smug.
But the actor-singer-songwriter who earned rave reviews for his turn as spree-killer Andrew Cunanan in FX's "The Assassination of Gianni Versace" knows he didn't do it alone.
"It's a lot bigger than me, which is always a nice reminder," he told Cheddar Tuesday. "It has to do with a lot of things that are so beyond my control."
"There are so many variables that I can't determine," he added acknowledging that many others ー directors, writers, editors, crew membersー contributed to his runaway success, which culminated last week with a Golden Globe nomination for Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture for TV.
Criss first captured teenage hearts as Blaine, the gay, bowtie-clad heartthrob in the high-school musical series "Glee." The actor may have transitioned into acting adulthood, but he's still in touch with the musical persona that launched his career. (He's currently on a concert tour with former costar Lea Michele.)
Criss' role as Cunanan, who murdered Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace and at least four other people in 1997, was considered among the best of the year ー praise that Criss said is partly a response to the complexity of Cunanan's life.
"It's not lost on me that \[its success\] has to do with someone who's famous for doing something very deplorable," he said. Still, he hopes the role helped viewers understand that evil is not always so cut-and-dried, and that Cunanan's life leading up to his infamous killing spree was not black and white. That "juxtaposition of dark and light" was what he loved about the role, he said.
Now Criss is partnering with Clorox on a philanthropic project that highlights the work of young people making an impact on their communities through cleaning. The [Clorox What Comes Next Project](https://www.clorox.com/our-purpose/why-clean-matters/clorox-what-comes-next-project/) supports people that "set the landscape for new beginnings," Criss said.
That could be the Florida high-school student who volunteers doing laundry for those in his community who can't afford it, or the Texas teenager who spends her free time cleaning cages at the local animal shelter.
Much like his acclaimed television role, Criss said the work these young people were doing spoke to his "artist's heart."
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/emmy-award-winning-actor-darren-criss-discusses-his-incredible-year).
How much real money would you pay for a virtual plot of land? Developing technology is introducing everyone in the real world to new, virtual worlds, like Decentraland. In this metaverse economy, users are buying virtual real estate at high value – and it’s not just the average Joe that’s looking to invest. Company's like Facebook are betting big.
Touring the remains of Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia has long been a Halloween tradition, but this year there is an educational spin to the haunting experience. Sean Kelly, Eastern State Penitentiary historic site SVP, talked to Cheddar about the goal of this year's 'Halloween Nights' and why it is relevant to mass incarceration.
On this episode of 'Your Future Home', Ania Smith, TaskRabbit CEO, discusses TaskRabbit's recent revenue growth, how the company is increasing their taskers' earning potential, and its potential for greater global expansion.; Aaron Wagner, a former football player turned self-made real estate investor & Founder and Managing Partner of Wags Capital, breaks down the best first steps the average investor can take into the realm of real estate, and how wholesaling can be a smart investment.; Cheddar breaks down all the tips, tricks, and things to look out for when buying your first home.
Pearson CEO Andy Bird joined Cheddar's "Opening Bell" to talk about a new partnership with famed recording artist manager Simon Fuller to launch a new performing arts school, the Academy of Pop, focused on cultivating the next round of rising stars. While the school will focus predominantly on the arts, Fuller said Bird wanted to partner with the learning company Pearson to add structure to the curriculum. "I think in many areas, the performing arts have suffered within education, and so part of our goal is to sort of put the 'A' into STEM and turn it into STEAM," he said. The first studio is slated to open in Hollywood.
Assistant Professor of Journalism at San Francisco State University, Lourdes Cárdenas, joined Cheddar News to discuss San Francisco State University launching a new bilingual journalism major.
On this epsiode of ChedHER: COO of Exile discusses the company's mission of creating original content for audiences across the U.S. and Latin America; Community Impact Region Lead, Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase breaks down the firm's commitment to racial equity; President of Myriad Genetics explains how to expand access to genetic testing for all women.
Nicole Lambert, President at Myriad Genetics joins ChedHER to discuss how to expand access to genetic testing for all women, and how her experience as a 'pre-vivor' motivates her role in the industry.
Noreen Hernandez, Community Impact Region Lead, Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase, joins ChedHER to discuss the firm's commitment to racial equity and what needs to be done to close the racial wealth gap.
Tere Perez, COO of Exile, joins ChedHER to discuss the company's mission of creating original content for audiences across the U.S. and Latin America, and how the team is empowering Hispanic creators.
