Alexandra Nataf: Love Story, comes out tonight. How are you feeling?

Dree Hemingway: I’m so excited. The build-up is such a weird thing — there’s so much anticipation mentally, and then you hit this point where you’re just like, I just want people to see it. But I’m always nervous. I’m my own biggest critic.

AN: What first drew you to playing Daryl Hannah?

DH: I was asked to audition, so it was the normal process but obviously I was really excited. She’s such an icon, she’s the coolest. Not just as an actress, but as a woman — her activism, her philanthropy. I watched so many interviews of her. She comes across as incredibly kind-hearted and very thoughtful.

AN: Were there aspects of Daryl’s career or personal life that surprised you as you prepared for the role?

DH: I don’t know if “surprised” is the right word. It was more that the more I watched and read about her, the more I think I fell in love with her, in a sense. Maybe I’m projecting, but I just felt like I could see somebody who was very sensitive.

AN: How did you approach researching her, studying her mannerisms and energy? Did you watch her films?

DH: No, I actually didn’t watch her movies. I didn’t want to act like her acting. Even though she’s very natural and similar onscreen to who she is in life, I didn’t want to copy that. I focused on interviews, how she held herself, how she spoke, finding moments when she’d be goofy. I worked with a dialect coach and an acting coach, which helped when I felt stuck. But once you’re on set, it really becomes a dance between you and your director.

AN: What was it like stepping into Ryan Murphy’s world?

DH: Incredible. He really has it dialed in. I’ve mostly done independent films, so I’d never worked at that scale before. It’s such a well-oiled machine. The crew was incredible, a lot of them have worked with him for years. It was a whole new process for me, and I’ve honestly never been happier on a set.

AN: I realized that your mom would have been acting around the same time as her. What did she think when you got the role?

DH: She was so excited for me. My mom is my biggest supporter. She knows how much I love this job and how hard it can be when I’m not working. I think any actor goes through that. When you’re not working, you can start doubting yourself. You wonder if you’ll be seen again, if you’re good enough. It’s kind of a brutal industry in that way, the validation of other people really matters. It’s such a huge thing to be accepted into the Ryan Murphy world. I don’t take that for granted in any way.

AN: There’s also that tension between privacy and visibility now. It feels harder to just step back.

DH: You can’t really step back unless you have something to step back from. It’s easier when you’ve accomplished something then you can remove yourself and feel okay about it. But when you haven’t worked in a while, you’re sitting there like… what am I doing?

AN: And yet this story feels like it comes from a moment when there was still mystery. Why do you think it still resonates so deeply now?

DH: Exactly. We don’t have mystery anymore. Back then, people latched onto couples like JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette because there was space for speculation. The stardom felt bigger. Today celebrities date each other all the time, but it doesn’t feel mythic in the same way. And John wasn’t just a famous guy, he came from what was quite literally America’s family. That wasn’t just celebrity, it was legacy, it was history. So the relationship carried that weight.

There’s also this return to the ’90s right now — in fashion, in music. It was grittier. Less polished. If you think about figures like Princess Diana, and Carolyn, they weren’t just public figures, they were fashion icons. And John was too. They set trends without trying to be trendy. They dressed for themselves. That authenticity is inspiring. There wasn’t this sense of performance around it. They weren’t chasing relevance, they just were relevant. And at the end of the day, they were just two people in a relationship. We forget that. Even when you’re in the public eye, you’re still going through normal things.

AN: What do you hope people take away from the show?

DH: It’s a love story. It’s like Romeo and Juliet. I love love. I’m such a romantic, nothing brings me more joy than being involved in romance. I think we need more of that right now. Things that make us feel held. Even tragic love stories — I don’t mind the tragedy. It feels real. When I watched the trailer, I got goosebumps. It’s been done really respectfully. It just felt hopeful. Also, the way New York is showcased, it’s such a character in it. It feels iconic.

AN: You lived there for years, right?

DH: Fifteen years. My whole soul lives there. I miss stepping out onto the streets every day. The chaos actually settles me, it feeds me. It makes me feel like I don’t need to do anything. Now we split our time between Rome and here (Los Angeles), which is amazing. But New York has this grit that feeds me creatively.

AN: Has becoming a mother changed the way you work?

DH: I think it’s made me better. I don’t give things as much energy as I used to. I don’t give a shit in the way I used to. I’m not self-conscious as I was before I had a kid. I’ve watched my whole self change. Being a mom puts everything in perspective. I’m not sitting around hoping to be taken seriously anymore. I do the work. I’m able to tap into things better. Im not as fearful as I used to be. I work really hard and I trust that the universe has a plan.

AN: On that note, dream role?

DH: An 1800s period piece. Romance. Tragedy. Lead role. Manifesting it now.

I just want to keep making really good things. I love film. I love great television. I feel like I’m finally on the right path.

AN: Lastly, you and Daryl are both Sagittariuses…

DH: Yes! Same initials too. She was born December 3rd and I was born December 4th. When I found that out I was like, okay, this feels like fate!

*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.