Some of the most impactful First Ladies in U.S. history are getting a historical spotlight soon.
The Showtime show, tentatively titled “The First Lady,” taps into the lives and impact of different First Ladies. This includes figures such as Michelle Obama, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Betty Ford.
Gillian Anderson as First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt
Gillian Anderson, known for her praise-worthy role on “The Crown” as Margaret Thatcher, will now play First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The actress shared a selfie on Instagram. In the selfie, she is getting fit for a brown wig in the same style as Eleanor Roosevelt. She also shared the name “Eleanor” taped onto her trailer.
The actress also included a quote from the First Lady, “A woman is like a teabag; you never know how strong it is until it’s in hot water.” Anderson will appear in the series alongside Kiefer Sutherland as Franklin D. Roosevelt. She will be a main character throughout the hour-long drama series.
The show boasts a spectacular cast to fill in as these political figures. Viola Davis (“The Help,” “How to Get Away with Murder”) is going to play Michelle Obama and Michelle Pfeiffer (“Scarface,” “Batman Returns”) as Betty Ford.
The show is a way to “peel back the curtain on the personal and political lives” on these women. The series will focus on the East Wing, “where 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,” according to Variety.
Other cast members include Eliza Scanlen (“Little Women”) as a young Eleanor Roosevelt, O-T Fagbenle (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) as Barack Obama, Aaron Eckhart as (“London Has Fallen”) as Gerald Ford, and Dakota Fanning (“Charlotte’s Web”) as Susan Elizabeth Ford.
Gillian Anderson is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in “The Crown” as Iron Lady Thatcher. She has five past Emmy nominations. She won once in 1997 for portraying Dana Scully in “The X Files.”
CNN First Ladies Documentary
Meanwhile, CNN recently released a documentary focused on the “First Ladies” as well. This documentary delves into the lives of different First Ladies. This includes Eleanor Roosevelt, Lady Bird Johnson, Michelle Obama, Jackie Kennedy, and Nancy Reagan.
The documentary blends together in-depth interviews, archival footage, and cinematic recreations.
“’First Ladies’ provides an intimate inside look into the lives and legacies of six remarkable women who transformed the role of first lady. The series highlights how each defied expectation to carve her own trailblazing path, inspire generations and leave an indelible imprint on American culture,” Amy Entelis, EVP for Talent & Content Development at CNN Worldwide said.
