Catch Palisadian Michelle Pfeiffer in ‘The First Lady’

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

Palisadian actress Michelle Pfeiffer can be seen in the first season of Showtime’s upcoming drama “The First Lady.”

The show follows the lives of three historically memorable women: Michelle Obama played by Viola Davis, Eleanor Roosevelt played by Gillian Anderson, and Betty Ford played by Pfeiffer.

“‘The First Lady’ is a revelatory reframing of American leadership, told through the lens of the women at the heart of the White House,” according to Showtime. “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.

“This series will peel back the curtain on the personal and political lives of three unique, enigmatic women, tracing their journeys to Washington through interweaving storylines with an enlightening intimacy, with season one focusing on Obama, Ford and Roosevelt.”

The series is executive produced by Cathy Schulman and Susanne Bier, who will direct season one.

“Michelle had a very overwhelming part to play because there were so many times Betty’s life was out of control because of her dependency,” Schulman said of Pfeiffer. “Michelle is beautiful and brittle and vulnerable and strong, all at the same time. That’s what we needed because that’s what Betty was.”

Pfeiffer is joined by Kiefer Sutherland as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Aaron Eckhart as President Gerald Ford, Dakota Fanning as Susan Elizabeth Ford—the only daughter and youngest child of President Gerald and Betty Ford—Regina Taylor as Marian Robinson and more.

Davis said she was able to chat with Michelle Obama, read her memoir and study the first lady’s 2020 Netflix documentary to perfect her gestures before taking on the role.

“I feel very protective of Michelle [Obama],” Davis said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “It’s our job as actors not to judge whoever we are portraying, but I ended up thinking she’s just dope.”

The show does not have an official release date but is slated to be released this spring on Showtime’s streaming service.