Sarah Pidgeon Reveals the Thinking Behind 'Love Story’s Approach to Carolyn Bessette and JFK Jr.’s Final Moments

Published Aug 19, 2026, 1:34 PM EDT Perri Nemiroff is the 2025 Press Award winner at the ICG Publicists Awards. She's the senior producer at Collider where she hosts and produces the interview series, Collider Ladies Night, a show geared towards highlighting the need-to-know female voices in film and television. On top of that, Perri frequently moderates post-screening Q&As and panels at film festivals and conventions including San Diego Comic-Con and New York Comic Con, and can be seen on the big screen in the Noovie pre-show segment, Close-up with Perri Nemiroff. She’s also a Top Critic on Rotten Tomatoes, a proud member of the Critics Choice Association and is a Gold Derby Expert. Perri splits her time between Los Angeles and New York. Wherever the film and television coverage takes her, she goes! Sarah Pidgeon scored her first lead role in a series in the canceled-too-soon gem, The Wilds on Prime Video. She starred as Leah Rilke, one of eight young women who are left stranded on an island when their plane never makes it to Hawaii for an empowerment retreat. Given the dire situation, tensions often spike and it quickly becomes clear that Pidgeon has a staggeringly vast emotional range. Even though The Wilds lasted a mere two seasons, by the end of it, Pidgeon’s potential in film and television was undeniable, and now, four years later, she's an Emmy nominee. Pidgeon headlines Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette alongside Paul Anthony Kelly. The show covers Carolyn’s story from her days working at Calvin Klein and having her world turned upside down after marrying JFK Jr. to the 1999 plane crash that would claim both of their lives, as well as Carolyn’s sister’s, Lauren Bessette. The performances in the show are jaw-dropping across the board. Not only did Courtney Bright, Nicole Daniels, and Jennifer Brooks scoop up a nomination for Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, but Constance Zimmer was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, and Pidgeon earned her very first Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category. That means Pidgeon is now an Emmy nominee and also a Tony nominee for her performance in Stereophonic, and I have no doubt there will be more accolades in her future. With the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards just weeks away, Pidgeon took the time to sit down for a Collider Ladies Night chat to cover her journey from Carnegie Mellon University to Love Story. She looked back on her experience making The Wilds, detailed her Stereophonic audition and what it felt like to become a Tony nominee, and also broke down some of her most unforgettable moments in Love Story, including a scene many were eager to see how creator Connor Hines and co. would handle, the plane crash scene. Focusing on Love, Not Sensationalizing a Tragedy "The focus was on the love that they shared that was forever." Image via FX As is the case with many series productions, Pidgeon didn’t see the finale script until well into the filming process. “We didn't get [Episode] 9 until I think we were filming [Episode] 8, and 8 only took six days of shooting.” She added, “I think it was sort of ongoing conversations, but it would change, or I wasn't aware of what decisions were made at the time.” When the time did come to read that last script, she saw the connection between how that scene was ultimately handled and the team’s initial goal for the series. She explained: “I think we all approached the show with not wanting to sensationalize something that is so traumatic and tragic, and that many of the people who watch our show remember finding out about live in the ‘90s. I think it was important for the show that we don't know what happened on the plane, and I think that because of that, the focus was on the love that they shared that was forever, that, in our show, existed in that plane, that connection, that that was the focus and it wasn't about indulging in what that might have been.” Image via FX Turning toward the filming of that scene, as one might expect, Pidgeon struggled with the devastating lack of closure for her character. “It feels very, very strange to wrap up a television show and feel like this moment is the last moment we see them, so there must be some sense of finality, but we are depicting a show about two people whose lives were interrupted, so it doesn't actually have a sense of finality when you do it.” It wasn’t until she had the opportunity to screen the full episode that a sense of closure came via seeing her scenes in the finale paired with Zimmer and Grace Gummer’s breathtaking work in the second half. “Being able to watch the last half of that episode, I think that episode really sings because of the performances in that second half, because you start understanding the weight that Carolyn and John had in the people that knew and loved them best, and you feel their absence. And just the performances from Constance, Grace, Ben [Shenkman], Alessandro [Nivola], you name them, it was so beautiful to watch their work.” What Does It Feel Like to Be an Emmy Nominee? "It was just more emotional than you expect it to be." Four years after The Wilds, Pidgeon has already racked up a number of impressive projects, including Hulu’s Tiny Beautiful Things, she’s come a Tony Award nominee, and now she’s earned one of her craft’s highest screen honors; she’s an Emmy nominee. How did it feel to hear her name called on nomination day? Here’s what Pidgeon said: “So much of my existence as an actor, I’ve had no interest in doing this to get awards one day. I do it because it feels very vital to my sense of self. So when that happens, it's so hard to describe, but I think it was just more emotional than you expect it to be. I also felt humbled in this strange way. You feel very aware of yourself. I feel very grateful for the life that I've led and the people that I've gotten to do it with, because also, these recognitions I know would not have happened without being in such strong company.” Given the show scooped up seven Emmy nominations, clearly Love Story had a wildly talented team behind it. But, just like after The Wilds, it’s impossible to walk away from Love Story without the utmost certainty that the possibilities are endless for Pidgeon specifically. After yet another project filled with showstopping work, she remains a downright electric performer you absolutely must continue to keep an eye on. Release Date February 12, 2026 Network FX, Hulu Directors Max Winkler, Anthony Hemingway, Crystle Roberson Dorsey, Gillian Robespierre, Jesse Peretz Cast Sydney Lemmon Lauren Bassette Love Story is an anthology film featuring a series of true love stories that gained global recognition. Each segment presents a different narrative, highlighting romantic connections that captivated audiences worldwide. Main Genre Drama Seasons 1