Actor Noah Fearnley shared insights about his role in Ryan Murphy’s latest anthology series Love Story, which premiered on February 12th across FX, Hulu, and Disney+. The series explores iconic figures from American history, and Fearnley’s involvement shines a light on the compelling narrative of Carolyn Bessette and her relationships, highlighting the central themes of the Ryan Murphy Love Story.
An Overview of the ‘Love Story’ Series and Its Origin
This is the first episode in Ryan Murphy’s anthology, inspired by Elizabeth Beller’s biographical work, Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. The show was created by Connor Hines, who also served as screenwriter and executive producer, bringing depth to this intimate portrayal of two iconic figures linked to American culture and history.
Plot Summary: The Lives of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette
The series follows John F. Kennedy Jr., portrayed by Paul Anthony Kelly, a figure considered American royalty and beloved by the nation as he matured into a public icon. Carolyn Bessette, played by Sarah Pidgeon, is portrayed as a fiercely independent woman who carved her own path, rising from a sales assistant to a notable publicity executive at Calvin Klein. Fearnley takes on the role of Michael Bergin, who was Carolyn’s boyfriend before her relationship with JFK Jr.
Building Chemistry with Sarah Pidgeon, Portraying Carolyn Bessette
Fearnley reflected on his experience working alongside Sarah Pidgeon, who plays Carolyn Bessette. He admitted,
“It was incredible! Sarah is a star. She has this underlying confidence to her. Initially, I was very nervous to work with her but she is one of the nicest people in the world.”
– Noah Fearnley
Despite his extensive acting experience and comfort on set, he explained,
“Coming from the vertical drama world, where you are filming 110 or 120 pages of scripts, I have done a lot and I have played the lead male many times,
”
and added,
“I am not really nervous when I walk on those sets; I have a lot of confidence; however, Sarah Pidgeon made me nervous because she is just so amazing as an actress,”
acknowledging her captivating presence. He also admitted,
“Sarah is just fascinating to watch in this series,”
showing his admiration for her craft and contribution to the project.
Experience Working with Paul Anthony Kelly as JFK Jr.
Fearnley also praised Paul Anthony Kelly’s portrayal of John F. Kennedy Jr., sharing,
“Paul is one of the nicest guys in the world too. The casting was immaculate; the two of them were absolutely incredible together as JFK Jr. and Carolyn.”
He emphasized their strong chemistry on-screen by adding,
“They are just good people, and then you put them in these two roles that are iconic, and it was just wonderful to watch,”
reflecting the seamless performance between the leads.
Insights into Portraying Michael Bergin
Noah Fearnley found personal connections to the character he plays. Both he and Michael Bergin hail from Connecticut and share similar professional paths, starting as fashion models before moving into acting. Fearnley commented,
“We are both from Connecticut. I just felt some type of connection to his story about being in the industry,”
and further elaborated,
“It was so weird because our lives were so similar… how we grew up, the restaurants he used to go to as a kid, his parents, and his family.”
To better understand Bergin, Fearnley read his memoir, The Other Man: A Love Story – John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette, and Me. He praised the book, stating,
“I have done so much research on him and learned so much about him, and I read his book,”
and expressed enthusiasm for the role,
“I loved playing Michael Bergin, I became a huge fan of his. I deep dived into his life, and I became intrigued and fascinated by Michael.”
Reflections on Being Part of a Ryan Murphy Project
Fearnley expressed great respect for Ryan Murphy, calling him an icon, and described his experience with the show as a milestone. He said,
“‘Love Story’ is a Ryan Murphy show, which is incredible in itself. Ryan Murphy is an absolute icon, and I watched his shows my entire life growing up.”
He appreciated the opportunity to portray a real person for the first time on screen, stating,
“Ryan Murphy gave me the privileged opportunity to portray Michael Bergin, and I deep dived into everything that I could, and what I discovered, I loved how similar we were,”
before adding,
“It was just a fascinating experience to be in a situation like that, where I was able to play a real person. That is something I had not done before,”
and finally,
“So, just to have the ability to play somebody in real life… that is experience in itself.”
Lessons Taken from the Screenplay and Direction
Fearnley highlighted what the screenplay and directors taught him, noting,
“The screenplay taught me a lot about the ‘90s, and all the things that happened during that era.”
He also praised the directors, saying,
“I learned a lot from the directors too,”
particularly mentioning Jesse Peretz and Max Winkler. He described Winkler’s guidance, sharing,
“Max Winkler… taught me to just be in the moment. So, that was really awesome.”
Final Reflections on the Enduring Legacy of ‘Love Story’
Noah Fearnley urged viewers to appreciate the timeless nature of the story portrayed in the series, emphasizing its place in American culture. He remarked,
“What I want people to get out of this is the series is that the John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette story is never going to pass.”
He added,
“It’s an iconic story from the nineties. It’s never going away. It’s something that is ingrained in American society and American pop culture. It just is what it is, and it is never going away.”
Fearnley also acknowledged the perspective of Michael Bergin’s role in Carolyn’s life, stating,
“Then, from Michael Bergin’s perspective, Michael did have a story with Carolyn,”
and commented,
“As much as people might want to push it to the side, there was a story with Michael… it all comes down to what people want to believe, and that’s okay.”
He emphasized the importance of individual viewpoints, saying,
“Everyone can have their own perspectives, and that is totally fine.”
In closing, Fearnley highlighted his intention to honor all narratives respectfully, saying,
“While I was portraying Michael, I wanted to make sure that I respected the story of the two iconic people (John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette) the show is about, but I also wanted to show Michael the proper respect and dignity that his story deserves as well.”
