The new FX limited series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette has finally arrived, and viewers are already talking about the cast. While much of the attention has gone to Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn and newcomer Paul Anthony Kelly as JFK Jr., there is another familiar face generating buzz.
Naomi Watts steps into the role of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the iconic former First Lady and mother of JFK Jr. For many watching the Ryan Murphy-produced series, the question keeps coming up: where have we seen this actor before?
The answer takes us through decades of film work, multiple collaborations with top directors, and a growing list of television credits that have made Watts one of the most respected actors working today.
Naomi Watts Brings Jackie Kennedy to Life in ‘Love Story’
In the new series, Watts portrays Jacqueline Kennedy during the years when her son John John was building his life and career in New York City. The show, which premiered its first three episodes on February 12 on FX and Hulu, focuses on the whirlwind romance between JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, with Jackie appearing as a complex figure watching her son navigate love under the public eye .
The 57-year-old actor brings decades of experience to the role. At the New York premiere held at Carnegie Hall on February 3, Watts stunned in a black Balenciaga gown with opera-length white gloves, a clear nod to Jackie O’s famous fashion sense . Her casting continues a long tradition of acclaimed actors taking on the role of Jacqueline Kennedy, following Natalie Portman in Jackie and Katie Holmes in The Kennedys .
From Indie Films to Blockbusters: Watts’ Long Career
Watts began her acting career in Australia during the early 1990s after moving from England. Her breakthrough came in 2001 when she starred in David Lynch’s psychological thriller Mulholland Drive. The film gave her international recognition and showed her ability to carry complex, demanding roles.
From there, Watts built an impressive resume that includes two Academy Award nominations. Her first Oscar nod came for her role in 21 Grams (2003), where she played a grieving mother opposite Sean Penn. She earned her second nomination for The Impossible (2012), portraying a real-life tsunami survivor in a physically demanding performance that critics praised as one of her best.
Her filmography spans nearly every genre. She starred in the American remake of The Ring (2002), which became a horror classic. She took on period drama in Far from Heaven (2002), comedy in Birdman (2014), and action in King Kong (2005), where she played Ann Darrow opposite the giant ape. More recently, she appeared in The Friend (2024) alongside her Love Story co-star Sarah Pidgeon .
A Ryan Murphy Regular: From ‘Feud’ to ‘All‘s Fair’
For viewers who follow Ryan Murphy’s work, Watts will look especially familiar. The actor has become one of Murphy’s go-to collaborators in recent years.
In 2024, Watts starred in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans as Babe Paley, the elegant socialite and friend of writer Truman Capote. Her performance earned her both Golden Globe and Emmy nominations . The role showed her ability to play wealthy, polished women hiding deeper complexities, skills she now brings to her portrayal of Jackie Kennedy.
Before that, Watts appeared in Murphy’s Netflix series The Watcher (2022), a horror thriller about a family stalked by a mysterious figure in their new home. She played Nora Brannock, a woman slowly unraveling under the pressure of anonymous letters and neighborhood suspicion.
Murphy has already cast Watts in his upcoming legal drama All’s Fair, which will feature an ensemble cast including Glenn Close, Sarah Paulson, and Kim Kardashian . The show marks another chapter in their growing creative partnership.
What Critics Say About Watts’ Performance as Jackie
Early responses to Watts in Love Story suggest she captures the complicated nature of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The real Jackie faced immense public scrutiny, first as First Lady after JFK’s assassination, then as a widow who remarried Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, and finally as a book editor in New York City protecting her privacy.
The series shows Jackie as a mother watching her son repeat some of the family’s patterns with media attention. Watts reportedly worked to show both the public polish and private worry that defined Jackie’s later years . Her Jackie must balance pride in her son with concern about the media circus surrounding his relationship with Carolyn Bessette.
At the premiere, Watts appeared alongside her Love Story cast members, including Grace Gummer, who plays Caroline Kennedy, and Sydney Lemmon, who portrays Lauren Bessette . The event marked the official launch of the nine-episode series, which will release new episodes every Thursday on FX and Hulu .
More Than Just Jackie: Watts’ Television Evolution
While film remains her foundation, Watts has increasingly focused on television work that offers complex, long-form storytelling. Before her Murphy collaborations, she starred in Twin Peaks: The Return (2017), David Lynch’s revival of the cult classic series. She also appeared in The Loudest Voice (2019), playing the wife of Roger Ailes in the Showtime limited series about the Fox News founder.
This shift to television reflects a broader change in the industry, with streaming platforms attracting top film talent. For Watts, it has meant opportunities to develop characters over multiple episodes rather than compressing stories into two-hour films. Her role as Jackie in Love Story lets her explore the former First Lady across the entire first season, showing different sides of the character as the tragedy unfolds.
The series continues Murphy’s expansion of his American Story franchise. After American Horror Story, American Crime Story, and American Sports Story, Love Story focuses on romances that captured public attention. The first season draws from Elizabeth Beller’s book Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy .
The Rest of the Stellar ‘Love Story’ Cast
Watts joins a cast filled with familiar faces playing real people. Grace Gummer, who plays Caroline Kennedy, is married to music producer Mark Ronson and has appeared in American Horror Story and Mr. Robot . Alessandro Nivola takes on the role of fashion designer Calvin Klein, Carolyn’s boss and mentor .
Sydney Lemmon plays Lauren Bessette, Carolyn’s sister who died alongside the couple in the 1999 plane crash. Dree Hemingway appears as JFK Jr.’s ex-girlfriend, actress Daryl Hannah . Even lifestyle icon Martha Stewart made an appearance at the premiere, adding to the event’s glamour .
For the lead roles, Murphy’s team reportedly auditioned more than 1,000 actors before choosing newcomer Paul Kelly as JFK Jr. . Sarah Pidgeon, a Tony nominee for her Broadway debut in Stereophonic, plays Carolyn with what critics describe as both style and depth .
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Where to Watch ‘Love Story’
Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette premiered its first three episodes on February 12 on FX and Hulu . The remaining six episodes will release weekly every Thursday. The schedule includes:
- Episodes 1-3: Available now (February 12)
- Episode 4: February 19
- Episode 5: February 26
- Episode 6: March 5
- Episode 7: March 12
- Episode 8: March 19
- Episode 9: March 26
Viewers in the United States can watch on FX linear channel or stream on Hulu. International audiences should check local platforms carrying FX content. The series runs approximately 45-60 minutes per episode .
For those who remember Jackie Kennedy from history books or newsreels, Watts offers a fresh take on a woman the public thought they knew. For viewers who recognize Watts from her decades of film work, the role adds another memorable character to her long list of performances.
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