Sarah Pidgeon Says Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s Style Was Transformative in Love Story

Sarah Pidgeon is stepping into one of the most iconic fashion figures of the 1990s — Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy — in FX’s Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.

Fashion as a Gateway to Character

Pidgeon, 29, told PEOPLE that Carolyn’s signature style helped her embody the late Calvin Klein publicist. “Her clothing really helped inform the character,” she explained. “It makes you stand in a different way. And it sort of holds you in and protects you.”

She particularly connected with Carolyn’s Yohji Yamamoto pieces, noting that the designer described his clothing as “armor for women.” For Pidgeon, that symbolism reflected Carolyn’s private nature and her struggle with intense media scrutiny.

Transformative Wardrobe

The actress described the fashion as “very transformative,” especially in showing Carolyn’s evolution from her carefree mid-twenties in New York to her poised public life alongside John F. Kennedy Jr. “She was a 26-year-old in New York, smoking cigs, walking down Fifth Avenue,” Pidgeon said, contrasting that with the polished image Carolyn later projected.

Facing Criticism

When early test shots of the series were released, Pidgeon faced criticism from viewers who felt she didn’t resemble Carolyn. She said the feedback didn’t change her approach but reminded her of the responsibility of portraying such a beloved figure. “It reinforced and reminded me of just how beloved these people are, and people are protective of their story.”

Trusting the Process

Pidgeon credited her co-star Paul Anthony Kelly, who plays John F. Kennedy Jr., with helping her navigate the role. “It was a lesson in really trying to trust my instincts and myself and my scene partner,” she said.

The Series

Inspired by Elizabeth Beller’s book Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, the FX series explores the couple’s whirlwind romance, marriage, and the pressures of fame. Their tragic deaths in a 1999 plane crash remain one of the most heartbreaking chapters in American history. Alongside Pidgeon and Kelly, the cast includes Naomi Watts as Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Grace Gummer as Caroline Kennedy, Alessandro Nivola as Calvin Klein, and Sydney Lemmon as Lauren Bessette.