Daryl Hannah: The Actress at the Heart of JFK Jr.’s Love Story
FX’s limited series, “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette,” has reignited public fascination with the lives of the Kennedy family and those who orbited their world. A key figure in the early episodes is actress Daryl Hannah, portrayed by Dree Hemingway, and her rekindled romance with John F. Kennedy Jr. (Paul Anthony Kelly). The series dramatically portrays how Hannah’s presence impacted the burgeoning relationship between John and Carolyn Bessette (Sarah Pidgeon).
Episode 1 culminates in Carolyn discovering, via a New York Post tabloid, that John had recently been seeing his former flame. The headline, “Back with Daryl!” accompanied a photo of the pair holding hands, sparking immediate tension. While John attempted to smooth things over with flowers in Episode 2, Carolyn maintained a dignified distance, acknowledging the relationship as “one date” and suggesting a platonic connection.
However, the series hints at a more complex dynamic. Brad Simpson, the executive producer, revealed to USA TODAY that the real-life relationship was “on again, off again,” but the show streamlined the narrative for pacing. Expect more passion and revelations as the series unfolds, with subsequent episodes released weekly on Thursdays (9 ET/PT on FX, and streaming on Hulu) and meticulously fact-checked.
Jackie Kennedy’s Illness and the Family Drama
The series also delves into the health struggles of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. A flashback to November 1993 depicts Jackie’s horseback riding accident, mirroring events detailed in Edward Klein’s 2004 book, “Farewell, Jackie.” The incident foreshadows her eventual diagnosis with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and her tragic death in May 1994.
In a pivotal scene, Daryl Hannah joins John for dinner with Jackie, Caroline Kennedy (Grace Gummer), and Edwin Schlossberg (Ben Shenkman). However, Jackie’s declining health leads her to retreat to her room, and Daryl, sensing disapproval, quickly departs. This prompts a poignant exchange where Daryl questions John about his mother’s perception of her, referencing the historical context of JFK’s affair with Marilyn Monroe. As Jim Hart, a friend of Jackie O., noted in “JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography,” Jackie wasn’t necessarily hostile towards Daryl, but she was firmly against her son marrying an actress.
Carolyn Bessette and Michael Bergin: A Parallel Romance
The series also explores Carolyn Bessette’s relationship with model Michael Bergin (Noah Fearnley). Based on Elizabeth Beller’s “Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy,” the show portrays a more casual connection, which intensified after John’s reunion with Daryl. Carolyn even assisted Bergin in landing a Calvin Klein underwear campaign, highlighting a shift in her attention.
Tragedy Strikes: The Loss of a Beloved Dog
A heartbreaking subplot involves the accidental death of Daryl Hannah’s dog. While walking the dog in NYC, John loses the leash, and the animal is struck by a cab. The episode concludes with John traveling to Los Angeles with the dog’s ashes. Friends of Kennedy Jr., like Sasha Chermayeff, attributed blame to John, while Steven Gillon revealed John’s resentment towards Daryl for “dragging him out there” to attend the dog’s funeral while his mother was battling cancer.
“Love Story” offers a compelling, albeit dramatized, glimpse into a period of intense personal and public scrutiny for the Kennedy family. Daryl Hannah’s role, as portrayed in the series, is not merely that of a romantic rival, but a catalyst for exploring the complexities of love, family, and the weight of legacy. You can learn more about the Kennedy family history at the [John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum](https://www.jfklibrary.org/).
