Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Everything We Know about 'The First Lady'

Everything We Know about 'The First Lady'

Showtime's upcoming series The First Lady features a star-studded cast you won't want to miss.

Viola Davis, twice awarded for her role in Fences, Gillian Anderson, who played Margaret Thatcher in The Crown, and Academy Award winner Michelle Pfeiffer, will star in The First Lady, the new anthological series by Susanne Bier. The show comes after the widespread popularity for other historical fiction TV series like the Netflix show centered on the British royal family.

At a time when, more than ever, the representation of women in politics is still sorely lacking on the small screen, The First Lady wants to bring these women who have worked in the shadow of some of the greatest Presidents of the United States to the forefront. Far from confining themselves to their roles as First Lady, the women portrayed in the series are activists and game-changers whose contributions have often been overlooked. For its first season, the series produced by Showtime will tell, over three temporalities, the story from the point of view of First Ladies Michelle Obama, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Betty Ford during their time in the White House.

Though the release date of The First Lady has not yet been announced, details about the cast have slowly been coming to light. While you wait to see it on your small screen, L'OFFICIEL gives you everything we know about the highly-anticipated new series.

Viola Davis as Michelle Obama




© Rachel Murray - Paras Griffin

After Emmy Award-winning performance in How to Get Away with Murder, Davis does not intend to stop there. From lawyer to First Lady, it's only a short step for the Oscar-winning actress who will play the role of the first Black First Lady in the United States, Michelle Obama.

Often compared to Jackie Kennedy for her charisma and elegance, Michelle embodies the American dream with her husband Barack. Never in the background, the former First Lady has managed to rise among the most inspiring people in the world. There is no doubt that the talented Davis will brilliantly portray the role of the 44th First Lady. Beyond the screen, she will also sit alongside Bier as one of the show's executive producers.

Gillian Anderson as Eleanor Roosevelt




© Stephane Cardinale - Bettmann

Following her Golden Globe win for her role in The Crown, Anderson will soon lend her features to play Eleanor Roosevelt, the First Lady who paved the way for those who succeeded her, redefining this title to a rewarding and active position.

Known for her outspokenness, Roosevelt was a staunch activist who devoted her time to civil rights during a time of patriarchy and racism, writing and telling truths that still resonate like an anthem today. In the backdrop of WWII, the former First Lady aided her husband as he navigated her personal illness as well as a nation at war.

Michelle Pfeiffer as Betty Ford




© Daniele Venturelli - Bettmann

Pfeiffer will also pay tribute to an iconic First Lady, Betty Ford. The woman of character was particularly active on social issues, specifically drug addiction. She even testified to her own struggles with addiction to drugs and alcohol, as well as breast cancer.

OT Fagbenle as Barack Obama




© Amy Sussman - Drew Angerer

Alongside Davis, OT Fagbenle has been chosen to play the role of the 44th President of the United States. Unsurprisingly, the beloved husband will have a place in the show which traces the lives of these women from their youth to their time in the White House.

Lexi Underwood as Malia Obama




© Frazer Harrison - Olivier Douliery-Pool

The oldest daughter of the Obama family will be played by Lexi Underwood, who most recently starred in the drama series Little Fires Everywhere. The young TV star now joins this exceptional group as they reimagine the Obama administration for the small screen.

Aaron Eckhart as Gerald Ford




© Tommaso Boddi - Wally McNamee

Eckhart will lend his features to President Gerald Ford. After playing a fictional president in White House Down, the actor joins the cast of The First Lady as the only president never actually elected. After major turnover in the role of President Nixon's Vice-president, Ford took on the role, which later led him to the Oval Office after his predecessor's resignation. As Betty goes through a difficult period of dependence on alcohol and drugs, her husband's professional life will suddenly change everything, giving her the opportunity to finally engage in fights that differ from those of her husband and become the icon we know.

Dakota Fanning as Susan Elizabeth Ford




© Amy Sussman - Denver Post

According to Deadline, Dakota Fanning has joined the show as Susan Ford, the youngest child of Betty and Gerald. The teenager introduced many progressive ideas for the time. She was already very involved in politics growing up and was often seen alongside her parents at events.

Among the other actors already cast in the show are Jayme Lawson (The Batman) who will play young Michelle, Kristine Froseth as teenage Betty, and Judy Greer in the role of Nancy Howe, Betty's secretary. Additionally, Aya Cash (The Boys), Jake Picking (Hollywood), Cayden Boyd (The Resident), Marc Hills (Snatchers), Ben Cook (Paterno), Leslie Rodriguez Krtizer (Bridge and Tunnel), Thomas E. Sullivan (Roswell), and Patrice Johnson Chevannes will also star in the series.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Hungary's Prime Minister Criticizes NATO's Role in Ukraine
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Hungarian Scientist to Conduct 30 Research Experiments on the International Space Station
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
International Astronaut Team Launched to Space Station
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
Oil Prices Set to Surge After US Strikes Iran
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
×