All posts tagged: Sarah Pidgeon

Creator Defends JFK Jr. & Carolyn Depiction Before Deaths

Creator Defends JFK Jr. & Carolyn Depiction Before Deaths

Published by Daniella Wilson

Just over a month after Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette aired its finale, the cast and creatives are opening up about the decisions behind that heartbreaking ending. On Wednesday night, stars of the hit FX series — which chronicles the tragic romance between America’s Prince and the former Calvin Klein publicist who died in a plane crash in 1999 — including Sarah Pidgeon (Carolyn Bessette), Paul Anthony Kelly (John F. Kennedy Jr.), Naomi Watts (Jackie Kennedy Onassis), Grace Gummer (Caroline Kennedy), Constance Zimmer (Ann Marie Messina), Alessandro Nivola (Calvin Klein), creator Connor Hines and executive producer Brad Simpson gathered at Metrograph for a screening and live conversation. During the event, they revisited clips from throughout the season and reflected on the making of the series. One of the final clips shown featured John and Carolyn re-creating their first date at Panna II Garden Indian Restaurant in Manhattan’s East Village — one of several moments in the finale that depicted the couple trying to recapture the passion and excitement of their early …

Sarah Pidgeon Says Carolyn Wardrobe Gave Her Psoriasis

Sarah Pidgeon Says Carolyn Wardrobe Gave Her Psoriasis

Published by Daniella Wilson

Sarah Pidgeon is opening up about how playing Carolyn Bessette Kennedy wasn’t always as glamorous as it looked. During a recent Beauty Secrets video for Vogue, Pidgeon revealed she developed a skin condition while filming the record-breaking Disney+ and Hulu show Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette last summer. Filming in Hyannis, Massachusetts — where the Kennedy Compound is located — Pidgeon said she wore heavy clothing despite it being hot weather. “When we were shooting Love Story, we were out in Hyannis and I was wearing a cashmere turtleneck and jeans,” Pidgeon said. “I got a heat rash because it was like 90 degrees outside, and then that turned into psoriasis all over my body.” She then showed a patch on her arm. “I get it on my chest, get it on my tummy. It’s really everywhere,” Pidgeon said. “It comes in waves, it’ll go away, and you can always cover it up.” According to the Mayo Clinic, Psoriasis is a long-term disease that causes itchy, scaly patches on the skin. It …

Inside the Viral ’90s Music Taking Over TikTok

Inside the Viral ’90s Music Taking Over TikTok

Published by Daniella Wilson

[This story contains spoilers from the Love Story finale, “Search and Recovery.”] Since Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette debuted on FX last month — just ahead of Valentine’s Day — the show has become a pop culture phenomenon. It’s boosted attendance at New York City filming locations like Panna II Garden Indian Restaurant and Bubby’s, sparked fans to replicate the couple’s signature style and even inspired JFK Jr. lookalike contests. The same frenzy has taken hold online. Scroll through social media — especially TikTok — and Love Story content is likely dominating your feed. Songs from the show has also become a consistent part of those posts. Featuring artists ranging from Radiohead, Björk and Lenny Kravitz to Stereolab, the Velvet Underground and Dido, the music helps transport audiences back to the era. The anthology series, which follows the romance and tragedy of JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, was created by Connor Hines and executive produced by Ryan Murphy — and its impact extends to the charts. The show holds four of the top …

John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette’ Ending Explained

John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette’ Ending Explained

Published by Daniella Wilson

[This story contains MAJOR spoilers from the Love Story finale, “Search and Recovery”.] After seven weeks of ’90s nostalgia and an intimate look at America’s ultimate power couple — John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy — Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette concluded Thursday night. And it was an emotional watch, to say the least. Created by Connor Hines and executive produced by Ryan Murphy, the anthology series picks up shortly after last week’s episode, when John (Paul Anthony Kelly) left for the night. Set during the final weekend of their lives, the episode reveals that he never came back from leaving Carolyn (Sarah Pidgeon) during that explosive argument. Still, the two attempt to repair their relationship, visiting a marriage counselor who suggests they spend time apart. After leaving the session, they head to a dive bar and reminisce about the passion and excitement of their early relationship — before it was strained by relentless media attention, and before Carolyn, in particular, struggled to adjust to such a drastic change …

Sarah Pidgeon on Carolyn Bessette Kennedy Style, Criticism

Sarah Pidgeon on Carolyn Bessette Kennedy Style, Criticism

Published by Daniella Wilson

To play ’90s power couple John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, Ryan Murphy and the team behind FX’s Love Story took the Star Is Born route: they cast two unknowns. For JFK Jr.’s role, creator Connor Hines saw more than 1,000 actors before landing on Paul Anthony Kelly. Sarah Pidgeon, meanwhile, emerged as an immediate frontrunner to play Carolyn from her first audition tape. In recent years, she’s appeared in Tiny Beautiful Things, earned a 2024 Tony nomination for Stereophonic and had a major role in last summer’s I Know What You Did Last Summer legacy sequel. Now, she’s entering a new realm of fame. Much like the real Carolyn — a rising star at Calvin Klein who worked her way up to become a publicist — Pidgeon’s career is beginning to mirror that elusive “It” girl trajectory, earning rave reviews for her performance. Still, the actress felt the weight of portraying a figure so beloved for her signature minimalist style. Carolyn Bessette’s aura and famed wardrobe remain touchstones of fashion inspiration, even three …

Cast, Creator Respond to Backlash and Jack Schlossberg

Cast, Creator Respond to Backlash and Jack Schlossberg

Published by Daniella Wilson

Bringing the Kennedy family — America’s closest thing to royalty — to screen was bound to spark strong reactions. When Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette first-look images of Paul Anthony Kelly as John F. Kennedy Jr. and Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn Bessette Kennedy (“CBK”) were first shared (and since-deleted) from the Ryan Murphy Productions Instagram account last June, the response was immediate — and critical. From Carolyn’s former hair colorist to fashion stylists online, observers zeroed in on Pidgeon’s shade of blonde hair and wardrobe, questioning the show’s take on the ’90s minimalist style icon. Paparazzi disruptions during filming only amplified the scrutiny. Executive producer Brad Simpson says the frenzy felt familiar. “It mirrored the journey Carolyn Bessette went through, from being unknown to suddenly being criticized for her every move,” he tells The Hollywood Reporter. Rather than rattle the team, the backlash became an early course correction. “I wasn’t worried — I was thrilled people cared,” says series creator Connor Hines. Inspired by Elizabeth Beller’s biography, Love Story traces the …

JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy

JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy

Published by Daniella Wilson

It’s the month of love — and that means Love Story is soon approaching. On Monday morning, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, the FX series from executive producer Ryan Murphy, released a trailer (below) which sees its stars — newcomer Paul Anthony Kelly as John F. Kennedy Jr. and Tony-nominee Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn Bessette Kennedy — meet and fall in love. But that doesn’t come without their challenges, especially from the non-stop media attention the couple received and photographers who would wait outside their apartment at all times. “There’s your world. And then there’s mine,” Carolyn says to JFK Jr. “It’s not a question of if I want to spend the rest of my life with you. It’s a question of if I’m cut out to be Mrs. JFK Jr.” The trailer also shows Carolyn working at Calvin Klein in the ’90s, adding to her timeless style in real life. However, when first-look images were released last summer, Carolyn’s style, in particular, received backlash from people online, who called it …