Showtime’s new anthology series, The First Lady, is set to retell the story of American leadership through the lens of the women at the heart and soul of the White House. Prepare to see some of Hollywood’s best actresses portray the nation’s First Ladies. Women have been the backbone of societies since the beginning of time. Considering that we’ve seen several movies and documentaries through the years highlighting presidents and prominent men in politics, it will be refreshing to see HerStory illuminated in The First Lady series.
Showtime describes the 10-episode series as follows: “In the East Wing of the White House, many of history’s most impactful and world-changing decisions have been hidden from view, made by America’s charismatic, complex and dynamic first ladies. The series will peel back the curtain on the personal and political lives of these enigmatic women, with season one focusing on Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Ford and Michelle Obama.”
Michelle Pfeiffer will grace the screen as Betty Ford and Gillian Anderson as Eleanor Roosevelt. Former First Lady, Michelle Obama referred to Viola Davis as “the greatest” when sharing her excitement with Entertainment Tonight about the award-winning actress playing her in the series. “Anything that Viola does, she does it with passion and vigor, and I know she will do no less for this role,” she continued.
Humbled, Viola Davis too had words of gratitude expressing her appreciation for the opportunity to play Michelle Obama in the series.
“She’s smart. She’s confident. She’s articulate. She believes in sisterhood. I want to honor her with this portrayal because that’s what drama is. That’s what we do as actors, we want to honor the human being. We don’t want to give a portrayal that isn’t easy for people to swallow.”
After seeing the trailer, it’s no wonder why many American’s are on the edge of their seat awaiting the season premier, April 17, 2022. “Playing the extraordinary Michelle Obama was no small task, but an honor of a lifetime,” Davis captioned in an Instagram post. As reported by Entertainment Weekly, Davis read Obama’s memoir Becoming and watched her 2020 Netflix documentary to perfect her gestures. She also took the time to speak with Michelle Obama prior to accepting the role in the anthology series. The series has cast a host of phenomenal actors, including British actor, O-T Fagbenle, best known for his role of Luke in The Handmaid’s Tale, as President Barack Obama, Keifer Sutherland as President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Aaron Eckhart as President Gerald Ford, Dakota Fanning as Susan Elizabeth Ford, Lexi Underwood (Little Fires Everywhere) as Malia and Saniyya Sidney (King Richard) as Sasha.
We will be front and center this spring to watch as Showtime’s The First Lady series traces the journey of First Ladies Roosevelt, Ford and Obama in season one.