Viola Davis To Star As Michelle Obama In Showtime’s ‘The First Lady’

Viola Davis will star as former First Lady Michelle Obama in Showtime's upcoming series, The First Lady, set to arrive in the spring of 2022.

The First Lady's first season will focus on the personal and political lives of Obama, Ford, and Roosevelt, tracing "their journeys to Washington through an enlightening intimacy," according to the network per Entertainment Weekly.

"I feel very protective of Michelle," Davis told the outlet, who studied the first lady's 2020 Netflix doc to perfect her gestures. "It's our job as actors not to judge whoever we are portraying, but I ended up thinking she's just dope."

Davis is excited about her contribution to the series but admits that playing Michelle Obama was a bit daunting. "It was terrifying but an incredible honor to portray this extraordinary woman. Can't wait to share @Showtime's #TheFirstLady!" the Oscar-winning actress tweeted.

Alongside Davis, O-T Fagbenle will play Barack Obama, Lexi Underwood as Malia, Saniyya Sidney as Sasha, and Regina Taylor as Marian Robinson, Michelle's mother.

Additionally, Michelle Pfeiffer will play Betty Ford and Gillian Anderson will star as Eleanor Roosevelt for the series.

Check out the first looks of the series: