Did Jackie Kennedy Loathe Daryl Hannah?

The Complex Relationship Between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Daryl Hannah

The relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Daryl Hannah was a complex one, marked by both passion and challenges. While the exact reasons for their breakup remain unclear, one thing is certain: Daryl Hannah left a lasting impression on those around her, including Dree Hemingway, who portrays her in the new FX series Love Story. “I fell in love with her,” Hemingway says. “I love her so much.”

Hemingway’s portrayal of Hannah highlights the actress’s deep emotional connection to Kennedy. She emphasizes that the relationship was not just a fleeting romance but something that required effort and commitment from both sides. “You have to live in the moment when they’re still together,” she explains. “I think theirs was an on-and-off relationship, and when you get to the end of having been together for a long time, it either works or it doesn't. Sometimes you can really love a person and it just doesn’t work out.”

One of the most poignant moments in the series occurs in the third episode, where Hannah returns to New York City after Kennedy’s mother passes away. This scene showcases her determination to be there for him during one of his darkest times. “I wanted to play her as somebody who's really in love with this person,” Hemingway says. “And we rush to the people who we love to be there for them in their hardest moments.”

Despite the couple’s decision to part ways and the symbolic loss of Hannah’s dog, which seemed to mark the end of their relationship, Hemingway believes there was still hope for reconciliation. “There was a sense that, even after the situations that had occurred, she was asking, ‘Can you let me in now? Do you need me?’” she adds. “It could have served as a kind of restart for the couple, making clear for them what was truly important.”

This moment also comes at a time when Love Story depicts a difficult dynamic between Hannah and Kennedy’s mother, Jackie Kennedy Onassis. In one scene, Hannah joins Kennedy and his family for dinner at Jackie’s home, only to find that the former First Lady refuses to join them. Hemingway notes that this moment reveals how hard Hannah was trying to win over Kennedy’s mother. “I think she’s really trying,” she says. “She’s like, ‘OK, that’s not working, let me try another way.’ She works so hard to be accepted, and I’m sure there’s a reason that Jackie didn’t like her.”

Of course, Love Story is a dramatization of these events. Hannah’s mother once told People that the stories were “unbelievable,” adding that Daryl had told her that Jackie had been “very warm and affectionate.”

The Human Side of Fame and Power

At its core, Love Story explores the idea that even the most powerful and wealthy individuals are still human beings with real emotions and struggles. Hemingway emphasizes this theme, noting that “we can forget that everybody's a real person.” She points out that while Kennedy was born into privilege, and Hannah was an actress dating American royalty, “behind closed doors, everybody has feelings and they have things going on that are so normal.”

Hemingway’s portrayal of Hannah reflects this idea. She describes the character as someone who is deeply committed to making the relationship work, despite the challenges. “Daryl so badly wants to be accepted into this family because she loves John so much,” she says. “I think she wants to have this connection, and she’s so badly wanting to settle down and be more to this person, but there’s a conflict there. He's met somebody who he has these sparks with.”

Above all, Hemingway hopes that audiences will take away the message of Hannah’s heart. “I think her heart is what I want people to take away,” she says. “I really felt that while I was studying Daryl, and it’s what made me fall for her.”