Meet Sarah Pidgeon, who’ll play Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy in American Love Story: she starred in Broadway’s Stereophonic and Hulu’s Tiny Beautiful Things, and rocked Balenciaga at last year’s Tonys

Jun 24, 2025

Paul Anthony Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon in character as John F. Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy in American Love Story. Photo: @ryanmurphyproductions/Instagram

While her early wardrobe stills for Ryan Murphy’s American Love Story alongside co-star Paul Anthony Kelly caused a backlash online, Pidgeon’s personal style is being much better received

In March, Sarah Pidgeon was cast as the lead in Ryan Murphy’s upcoming series American Love Story, where she will play the fashion publicist who married John F. Kennedy Jr – Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.

Her selection made headlines, but the spotlight quickly shifted to a debate around the portrayal of Bessette’s iconic style after wardrobe stills from the show sparked online criticism.

Early stills from American Love Story, starring Paul Anthony Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon, have sparked an online backlash. Photo: @ryanmurphyproductions/Instagram

Fashion watchers claimed that the test images cheapened Bessette’s look, and an article by The Cut slammed the clothing choices, saying: “There is no life, there is no story, there is no familiarity with these pieces.”

Amid the backlash, Murphy clarified that a “style advisory board” is overseeing the wardrobe and that the names of its 10 members would be announced soon. The team has even acquired some pieces from Bessette’s own wardrobe and replicated her famous Narciso Rodriguez wedding dress.

Paul Anthony Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon as JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette on the set of Ryan Murphy’s American Love Story, June 18, in New York City. Photo: GC Images

Pidgeon has yet to weigh in on the backlash – and likely won’t for now – but what else do we know about the actress?

What is she known for?

Sarah Pidgeon (left) and Jenna Clause on the set of The Wilds. Photo: @thewildsonprime/Instagram

Before landing the high-profile role, Pidgeon was already building a reputation as a talented actress. Best known for her role in Amazon Prime series The Wilds, Pidgeon also earned a Hollywood Critics Association Award nomination for her gripping performance in Hulu’s Emmy-nominated miniseries Tiny Beautiful Things.

Pidgeon’s character in The Wilds, Leah Rilke, is stranded on an island with a group of girls following a plane crash. The story follows Leah as the group tries to survive the wilderness and discover the secret behind the plane “accident”. In Tiny Beautiful Things, Pidgeon plays a younger version of adult character Clare as she deals with the news that her beloved mother is going to die soon.