Multi-award-winning actress Viola Davis took to social media on November 8 to share a first glimpse of her portrayal of forever First Lady Michelle Obama in the Showtime White House drama, The First Lady.
The Emmy-award-winning actress took to Instagram and shared photos of her with her castmates on set as a
repost of Entertainment Weekly’s post.
Davis wrote, “It was terrifying but an incredible honor to portray this extraordinary woman. Can’t wait to share @Showtime’s #TheFirstLady!”
Davis has made her appreciation of Michelle Obama very clear for some time now. She even went as far as to study Obama’s 2020 Netflix documentary to help her prepare for her role and perfect her gestures.
According to the outlet, the Fences actress said, “I feel very protective of Michelle, it’s our job as actors not to judge whoever we are portraying, but I ended up thinking she’s just dope.”
In an interview following her win at this year’s NAACP Awards, Davis revealed that although she and Obama had a chat and that she read her memoir, “Becoming” before saying yes to the anthology series, she wishes she had gotten advice on the show which delves into the former First Lady’s eight years at the White House.
“I wish she had [given advice] because I could use that right now, Michelle,” Davis said, later adding, “I love her beyond love, and I think she would never [advise me] because she has too much respect for people in whatever field they study. She is just a bastion of support.”
The show’s first season will see Davis alongside fellow actresses Gillian Anderson as Eleanor Roosevelt and Michelle Pfeiffer as Betty Ford in its upcoming first season. The series will focus on the private and political lives of the three icons tracing “their journeys to Washington through an enlightening intimacy,” according to Showtime.