Constance Zimmer says she was blindsided that so many of her co-stars from "Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette" were shut out of the 2026 Emmy nominations, even as she picked up a nod of her own for the FX limited series.
Zimmer, who earned a Supporting Actress nomination for playing Carolyn Bessette's mother, Ann Marie Messina, told E! News in an exclusive interview ahead of the Sept. 14 ceremony that she did not expect to see her name on the list while so many others were missing from it.
"I was surprised," Zimmer said. "Paul didn't get nominated or Grace or Naomi or writing for the show and all that stuff."
She was referring to Paul Anthony Kelly, who plays John F. Kennedy Jr., along with co-stars Naomi Watts and Grace Gummer, none of whom received nominations for their performances. The show's writing was also left out of the race.
"But that's life," the 55-year-old added. "Sorry. I mean, it sucks."
Only two cast members nominated
In the end, Zimmer and Sarah Pidgeon, who plays Carolyn Bessette opposite Kelly's John F. Kennedy Jr., were the only two actors from the series recognized among this year's nominees, a fact Zimmer said left her stunned on her own behalf as well.
"I was surprised I was nominated," the "UnReal" alum told E!. "I thought I was going to be the one that wasn't and then when I was the one that was I was like, 'Wait, what just happened? I don't understand how that happened.' But, anyways, here we are."
A tight-knit cast
Despite the disappointment over her co-stars' snubs, Zimmer said the experience of making the Ryan Murphy-produced series has left her with lasting bonds to the cast.
"We're a part of something that we had no idea was going to take on so much attention," she reflected. "We have a really nice group chat with all the Love Story actors, it's fun."
"Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette" dramatizes the relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr., the son of President John F. Kennedy, and his wife, Carolyn Bessette, who married in 1996 and died together in a plane crash in 1999. The FX limited series is produced by Ryan Murphy, the prolific television producer behind a string of true-crime and biographical anthology shows.
Six nominations for the series
Even with several cast members overlooked, Zimmer said she is grateful for the six nominations the series did receive overall.
"This doesn't happen all the time," she said, "and so we're all just trying to enjoy every minute of it."
The show has already picked up hardware this awards season. "Love Story" won the Emmy for Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie at last week's Creative Arts ceremony. Zimmer herself came up short in a separate Creative Arts category, losing to Linda Cardellini, nominated for "DTF St. Louis."
What's next
"Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette" could add to its trophy count when the Primetime Emmy Awards air Sunday, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC, with streaming available on Peacock.
