Paul Anthony Kelly‘s wife, Syd Widziszewski-Kelly, is still adjusting to the actor becoming an overnight heartthrob thanks to his breakout role in Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.
“I don’t know if she’s too keen on [it],” Kelly, 37, exclusively told Us Weekly with a laugh at the FX series’ For Your Consideration event in Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 2.
Kelly went on to share that Widziszewski-Kelly is genuinely “thrilled” for his success.
“She’s very supportive and knows that this was always my dream and is just standing behind me,” he said. “She’s my safety net.”
Kelly famously almost quit acting after spending 13 years auditioning for roles and coming up short each time. However, he has credited Widziszewski-Kelly with advising him to stick it out just weeks before he booked his role as John F. Kennedy Jr.
Since then, Kelly has become a household name — and an Emmy contender. He was also recently cast in the upcoming 13th season of American Horror Story, which Love Story executive producer Ryan Murphy created.
“So many things have changed,” Kelly told Us on Tuesday. “Opportunities are coming. I’m living my dream. Life’s good. Life was good before, but now life’s good.”
Kelly married Widziszewski-Kelly in May 2023. They welcomed their first child earlier this year.
While Kelly’s time portraying the late JFK Jr. is over, he has continued to rock the 1990s-inspired fashion that was a hallmark of Love Story.
“I kind of already had that aspect in my style, so to then go into this show was just to, like, really expound on it, but it’s nice that it’s back [in trend],” he said on the red carpet, where he sported a royal blue Louis Vuitton bomber jacket over a button-down shirt and khaki pants. “The ’90s was such a great time.”
Kelly attended Tuesday’s event alongside his Love Story costars, including Sarah Pidgeon, who played Kennedy’s wife, Carolyn Bessette, in addition to Naomi Watts, Constance Zimmer and Grace Gummer, among others.
“They’re all so phenomenal [and] on top of their game, and then I’m the newcomer,” Kelly quipped to Us. “I had these wonderful people to play with, and now every time we do these press things, it’s like getting the band back together. Our relationships were all so organic, and it feels like a family. It’s really, really nice.”
Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette is now streaming on Hulu.
