Sarah Pidgeon is reflecting on her portrayal of Carolyn Bessette in the recent miniseries 'Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette,' detailing the unique challenges of embodying a public figure documented primarily through still photographs.
Pidgeon, who has been recognized for her performance, noted the scarcity of video evidence of Bessette speaking extemporaneously. "I wished I had like, two and a half minutes of her speaking extemporaneously about something as silly as the weather… I wish that I had this like monologue of her speaking so that I could pick up on like the idiosyncratic gestures of like, who knows if she always kept her fingers slightly bent, because I didn’t sort of have that plethora of information," Pidgeon shared in an interview. This lack of extensive audio-visual material meant Pidgeon had to rely heavily on still images and firsthand accounts to craft her portrayal.
"So I think there was always sort of the seed of doubt,” she added. "So I was always sort of watching myself in the first couple of takes to make sure that I was [intentional]."
Finding the Truth Beyond the Paparazzi
The actress focused on understanding Bessette's fundamental character rather than just recreating documented moments. "The primary focus for her went beyond thinking about recreating the moments the world was already privy to, and finding a vulnerable, honest truth in the Carolyn Bessette that was known to her friends and family," Pidgeon explained.
Working with a movement coach helped Pidgeon integrate Bessette's physicality more naturally. "Working with my movement coach really helped me get to a place where that physical transformation started feeling a bit more natural and less like I was putting something on," she said. Pidgeon concentrated on conveying emotion through Bessette's eyes, which she felt were a significant aspect of her presence. "Her eyes were a really important center. There was so much energy because she was so connected with people. I also wanted those to be her focus, to focus my energy through that."
Navigating Scrutiny and Joy
Pidgeon highlighted Episode 7, titled "Obsession," where Bessette's struggles with intense media scrutiny are depicted. Pidgeon described feeling a sense of advocacy for Bessette, particularly in light of the misogynistic headlines directed at her. "I felt like Carolyn, being essentially an advocate for her and recognizing that she never went on the record and so many assumptions were made about her, so many insanely misogynistic headlines were written about her, it really fueled me in a way," she explained.
The performance aimed to balance the tragedy of Bessette's life with moments of joy and confidence. Pidgeon focused on depicting Bessette's self-assuredness during her time at Calvin Klein and the happiness she experienced in her relationship with John F. Kennedy Jr. "I think when she was in Calvin Klein, she felt that confidence of being 26 years old and sort of not really caring what your boss thinks," Pidgeon said.
One of Pidgeon's favorite scenes to film was one of pure joy: Bessette and Kennedy planning their wedding. "When Carolyn and John are at home, and they’re planning their wedding, that felt very big," she recalled. "Having that abandon and silliness with the person that she loves the most, that felt very free."
Pidgeon hopes her performance resonates with viewers and Emmy voters by capturing both the profound sadness and the vibrant light in Bessette's life. 'Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette' is currently streaming, and the Emmy Awards are scheduled for September 14.