New images from the upcoming Showtime series The First Lady offer a first look at Viola Davis as Michelle Obama. The anthology series will follow the personal and political lives of the First Ladies of the United States. Joining Davis as Michelle Obama are Michelle Pfeiffer as Betty Ford and Gillian Anderson as Eleanor Roosevelt.
In addition to the titular first ladies, the series has attracted a star-studded cast to portray many decades worth of political figures. Playing the Presidents are O-T Fagbenle as Barack Obama, Aaron Eckhart as Gerald Ford, and Kiefer Sutherland as FDR. Judy Greer, Dakota Fanning, and American Horror Story’s Lily Rabe are also a part of the main cast. The series promises a number of flashbacks, with Jayme Lawson, Kristine Froseth, and Eliza Scanlen signed on to portray younger versions of Michelle Obama, Betty Ford, and Eleanor Roosevelt.
First look photos courtesy of EW show Davis’ uncanny portrayal of the First Lady. Even the still photos demonstrate Davis’ ability to clock Michelle Obama’s facial expressions. The images also provide a sneak peek at the other members of the Obama family, with Lexi Underwood as Malia, Saniyya Sidney as Sasha, and Regina Taylor as Michelle’s mother Marian Shields Robinson. Another photo teases the Obamas receiving guests at the White House, with Laura Bush (Kathleen Garrett) visible in the background. Check out the First Lady images of Davis below, as well as first looks at Anderson and Pfeiffer as their characters.
The Davis images suggest The First Lady will juggle the personal and professional sides of Michelle Obama. In the first image, Davis’ Obama is posing for a photo with her family, yet White House staffers can be seen idling in the background, indicating the First Family maintained a punishing schedule, often in the public eye. In the second image, viewers can see the Obamas entertaining world leaders. Members of the Obamas' inner circle will also be represented in the series, with Star Trek’s Kate Mulgrew playing the First Lady's Chief of Staff Susan Sher.
Unlike her First Lady co-stars, Davis had the advantage of speaking with her assigned former First Lady to help prepare for the role. The actress also read Obama’s memoir, Becoming, and watched her Netflix documentary of the same name to study the First Lady’s mannerisms. Still, the portrayal shouldn’t be too challenging for the Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning actress. It will, however, be markedly different from Davis’ last on-screen appearance: the ruthless Amanda Waller in The Suicide Squad. The First Lady is set to premiere in the spring of 2022.
Source: EW