New York City was in the grip of a record-breaking cold snap when Sarah Pidgeon, wrapped in layers and radiating a quiet, Midwestern confidence, settled into the fireplace-lit lobby of the Marlton Hotel. The 29-year-old actor was fresh off the most high-profile role of her career: portraying Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in FX’s new anthology series Love Story, which premiered on February 12, 2026. For Pidgeon, a Michigan native with a Tony nomination under her belt and screen credits in I Know What You Did Last Summer and Tiny Beautiful Things, the opportunity to step into the shoes of a ’90s icon was both thrilling and daunting.
“I only did each scene once,” Pidgeon recalled of her audition in Los Angeles, according to Bustle. “I was like, ‘Oh, they’re not having me do this scene again. How would they be able to trust me with this thing?’” She left convinced she hadn’t landed the part, but a few days later, while sitting in a hotel bathtub, she got the call: she was Carolyn. “I’m completely silent because it hits me: Oh my God, holy sh*t, I got it. And now I have to do it.”
There are no ordinary roles in the Ryan Murphy universe, but even by those standards, Love Story stands out. The show chronicles the yearslong romance and eventual tragic deaths of American political royalty John F. Kennedy Jr. (played by Paul Anthony Kelly) and his fashion-forward wife, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. The couple’s real-life love story—captured in endless paparazzi photos and dissected in tabloids—remains a touchstone of 1990s glamour and heartbreak. Every detail of the series, from Pidgeon’s exact shade of blonde to the cut of her costumes, was scrutinized by fans and critics alike.
That scrutiny reached a fever pitch last June, when Ryan Murphy posted camera test stills of Pidgeon and Kelly in character on Instagram. As The New York Times reported, the backlash was swift and harsh. Style writers and even Bessette-Kennedy’s own colorist criticized the look as inauthentic, calling it the “Temu version of high fashion.” The post was eventually deleted, and the styling—especially the hair color—was corrected. Pidgeon, for her part, tried to avoid the online chatter. “The role is the most prominent of her career, and she didn’t want the chatter to cow her or color her performance,” noted The New York Times. Still, the criticism stung. “There’s so much that’s so admirable,” she said. “I wanted to fiercely advocate for that interpretation of her, that she’s more than just her clothes.”
Indeed, Pidgeon dove deep into research, determined to portray Carolyn as a fully realized person rather than a two-dimensional style icon. “Carolyn had so much personality and really had a point of view,” she told Bustle. “She was not two-dimensional at all. There was a spunk on the page showing her intelligence, her guardedness.” The script, she felt, captured the real Carolyn: ambitious, smart, outspoken, and—despite her cool exterior—often quick to laugh. “Gosh. People said that Carolyn laughed a lot. I’d like to think that I laugh a lot,” Pidgeon mused. “She’s very jokey, and I like to tell jokes, although I’m sure hers landed a lot more often than mine do.”
Portraying such a powerhouse, Pidgeon found herself changed by the experience. “In wanting to do this character justice, I had to learn to advocate for her and myself,” she explained. “I’m such a Michigander, and I tend to, I guess, people please. And I came to understand that I could either be uncomfortable by not speaking up, or embrace the discomfort of what it feels like to advocate for yourself. I would like to think a little bit of that rubbed off on me.”
The fashion, of course, was its own character. Long before “influencer” was a household word, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy set the standard for understated, aspirational style. For the series, Pidgeon donned iconic pieces, including Yohji Yamamoto designs and Manolo Blahnik shoes. “There was that aura you feel when you look at photos of Carolyn, this enigmatic quality she had in every pore that filled out these clothes,” Pidgeon said. She especially loved the Yamamoto outfits—a cream pencil skirt and a delicately boned button-down top. “Yamamoto talked about his garments being armor for women, and she wore a lot of Yamamoto in her public outings with JFK Jr.,” she noted, reflecting on how fashion served as both shield and statement for Carolyn in the public eye.
Not every outfit was comfortable, though. For the wedding scene, the production needed a shot of Pidgeon gliding down the aisle in a long gown. The solution? Platform Ugg boots hidden beneath the hem, so she could keep the height without sacrificing comfort. “So then I was in these massive shoes just trying to shuffle down the hallway and keep my face from showing it,” she laughed. “The moment is so beautiful and serene, magical and exquisite—and meanwhile I’m focused on trying not to have an aneurysm just walking.”
The role left its mark on Pidgeon’s personal style, too. She used to avoid heels, feeling she was tall enough, but after months in Manolos, she now embraces the extra height. With the help of stylist Emma Jade Morrison, she’s been spotted in Chanel—her Love Story premiere look featured a geometric gown with blue ostrich feathers—but day to day, she still prefers jeans and, in the depths of winter, long underwear. “Sarah wears a lot of jeans and, right now, long underwear,” she said, gesturing at her outfit during the interview.
Through it all, Pidgeon’s Midwestern roots have kept her grounded. She’s quick to praise her co-star, Paul Anthony Kelly: “He’s just the most kind, generous, fun, goofy, smart, and lovable person to work opposite for six months. I couldn’t have picked a better guy, and he brought just such wonderful energy to JFK Jr. He was such a rock for me for this whole experience.” Family remains central—her mother came to New York for the premiere and bunked in Pidgeon’s Brooklyn apartment, even bringing her coffee in bed the morning of the big event.
Now, with the press cycle winding down, Pidgeon is eager to return to normal life and fulfill her New Year’s resolution: planning a girls trip. “I feel like so much of my life, I’ve been waiting to book trips because I don’t know when I’m going to get a job,” she said. “But hey, if you want a job, you buy a plane ticket.”
Bundled up in her own kind of armor, ready to brave the New York winter, Pidgeon reflects on the journey. “I haven’t wanted to buy a pair of mittens since I figure I should be able to knit them, but they’re difficult because of the thumb,” she joked, pulling on a pair her mom brought from Michigan. For Sarah Pidgeon, playing Carolyn Bessette Kennedy was more than a career milestone—it was a lesson in self-advocacy, style, and the enduring power of authenticity.