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Sarah Pidgeon is preparing for the biggest role of her career. The actress is starring in "American Love Story," the new Ryan Murphy series exploring the relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette, who ended up becoming a media sensation after their highly publicized romance and tragic deaths in a plane crash in 1999. The series is currently in production, with Murphy and company sharing a look at the lead stars styled as the real-life characters they're playing. The reception has been controversial, to say the least, especially when it comes to Pidgeon's styling.
© Justin Ide/Boston HeraldWhile many viewers seem excited to watch the story develop in a TV format, others were upset over the hair and wardrobe decisions that were made. Pidgeon recently addressed these comments and the public's expectations at the red carpet of the premiere of the film "I Know What You Did Last Summer," which has her as a part of its ensemble.
“I know how special Carolyn is to me and I understand how widely beloved she is, so this role comes with a lot of responsibility — and I’m not surprised that people have strong opinions about it,” said Pidgeon in an interview with Variety.
© Getty Images“That’s what makes her such an interesting person. I mean, not only how she dressed, but the woman who worked at Calvin Klein and the person that JFK Jr. fell in love with. She’s a human being beyond just these pictures. She really resonates with a lot of people, and she certainly does with me.”
Pidgeon went further, addressing how meaningful it's been to portray a woman she idolized onscreen and get to borrow some of her best qualities for herself. “I think that she is an incredibly generous person and she’s incredibly confident,” she continued.
“I don’t know if I necessarily always carry myself in that way, but it’s been really empowering to channel those elements of Carolyn. I could talk for a while about everything there is about her. It’s been really, really fulfilling and incredibly special to do it on camera.”
© Lawrence SchwartzwaldMore details about 'American Love Story'
"American Love Story" is currently being shot and is scheduled to wrap production in the fall. Ryan Murphy has addressed the public's reaction and shared that the images that were shown were simply a camera test and not the final product that people will watch on their screens.
“There were comments like, ‘I hate that coat, Carolyn would never have worn that,’” Murphy said to Variety. “That was just a coat we threw on for color. People were writing, ‘How dare you use the No. 35 Birkin bag? She wore a 40!’ Yes, we have a 40 but we just threw on a bag from another costume department because that was the sound stage we were on.”
"American Love Story" is scheduled to premiere next year, on Valentine's Day.
© Arnaldo Magnani
