The lives of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette have long captivated America’s imagination, and now, more than a quarter-century after their tragic deaths, their story is being reimagined for a new generation. FX and Hulu’s latest limited series, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, plunges viewers into the whirlwind romance, public scrutiny, and heartbreak that defined one of the 1990s’ most iconic couples. With the first three episodes debuting on February 12, 2026, and new episodes rolling out weekly, the series has already sparked conversation—not just for its subject matter, but for the fresh faces bringing the Kennedys’ legacy to life.
At the heart of the series are Paul Anthony Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon, two relative unknowns chosen to portray JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. According to The Hollywood Reporter, creator Connor Hines saw more than 1,000 actors before casting Kelly, while Pidgeon emerged as a frontrunner from her very first audition tape. Pidgeon’s journey to landing the role began at the end of January 2025, when she received an audition notice and quickly put herself on tape. "I went in and I auditioned. Ryan [Murphy] was there. Honestly, I think I blacked out during it. But I could not read the room at all," Pidgeon recounted. A few days later, she learned she had landed the part—a moment that marked the start of her transformation into one of the era’s most photographed women.
The process of becoming Carolyn Bessette was as much about physical transformation as it was about capturing her spirit. Pidgeon, who had long, dark brown hair at the time, recalled, "Ryan was like, ‘Where’s your blonde hair?’ Because I had this long, dark brown hair, so opposite of what I am now. But yeah I think [showing a photoshopped image of me with blonde hair] helped maybe visualize what this transformation could be." The wardrobe was another crucial element. The creative team meticulously recreated Bessette’s signature minimalist style, sourcing vintage pieces from Calvin Klein and Yohji Yamamoto to reflect the fashion icon’s aura. "I’m a huge fan of all her Yohji Yamamoto outfits. There’s one in particular, which is a cream pencil skirt, and it has these buttons. There’s boning, so it’s very structured, and these long sleeves with beige Manolo heels. That image of Carolyn wearing that, I think of her immediately. She’s holding John’s hand and she’s smiling," Pidgeon told The Hollywood Reporter.
Of course, portraying such beloved figures comes with its own set of challenges. Early promotional images sparked criticism online, prompting adjustments to the hair and wardrobe. Pidgeon emphasized the collaborative spirit on set, saying, "Throughout the entire show, it really did feel like a collaboration. I always felt like I had a seat at the table. Not only in her costuming and hair and makeup, but also in the teamwork that we were doing. And making sure that I found integral parts of Carolyn." She credited Karri Hill, who did her color for the show, and Barry Lee Moe, who styled her hair daily, for helping her embody Carolyn’s look.
Support from showrunner Ryan Murphy was instrumental as the actors navigated public scrutiny. "The support meant the world. I feel very lucky to have some really amazing people in my corner. And to be able to add Ryan Murphy to that list, I feel very grateful and honored and privileged to have worked with him. He and the creative team behind it, and all of us on board we’re like, let’s remember our focus here, which is to bring integrity and truth to these renditions of Carolyn and John," Pidgeon shared. Murphy’s trust allowed the cast to focus on authenticity rather than outside noise.
The series doesn’t shy away from the emotional extremes of the Kennedys’ lives, from the heights of their wedding to the lows of their very public arguments and, ultimately, their tragic deaths. The opening sequence sets the tone by depicting the fateful day—July 16, 1999—when John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette, and Lauren Bessette perished in a plane crash off Martha’s Vineyard. Pidgeon described shooting those scenes as a delicate and emotional process, saying, "There was this energetic sense on set of knowing what part of their lives we were depicting. And how we were directed in episode one, while there is a tension, we have to find the love between them again. That’s how that scene ends by saying, ‘I love you’ to each other and reminding everyone in the first couple of minutes of the show, there’s a deep, deep, strong connection between these two that’s really filled with love, even if they are tense or upset or anxious."
For Kelly and Pidgeon, chemistry was crucial in bringing the couple’s complex relationship to life. "From his immediate audition, everyone was so excited by him just walking in the room. There was just something there. We just immediately trusted each other and felt comfortable with each other, and there was a real friendship that developed," Pidgeon said. The series spans years of the couple’s life, requiring the actors to navigate both joyful and emotionally taxing moments, often filming scenes from different points in the timeline simultaneously.
Beyond the glamour and the tragedy, Love Story delves into the private struggles of two people whose love became a national obsession. According to Hulu, the show aims to tell "the complex heartbreaking journey of a couple whose private love became a national obsession." The Kennedy family’s history is woven throughout, with references to childhood vacations at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Cape Cod, and the family’s ties to Martha’s Vineyard, where the plane’s registration papers were ultimately found. These settings, so entwined with the Kennedys’ public and private lives, add depth and resonance to the series’ narrative.
Pidgeon, who has earned rave reviews for her performance, found that playing Carolyn Bessette left a lasting impact on her own life. "She had this really, really strong sense of self, which I think is what allowed her to connect with people so well. There wasn’t this self-consciousness about her. While I believe she had her own insecurities, as we all do, I think she allowed herself to take up space. She allowed herself to be heard," she reflected. The experience of advocating for Carolyn’s legacy inspired Pidgeon to advocate for herself as well—a lesson she hopes to carry forward in her career.
As new episodes of Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette continue to air on FX and Hulu, audiences are invited to revisit a love story that once gripped a nation, now told through the eyes of a new generation of storytellers and performers. With meticulous attention to detail, emotional honesty, and a commitment to honoring the couple’s legacy, the series stands as both a tribute and a fresh exploration of two lives cut tragically short.