Before Carol, there was Daryl.
Love Story, the latest glossy episodic feat from showrunnerRyan Murphy, is based on the 2024 bookOnce Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, by Elizabeth Beller, and explores the courtship and marriage of scionJohn F. KennedyJr. and fashion maven Carolyn Bessette.
However, the first three episodes feature another one ofJFKJr.'s love stories -- the one between him and Emmy-nominated actress Daryl Hannah. PerGold Derby, the two engaged in an on-and-off "dalliance" that spanned the late '80s to the early '90s.
Portrayed byDree Hemingway(yes, that Hemingway; Ernest is her great-grandfather; Mariel, her mother), Daryl attempts to save her relationship with JFK Jr., played by Paul Kelly, despite the disapproving calls from the Kennedy family.
In a not-so-surprising move, producer Nina Jacobson told Gold Derby that the crew didn't reach out to Hannah for input about her experience in the Kennedy orbit. Fans of Murphy's true-story-inspired projects are probably accustomed to the producer taking some artistic liberties with his fare and doesn't "solicit the input of the real people that are being depicted."
She did say, however, that they were "mindful" and "respectful" of the relationship.
Advertisement
"The only time we've really interfaced with the real person was with Monica Lewinsky onImpeachment," said Jacobson, who shares executive-producing responsibilities onLove Storywith Brad Simpson (Crazy Rich Asians) and creator/showrunner Connor Hines (Dollface).
Previous projects that saw Jacobson and Murphy team up include American Crime Story and Pose.
JFK Jr. and Caroline Bessette-Kennedy married in September 1996 in a private, intimate ceremony at the First African Baptist Church on Cumberland Island, Georgia. The two died together, when their aircraft piloted by JFK Jr. crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessettepremiered tonight, Feb. 12, on FX. The first three episodes are now streaming onHulu.
🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬
Related: JFK Jr.'s Complete Dating History: Who Did He Romance Before Carolyn Bessette?
This story was originally published byParadeon Feb 13, 2026, where it first appeared in theNewssection. Add Parade as aPreferred Source by clicking here.
