John F. Kennedy is one of the most popular names in the history of this country. The politician, the human, the aura that surrounded him was like nothing this country has seen before. Early this year, inspired by Elizabeth Beller’s Once Upon a Time, came the FX series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. Paul Anthony Kelly broke onto the scene with his fantastic portrayal of Kennedy. I had the pleasure of sitting down with him for Awards Central to talk about his performance in the series. 

What is Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette about?

Explores the undeniable chemistry, whirlwind courtship, and high-profile marriage of one of the most iconic couples of the 20th century, John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. The series is streaming on Hulu.

Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette | Paul Anthony Kelly Interview

Richard Valero: If you could take away the Kennedy name, the photographs, the headlines, and everything we think we know about him, what quality in John do you think would still have made people fall in love with him?

Paul Anthony Kelly:  His courteousness. I think, you know, he was always a charismatic individual. He was courteous and courageous as well. He always wanted to make people at ease and put them at the forefront. He was such a good guy.

Valero: John spent his life being recognized by strangers. You spent years trying to get recognized as an actor. Now you’ve experienced a version of that visibility yourself. Has playing John changed how you think about the difference between being seen and actually being known?

Kelly: Yes, definitely. I think the parallels now, you know, I’m living like, one iota of what he went through. But it still resonates, and it’s definitely more real. It’s so interesting going into this show and doing it, and then how it’s been perceived and regarded by the public, um, that now I’m kind of living what he went through. Um, not as drastic, of course, but I understand it more so, um, and I’m continuing to understand what his life is as I continue as an actor.

Valero: When you were building your version of John, was there a contradiction in him that you found especially fascinating—something that made him more complicated than the image America fell in love with?

Kelly:  Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I think he was a very complicated individual. He really has a name he has to live up to. He has expectations that were put upon him just familial-wise and also publicly. You know, from the day he was born,  he was the star. I think just living in that world you’re conflicted, and how do you have your own sense of identity? And things that he was interested in, in the arts and writing, and wanting to be an actor, are very not aligned with the Kennedy ethos. I think that that created a lot of conflicting feelings within him, like where he felt he belonged properly. Yeah, he was a very complicated guy.

Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette is streaming on Hulu and FX.