Grace Gummer had a competing offer for another series when Ryan Murphy stepped in and convinced her to join his series, which tells the tragic love story between American prince John F. Kennedy Jr. (Paul Anthony Kelly) and Carolyn Bessette (Sarah Pidgeon).
«"He called me and said, 'What's this other show you're working on? Why don't you come on our show? I promise it'll be amazing,'" Gummer recalls. "He's very, very straightforward; he knows what he wants, he's decisive, and he's incredibly smart. So I trust him.".
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The collaboration was hardly new, as the 40-year-old actress had already worked with Murphy on American Horror Story: Coven« , «American Horror Story: Freak Show» and, most recently, on the first season «"Everything is fair", where she starred with Kim Kardashian. However, «"Love Story »" from series creator Connor Hines was, according to Gummer, one of the most difficult challenges of her career.
«I think my age and my experiences have given me the opportunity to best portray Caroline Kennedy and to do my best to honor her memory, I hope, with dignity and respect,» says Gummer, who knows a thing or two about being born into a famous family: she is the daughter of three-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep and sculptor Don Gummer, and the sister of actresses Mamie Gummer (« We were liars ») and Louise Jacobson ( «The Gilded Age» ).
As the sister of John F. Kennedy Jr. and the daughter of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy (played by Naomi Watts in the FX series), Caroline Kennedy long held a prominent place in American public life. As an adult, she forged her own legacy through politics and public service, serving, among other positions, as U.S. Ambassador to Japan and Australia.
Although Caroline remains a relatively minor character for much of the season, Gummer's performance reaches its climax in the series finale, when she learns of the July 16, 1999, plane crash that claimed the lives of John, Caroline, and her sister Lauren (Sidney Lemmon) and collapses under the weight of grief. "Please don't do this to me, I can't do it again," she cries, remembering the deaths of her father, mother, and uncle Robert F. Kennedy, before breaking down in the arms of her husband, Ed Schlossberg (Ben Shenkman).
«"You have to really dig deep, emotionally, and look within yourself," Gummer says of preparing for a scene. "Technical mastery is really important to me as an actor. Knowing my lines was, first and foremost, my center and my anchor in the scene. I made sure I knew all the nuances, because many of the words were repeated, but pronounced differently. So I really tried to understand exactly what I was saying as I was saying it, so I didn't have to think about it.".
«"Secondly, I really allowed myself to relax," she continues. "I left nothing behind, physically or emotionally. I allowed myself to be completely open and vulnerable. And honestly, I try to imagine what it's like to lose someone you love, and it's unimaginable, but I tried my best.".
The scene required approximately 10 takes, and director Anthony Hemingway, who also worked with Gummer on American Horror Story: Freak Show« и «"Everything is fair", encouraged her to continue even as the emotional tension grew.
«"He said, 'Just do it again. Just do it again. I know you can do it,'" she recalls. "By the eighth take, I was like, 'I don't even know how many more takes like this I can take,' but I think we ended up using one of the last takes.".
Gummer's performance quickly became a critical acclaim, and early Emmy predictions placed her among the top contenders for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries, Anthology Series, or Movie.
«"I'm very lucky. I think my work speaks for itself, and the fact that it has evoked these emotions and feelings in the hearts of people around the world is my job as an artist. So if I do that, then I'm doing something right," says Gummer. "I'm proud of myself.".
Her family is also thrilled. "My whole family called me in tears—every single one of them," she says of their reaction to the finale. "They all said wonderful things about my performance, and it was truly touching.".
However, not everyone shares this enthusiasm. Jack Schlossberg, Caroline Kennedy's son, publicly criticized «"Love Story"» during his performance on the show «"Next question with Katie Couric"» in April, claiming he showed his mother a clip of Gummer's performance, which provoked a rather strange reaction.
«"The person she portrayed was terrified, and we were just laughing so hard, like, 'That's what my mom does,'" he said, adding of the show: "Keep in mind, it can be entertaining, but it's fiction.".
Gummer understands the reactions of those around him to some extent, but remains unperturbed.
«"All I can say is that I truly can't imagine what it's like to see my life depicted on screen. My goal was to play it honestly, with compassion and sensitivity," she says. "I have the utmost respect for her.".
Gummer adds that no one from the Kennedy family has approached her directly, but if she ever had the chance to talk to Caroline, she knows exactly how she would do it: "I would let her talk.".
This article originally appeared in the June issue of The Hollywood Reporter. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
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