Love Story showrunner Connor Hines insists the FX limited series did not mean to disparage Daryl Hannah with its representation of the actress and her relationship with John F. Kennedy Jr.
Hannah took to The New York Times to call out her depiction in the Ryan Murphy-produced show about the tragic romance between JFK Jr. (Paul Anthony Kelly) and Carolyn Bessette (Sarah Pidgeon). The Kill Bill actress is portrayed on-screen by Dree Hemingway.
“I have generally chosen not to respond to media coverage of me,” Hannah wrote. “I have long believed that engaging with distortion often amplifies it. But a recent tragedy-exploiting television series about John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette features a character using my name and presents her as me. The choice to portray her as irritating, self-absorbed, whiny, and inappropriate was no accident.”
Hines, however, said he did not mean to slight the actress. “All I can say is, my intention with writing the show was to be as authentic and compassionate as possible,” he told Gold Derby on Monday night at Disney’s Toast to Television event at Soho House Holloway. “That’s the only thing I set out to do, and I tried my very best to do that, as did our team.”
Aside from addressing the Hannah controversy, Hines discussed the show’s decision to end Love Story with the deaths of Kennedy and Bessette as he flew them to Martha’s Vineyard for a family wedding — “one of the saddest creative experiences” ever for the producer.
“Just sitting at my laptop, I didn’t know that I’d ever write anything this heartbreaking,” the showrunner said. “And then to watch it was very layered. You’re mourning them all over again, but you’re also mourning the show. It was emotional for myriad reasons. I don’t know that I’ll ever have an experience like that again, watching the finale come to fruition.”
Hines also praised his two leads. “Paul has a charm and a warmth and a sense of play that he brings to John that I think is really contagious. He can walk into a room and be as magnetic as he is, but also shower attention on everybody that he interacts with. And Sarah has an unbelievable intelligence and agency and moxie to her that she brought to Carolyn that made the performance so unique and powerful. I truly don’t think anyone else could have done that.”
Kelly revealed that Love Story was his “first job” and he only had three weeks to prepare. “[The producers] took away all the outside thinking and made it impossible for me to fail. For me, working with them is just an absolute dream come true.”
Grace Gummer, who plays John’s sister, Caroline Kennedy, told Gold Derby that she hopes Love Story reveals new details about the family for viewers. “I have so much respect and admiration for this woman that I play,” Gummer said. “I was excited to tell her story at this moment in her life, and to be a part of this cast. There were so many things about the show that I thought were very interesting, including thinking that you know people in their lives — and you really don’t.”
Meanwhile, Constance Zimmer, who plays Carolyn Bessette’s mother, Ann Messina Freeman, said the role was one she couldn’t refuse. “When Ryan calls, you answer. I was very excited to audition for this because the writing was so good.” She added, “It’s a stellar cast. I feel so unbelievably grateful. It’s one of those shows that I watch and I forget that I’m in it because I’m so into it. Then I show up on screen and I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m in this show! That’s crazy!'”
Love Story has been garnering awards buzz since it premiered in February. On Tuesday, Pigeon received a nomination for her performance at the Gotham TV Awards and the show is expected to be in contention at the Emmys, per the Gold Derby odds.
Emmy Awards Nominations 2026
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Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen
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Monster: The Ed Gein Story
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Murdaugh: Death in the Family
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The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox
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Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
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The Count of Monte Cristo
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Hines said that awards recognition would be “extraordinary” and “incredible,” explaining, “I’ve wanted to work in entertainment since I was 10 years old. I remember all of the awards shows sitting in front of the TV as a little kid. My sisters will all be fighting over who gets to come with me, but other than that, I think it’ll be a positive experience if it happens.” Kelly, meanwhile, says he has a “wait and see” attitude when it comes to the Emmys, but concedes it would be “quite an achievement.”
The 2026 Emmys nominations will be announced July 8.
