AceShowbiz - Daryl Hannah once stood as one of Hollywood’s most prominent actresses, and her relationship with John F. Kennedy Jr. remains a notable chapter in both their lives. The FX series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette has reignited interest in this past romance by revisiting the years when Daryl Hannah and JFK Jr. were involved, especially as it contrasts with his later relationship with Carolyn Bessette.

In the series, Carolyn Bessette, portrayed by Sarah Pidgeon, grapples with the fear that her relationship with JFK Jr. might fail, leaving her defined as “JFK Jr.’s ex.” However, this was less of a worry for Daryl Hannah, who had already been a Hollywood star by the time she and John began dating in 1988. Their relationship, which lasted until 1994, drew considerable media attention then and continues to fascinate fans today.

Despite the renewed focus brought by the series, which was produced by Ryan Murphy, the production team did not contact Daryl Hannah for insights or consultation on the story. Producer Nina Jacobson told Gold Derby that the narrative was approached with compassion, particularly favoring the love story between John and Carolyn. She explained that Daryl Hannah serves as an obstacle to the main romance, positioning her as somewhat of an adversary to the audience’s hopes for John and Carolyn.

Unlike Carolyn, who worked as a sales associate at Calvin Klein before meeting JFK Jr., Daryl Hannah was a seasoned movie star experienced in handling media scrutiny. This gave her a fluency in navigating the high-profile world surrounding John that Carolyn lacked. Jacobson noted that although Daryl Hannah is often seen as a mismatch for JFK Jr., the show respects her ability to “swim in his tank” in a way that was much harder for Carolyn.

Dating JFK Jr. brought Daryl Hannah an intense level of public attention. In a 1993 interview with Entertainment Weekly, she expressed frustration over how pervasive questions about their relationship had become, even reaching her plumber. The paparazzi and tabloid interest were constant pressures she faced during those years.

Their connection began long before they dated, reportedly first meeting as teenagers in the Caribbean during family vacations on Saint Martin in the 1970s. Over the following decade, both were involved with other partners—John dated Christina Haag among others, while Daryl Hannah lived with musician Jackson Browne. They reconnected in 1988 at the New York wedding of John’s aunt Lee Radziwill, where Daryl Hannah had just starred in the film Steel Magnolias.

Shortly after John was named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in September 1988, the couple was set up. What followed were six years of an on-again, off-again relationship, intertwined with other romantic involvements. In October 1992, John flew to California to support Daryl Hannah after her breakup with Jackson Browne, and he brought her back to New York.

By that summer, John had begun dating Carolyn Bessette, and their relationship grew complicated partly because of the media’s focus on John and Daryl Hannah’s potential rekindling. Carolyn was reportedly discouraged by reports that John and Daryl Hannah were back together, which contributed to the eventual end of John and Daryl Hannah’s romance.

One persistent rumor during their relationship was that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis disapproved of her son dating Daryl Hannah. In 2004, Daryl Hannah addressed these claims during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show, firmly denying any animosity between her and Jackie. "People just don't know necessarily why we broke up, so they speculate, and then that becomes accepted as truth," she said, emphasizing her positive relationship with JFK Jr.’s mother without divulging personal details.

Regarding her time with John, Daryl Hannah has remained private, never revealing much about the nature of their relationship. Amelia Barlow, daughter of John Perry Barlow, a close friend of JFK Jr., described Daryl Hannah as “awesome” and recalled that her relationship with John “felt fantastical, adventurous” but also somewhat young and naive compared to his later, more mature connection with Carolyn.

Just before Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis passed away in May 1994, a sad incident occurred that underscored the strain in John and Daryl Hannah’s relationship. Daryl Hannah’s dog was hit by a car and died while John was caring for it in New York. John flew to Los Angeles to bring her the dog’s ashes, but friends say he was deeply resentful about being dragged away from his mother’s declining health for the dog’s funeral.

Carole Radziwill, a Kennedy family insider, helped Daryl Hannah prepare for Jacqueline’s memorial service, noting that it was clear the relationship between John and Daryl Hannah was over. John himself told friends a month after his mother’s death that he and Daryl Hannah “should have been over long ago.” By the time Carole married John’s cousin Anthony Radziwill in August 1994, John had quietly rekindled his romance with Carolyn Bessette.

After their breakup, Daryl Hannah moved on with her life and did not attend the tragic 1999 funeral of John and Carolyn, nor did she issue any public statements about them. She has consistently refrained from speaking negatively about her ex, maintaining a dignified silence on the subject.

While Daryl Hannah’s relationship with John F. Kennedy Jr. ended decades ago, her story continues to resonate, especially as Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette introduces new audiences to the complexities of their romance and the broader Kennedy family saga.