How ironic to find a Kennedy doing Greek tragedy — what this clan’s been through could make Sophocles weep. And yet, while the fabled American family’s given us politicians, philanthropists and environmental activists, it’s the rare Kennedy who’s pursued acting itself.
Enter Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy, the 25-year-old daughter of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his first wife, Emily Black. After forays on TV’s “The Newsroom,” “Gossip Girl” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” — the last starring Cheryl Hines, her dad’s girlfriend — Robert and Ethel Kennedy’s granddaughter is making her theater debut in “Antigone,” running Jan. 10 to Feb. 14 at the Theater of the Church of Notre Dame (Morningside Drive between 114th and 115th streets).
Over a Caesar salad the other day at Joe Allen, the Stanford University grad — clad, like a Greek chorus member or Martha Graham disciple, in an ankle-length, long-sleeved black dress — talked warmly if warily about acting, boyfriend Harper Simon (Paul’s son) and la vida Kennedy.
How best to describe your character, Antigone?
She’s a sort of rebel princess, who’s highly idealistic and willing to go to any lengths for what she believes is right. She’s less polished than your stereotypical princess or her sister, who’s more of a girly girl.
Have you always been called Kick?
I’m named after my great-aunt Kathleen, who also had the nickname Kick. [No one] calls me Kathleen except the TSA and the Department of Motor Vehicles, who I’ve heard a lot from lately.
Yes, you posted your traffic tickets on Instagram!
When I came home to LA this Christmas there was a pile of mail, including a lot of correspondence from the department of parking tickets — it was pretty ugly. My defense: They were not all mine! My car has been used by various family members, friends, my boyfriend . . .
Speaking of whom: Has Harper won the Kennedy seal of approval?
Absolutely! Harper came to the Cape. He’s a very charming guy, and he sang for my grandmother, which she loved — and then he was ordered to sing every night after that, which he didn’t love. My grandmother likes performance and music, and she sometimes demands it. And you can’t really say no to Ethel, so I made sure he brought his guitar.
Please tell us the Marc Anthony story.
My grandmother’s really into [the singer] Marc Anthony. When he called and said he was in town, she invited him to dinner. Everyone dressed up and got excited, because we all love him. Then, this older man arrives. No one knows who he is, but we all assume he’s a friend of somebody else. Someone finally asks his name and he says, “Mark Anthony.” He’s someone my grandmother met on a plane — who knows when — and they exchanged contact information. My grandmother’s very good at situations like that. The rest of us were excusing ourselves to find private places to break out into hysterical laughter.
It must have been nice having Taylor Swift visit, when she was dating your brother Conor.
Yeah, she’s really sweet. It was a moment, really. But we always have exciting things going on — exciting people to meet.
So how’d you spend New Year’s Eve?
Like a cat lady! I fell asleep around 10:30. New Year’s in New York is difficult unless you have a plan. I’d just gotten into town, and at 5 p.m. I gave up and decided to watch “Modern Family.”