Sarah Pidgeon

Sarah Pidgeon has emerged as a breakout star with her potrayal of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy in “Love Story,” a 2026 limited series on FX/Hulu. The show has become a sensation, as a new generation of fans have become enamored with the iconic romance between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn.

Sarah was reportedly chosen from more than 1,000 actresses who auditioned. She’s a natural brunette, so her team photoshopped blonde hair onto her audition photos to make her look more like Carolyn. It’s difficult to imagine another actress better suited to the role. Sarah is simply beautiful, and she embodied Carolyn’s effortless style with ease. She also looks quite a bit like Carolyn with her slender figure and standing 5′ 10″.

Her performance in this role was quite striking. She humanized the private Carolyn whose life came to a tragic end in that aweful accident in 1999. Carolyn was often portrayed as the “ice queen” in the media due to her need for privacy. We see her in this series as a charismatic party girl why was very reluctant to get involved with JFK, Jr. Then we see her thoughtfully grappling with whether she be able to handle the scrutiny of being his wife.

The series has received quite a bit of criticism for some of its dramatizations, particularly from Daryl Hannah who was portrayed as a complete flake in the series. That’s the problem with these types of series . . . the writers and producers frankly make up stuff for needed “dramatic effect.”

That said, this series reindroduced Carolyn to the world, particularly her understated elegance and timeless style. She’s become a style icon again now for a whole new generation, as Gen Z can’t seem to get enough of her, and Sarah’s portrayal of her. The show also seemed to get a number of things right, particularly the vicious nature of the paparazzi at that time and their impact on Carolyn.

If this role is any indication, Sarah Pidgeon is poised for a remarkable career. We look forward to seeing how tthis tall beauty builds on this breakout moment.

Interviews and Quotes

Vogue Interview
“What I hope is that people feel a little closer to knowing the woman behind the clothes. Carolyn’s style is so iconic, but I was really interested in what was happening internally — the contradictions of someone who was incredibly private but suddenly one of the most photographed women in the world.”

Marie Claire Interview
“I certainly felt the responsibility of playing Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and I carried that every day. I don’t think it was super-shocking that people were invested in her and had strong opinions — but it gave me an opportunity to understand what it might have been like for her.”

Sarah on Jimmy Kimmel Live
She’s very charsimatic in these interviews.

Sarah on The Kelly Clarkson Show
Sarah tells a first kiss story.