Love Story star Sarah Pidgeon says she ‘struggles to speak up’ for herself as she sheds Carolyn Bessette Kennedy role with a daring shoot for PORTER Magazine

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Sarah Pidgeon graced the cover of PORTER magazine, where she shared her difficulty in voicing her opinions about the pressures faced by women in the acting industry.

The star, 29, has shot to prominence for her role as Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy in Love Story. 

This series tells the story of Jacqueline Kennedy and John F. Kennedy’s relationship, from their passionate beginnings and public romance to the challenges they faced as a married couple.

When asked about taking on the part, Sarah explained to PORTER magazine that she never felt overly confident about securing the role.

‘People ask, ‘When did you feel you found her? When did you feel like the role really sunk in?’ 

Honestly, I’ve never truly felt passionate about a job before, but this one was definitely different – in a way that made me realize that’s okay. It just wasn’t the right fit for me, and I accepted that.

I felt responsible for truly understanding Carolyn and portraying her accurately. Knowing this role represented her life’s work, I was constantly self-aware during every scene, every day, and every shot, making sure my performance felt true to the person I’d come to know.

It’s just… she never truly revealed what she thought. We were all left guessing, piecing together clues to understand her. And honestly, that’s part of what makes her so captivating! She was constantly changing, evolving… almost like she deliberately remained a mystery. She’s just… unknowable, and I’m completely obsessed with trying to figure her out.

Sarah looked stunning on the cover of this month’s Porter magazine, wearing a gorgeous gown by Tom Ford.

She quickly changed into a black blazer and went without a bra, playfully smiling while wearing black sunglasses.

Sarah explained that adjusting to her sudden fame made her realize how much pressure is put on women in the public spotlight, which reflects the expectations society has for all women.

Sarah pointed out that women face a difficult double standard when expressing anger. If they get too angry, they’re labeled negatively, but if they don’t show enough emotion, they’re seen as weak. It’s a no-win situation – they’re criticized for being either ‘too much’ or ‘not enough.’

Despite landing the role in the series, Sarah admitted she still doubts herself.

I used to be very comfortable speaking my mind – I was always raising my hand in class and had strong opinions as a kid. But I think starting in this industry, I started to second-guess myself and became less likely to share my thoughts.

Love Story chronicles the romance between John F. Kennedy Jr. (played by Paul Anthony Kelly) and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, from the moment they met at a party to the tragic deaths of both of them, along with Carolyn’s sister Lauren, on July 16, 1999.

Everyone on board died when the small plane Kennedy was flying crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Martha’s Vineyard.

Last year, John F. Kennedy’s nephew, Jack Schlossberg, publicly criticized the series, claiming it was unfairly exploiting his family’s history for financial gain. He specifically accused executive producer Ryan Murphy of earning a substantial profit from their legacy.

Ryan responded to California Governor Gavin Newsom on his podcast, commenting that it seemed strange to be upset about a relative you barely know.

Jack Schlossberg, who is campaigning for a seat in Congress representing New York, recently shared stories about his uncle on social media.

Ryan didn’t participate in recent publicity for Love Story. However, Brad Simpson, an executive producer who has worked with Ryan on American Crime Story, explained to the Associated Press that the show’s creators understand these stories often involve real people and difficult events.

Simpson admitted they’re creating something meant to entertain, but emphasized they’ve also strived to be both honest and ethical in the process.

Paul and Sarah said they took care in playing the couple, but do respect Schlossberg’s opinion.

This series draws its inspiration from Elizabeth Beller’s biography, Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.

The series explores Carolyn’s drive as she climbs the corporate ladder at Calvin Klein, alongside John F. Kennedy Jr.’s challenges in trying to keep his magazine, George, successful.

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2026-04-27 09:04