Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn Bessette and Paul Anthony Kelly as John F Kennedy Jr in FX's Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr & Carolyn Bessette.

Photo by Eric Leibowitz

US television

‘He was approachable, down-to-earth, irritating’: inside the real-life love story of JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette

As Ryan Murphy’s new mini-series focuses on their explosive relationship, aides and experts explain the real-life couple behind the myth

David Smith in a Washington
Saturday 21 February 2026

He only met John F Kennedy Jr for five minutes but, three decades later, the memory lingers on. “Oh my God, he had it all,” says Larry Sabato, a political scientist, recalling their encounter at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington. “He had his mother’s poise and his father’s charisma; it was a perfect combination of the two. If there was anybody destined to be president, it was him.”

Hollywood pays tribute to David Lynch: ‘A singular, visionary dreamer’

Steven Spielberg, Naomi Watts, Nicolas Cage, Kyle MacLachlan and others share their respects for film-maker who died this week at 78 

Actors and directors have been paying tribute to the director David Lynch, who died this week at the age of 78.

The death of Lynch, whose works include Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive, was announced by his family on Facebook earlier on Thursday. “There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us,” they wrote. “But, as he would say: ‘Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.’”

Steven Spielberg, who cast Lynch as John Ford in his semi-autobiographical drama The Fabelmans praised him as “a singular, visionary dreamer who directed films that felt handmade” in a statement.

 

Naomi Watts and David Lynch on the set of 2001's 'Mullholland Drive'Everett

Naomi Watts Says ‘Mulholland Drive’ Director David Lynch “Put Me On The Map”

January 16, 2025 5:38pm

“My heart is broken. My Buddy Dave…” began Mulholland Drive star Naomi Watts on Instagram about the death of that movie’s filmmaker David Lynch.

Naomi Watts / Somerset Maugham / The Painted Veil

 

Naomi Watts / William Somerset Maugham

THE PAINTED VEIL

The Painted Veil by Somerset Maugham / Edward Norton & Naomi Watts

A Movie/Book Review: The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham / Edward Norton & Naomi Watts

NOBYEN / 2018

Should you first read the book, or first watch the movie? Lots of arguments could be given for either side. I'm mostly on the side of the 'book-first', as I love reading and the great books should not be spoiled by images of someone else before you make your own. But not in this case...

I've tried not to put in any spoiler, as I'd encourage everyone to read this book/watch the movie.