Actor Noah Fearnley has opened up about his role in Ryan Murphy’s new anthology series, Love Story, which premiered on February 12 on FX, Hulu, and Disney+. In the show, Fearnley portrays Michael Bergin, a real-life figure who had a romantic relationship with Carolyn Bessette, the late wife of John F. Kennedy Jr.

Portraying Michael Bergin’s Complex Legacy

Fearnley, who is also from Connecticut, drew a personal connection to Bergin, noting that their backgrounds and life experiences were remarkably similar. Michael Bergin, like Fearnley, began his career as a model before transitioning into acting, notably in Baywatch. Fearnley said he felt a deep connection to Bergin’s story, especially regarding the places they grew up and their family dynamics.

‘We are both from Connecticut. I just felt some type of connection to his story about being in the industry,’ Fearnley said. ‘It was so weird because our lives were so similar… how we grew up, the restaurants he used to go to as a kid, his parents, and his family.’

Working with Iconic Talent

Fearnley expressed admiration for his co-stars, Sarah Pidgeon, who plays Carolyn Bessette, and Paul Anthony Kelly, who portrays John F. Kennedy Jr. He described working with Pidgeon as both intimidating and inspiring, noting her confidence and talent as an actress.

‘It was incredible! Sarah is a star. She has this underlying confidence to her. Initially, I was very nervous to work with her but she is one of the nicest people in the world,’ Fearnley said. ‘Sarah is just fascinating to watch in this series.’

On working with Paul Anthony Kelly, Fearnley noted, ‘Paul is one of the nicest guys in the world too. The casting was immaculate; the two of them were absolutely incredible together as JFK Jr. and Carolyn.’

Research and Respect for the Real Story

To prepare for the role, Fearnley read Michael Bergin’s book, The Other Man: A Love Story – John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette, and Me. He praised the book as ‘a great book’ and said it deepened his understanding of Bergin’s life and the era in which he lived.

‘I have done so much research on him and learned so much about him, and I read his book,’ Fearnley said. ‘I loved playing Michael Bergin. I became a huge fan of his. I deep dove into his life, and I became intrigued and fascinated by Michael.’

Fearnley also emphasized the importance of portraying Michael Bergin with respect, acknowledging the complexity of the story while honoring the legacy of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. ‘While I was portraying Michael, I wanted to make sure that I respected the story of the two iconic people (John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette) the show is about, but I also wanted to show Michael the proper respect and dignity that his story deserves as well,’ he said.

Reflections on the ’90s and the Kennedy Legacy

Fearnley reflected on the lessons he learned from the screenplay and the directors, Jesse Peretz and Max Winkler. He credited them with helping him stay present and focused on the moment.

‘The screenplay taught me a lot about the ’90s, and all the things that happened during that era,’ Fearnley said. ‘I learned a lot from the directors too. Jesse Peretz was awesome to work with, and so was Max Winkler, who taught me to just be in the moment. So, that was really awesome.’

On the broader impact of the series, Fearnley said, ‘What I want people to get out of this series is that the John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette story is never going to pass. It’s an iconic story from the nineties. It’s never going away. It’s something that is ingrained in American society and American pop culture. It just is what it is, and it is never going away.’

Fearnley acknowledged that while some may prefer to focus only on the Kennedy couple, Michael Bergin’s story is also an important part of the narrative. ‘As much as people might want to push it to the side, there was a story with Michael… it all comes down to what people want to believe, and that’s okay,’ he said.

The Impact of Ryan Murphy’s Vision

Fearnley praised the opportunity to work on a Ryan Murphy show, calling it a ‘privilege’ to portray Michael Bergin. He noted that Murphy’s work has been a significant influence on his career and personal life.

‘Ryan Murphy gave me the privileged opportunity to portray Michael Bergin, and I deep dove into everything that I could, and what I discovered, I loved how similar we were,’ Fearnley said. ‘It was just a fascinating experience to be in a situation like that, where I was able to play a real person. That is something I had not done before.’

As the first installment of the Love Story anthology, the series is expected to be followed by additional episodes exploring other love stories from history. Fans are eagerly awaiting the next chapters of this series, which continues to explore the intersection of personal and public lives.