Michelle Pfeiffer signs the role of Betty Ford in the Showtime anthology series, The First Lady
With a new first lady at the White House, it is fitting that Showtime confirm on Thursday that it is moving forward with a series of anthology on the wives of presidents.
The premium subscription channel announced that Michelle Pfeiffer has signed on to star as President Gerald Ford’s wife Betty Ford in The First Lady.
She joins Viola Davis, who will play Michelle Obama on the series that she is also executive producer with her husband Julius Tennon.
New role: Michelle Pfeiffer, left in 2019, signed on to star as Betty Ford in 1987 in the anthology series Showtime The First Lady, was announced on Thursday
It was also announced on Thursday that Susanne Bier, whose credits include The Night Manager and The Undoing, will be directing the episodes.
The first lady will focus on Michelle Obama, Betty Ford and Eleanor Roosevelt and the roles that had an impact during her time at the White House.
Female perspective: the series is being co-produced by Viola Davis in 20189, and the Oscar winner will play Michelle Obama, left in February 2019
In charge: Susanne Bier, whose credits include Night Manager and The Undoing, is on board to direct the episodes. She was portrayed in January 2020
Betty Ford took an active role in social policy and was generally more open than many of her predecessors during her husband’s presidency from 1974 to 1977.
She is perhaps best remembered for her public recognition of her alcoholism and was a co-founder of an addiction treatment center named after her.
Most recently, Pfeiffer was seen in Marvel’s Ant-Man and The Wasp and Avengers: Endgame and Disney’s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.
Impact: Betty Ford took an active role in social policy and was generally more open than many of her predecessors during the presidency of her husband Gerald Ford from 1974 to 1977
Legacy: she is perhaps best remembered for her public recognition of her alcoholism and she co-founded an addiction treatment center named after her
In a statement, Amy Israel, executive vp programmer for Showtime programming, said: ‘Michelle Pfeiffer and Susanne Bier teamed up with brilliant and unparalleled Viola Davis to bring the remarkable stories of these women to an urgent, engaging and long-awaited focus . ‘
Israel continued: ‘Michelle brings authenticity, vulnerability and complexity to all of her roles, and Susanne is a visionary director who commands the screen with fierce honesty and a unique visual style.
“With these formidable artists in front of and behind the camera, we couldn’t be more excited – especially at this unique time for our nation – at the powerful promise of the First Lady.”
Formidable: the anthology series will also feature Eleanor Roosevelt. It is not yet known who will play it