Actress, activist and philanthropist Daryl Hannah talks about how she was portrayed in the Ryan Murphy-produced anthology “Love Story,” which focuses on John F. Kennedy Jr.’s relationship with Carolyn Bessette.
The actress objects to certain aspects of the series which, according to her, do not reflect reality.
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Daryl Hannah calls ‘Love Story’ an ‘exploitation of tragedy’ series
Hannah wrote a guest essay for The New York Timesa few weeks after the premiere of “Love Story”. The actress, who does not typically discuss topics in the media, chose to speak out because many people often believe that a “dramatized portrayal” is the truth.
The actress criticized the way she was characterized, writing: “A recent TV series exploiting the tragedy about John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette features a character using my name and portrays her as me. The choice to portray her as irritating, self-centered, whiny and inappropriate is no accident.”
Hannah also called out one of the show’s producers, Nina Jacobson, who said Hannah was the “adversary” needed for the story. In response, the actress noted: “a real, living person is not a narrative device.”
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The actress demystifies scenes from the series
In “Love Story”, Hannah is played by Dree Hemingway, who said Nylon that she loved acting. “There was a sensitivity. There’s a reality to her, and she is so specific to who she is that it was so much fun to explore Daryl’s world,” Hemingway explained.
As Hannah wrote in her essay, the show’s interpretation was “not even a vaguely accurate representation” of who she was as a person or her relationship with JFK Jr., calling some scenes in the show “fake.”
She then debunked some of the scenes, saying she had never used cocaine or thrown parties containing cocaine in her life. She also didn’t pressure JFK Jr. to marry her.
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“I have never desecrated a family heirloom or entered anyone’s private memorial. I have never circulated a story in the press. I have never compared the death of Jacqueline Onassis to that of a dog,” Hannah wrote, adding that it was “appalling” for her to have to defend herself against a television show.
Ultimately, Hannah says her character wasn’t “beautified.” On the contrary, his portrait was simply “false”.
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The relationship between Daryl Hannah and John F. Kennedy Jr.
Hannah and JFK Jr. met in the early ’80s and reunited in 1988. The actress was in a relationship with singer Jackson Browne, while JFK Jr. dated actress Christina Haag. However, in 1992, the two officially broke up with their respective partners and began dating exclusively.
By this time, Hannah was a renowned actress, having appeared in films such as “Blade Runner” and “Splash.” The couple was frequently spotted out and about, sharing meals and doing activities together.
Although there were rumors that Kennedy’s mother, Jackie Onassis, did not approve of her son’s relationship with Hannah, Hannah’s mother once said, “The stories I’ve heard are just incredible. Daryl told me [Onassis] was very warm and affectionate.
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After a few years of on-and-off relationship, the couple separated in 1994 and JFK Jr. began dating Bessette.
The actress received “hostile” messages
Since the show aired, Hannah revealed she was receiving “hostile” and “threatening” messages from viewers who thought the events of the show had happened in real life.
As the 65-year-old actress noted, she understands that part of her career is living her life in the public eye and, for the most part, she has chosen not to engage or address “unflattering characterizations” of herself. However, she said, “my silence should not be confused with agreement with lies.”
Hannah chose to speak out on “Love Story” because she believes its portrayal is damaging to her reputation, writing: “In the digital age, entertainment often becomes a collective memory. Real names are not fictional tools. They belong to real lives.”
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Daryl Hannah stepped away from the spotlight
Hannah has moved away from Hollywood, although she hasn’t officially retired. She led a life away from the camera and focused on art and activism, leaving California and splitting her time between her ranch in Colorado and her cabin in Ontario, Canada.
As she said in her essay, she focused on her environmental advocacy and documentary filmmaking. She also engages in animal-assisted therapy for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Hannah married musician Neil Young in 2018 and the couple frequently collaborate on activism projects that they are both passionate about.
