Former George Magazine Journalist Weighs In on FX’s JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette Love Story
By Alexus Mosley
As FX’s Love Story continues to dramatize the romance between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, one of the people who actually knew the couple is weighing in.
Lisa DePaulo, a journalist who worked with JFK Jr. at George magazine in the 1990s, shared her thoughts on the series in a recent column. While acknowledging the difficulty of portraying such private figures, DePaulo praised the show’s lead actors, particularly Sarah Pidgeon, who plays Carolyn Bessette.
According to DePaulo, Carolyn was “smart as a whip and funny,” and she believes Pidgeon successfully captured both her intelligence and the elusive aura that made her so magnetic. She also noted Carolyn’s unique mix of confidence and empathy, saying the performance reflects why both men and women were drawn to her. DePaulo also complimented Paul Anthony Kelly’s portrayal of JFK Jr., pointing out that his mannerisms, such as the way he walked and even locked up his bike, felt strikingly accurate. At times, she said, the resemblance in his voice and cadence gave her chills.
While the series dramatizes a famously private relationship, even Pidgeon herself has acknowledged how Carolyn’s reclusiveness shaped her approach to the role. The actress has spoken about the challenge of balancing public expectations with the reality of Carolyn’s desire for privacy, something the real-life couple fiercely protected throughout their marriage.