The First Lady: Gillian Anderson cast in Showtime’s upcoming FLOTUS drama
By Mads Lennon
Gillian Anderson is set to portray yet another famous lady from history, this time Eleanor Roosevelt in Showtime’s upcoming star-studded drama series The First Lady, reports TVLine. Anderson will join Viola Davis and Michelle Pfeiffer, who will play Michelle Obama and Betty Ford, respectively.
The anthology series will center around the political and personal lives of three former First Ladies. Anderson will tackle the role of Roosevelt, the longest-serving FLOTUS in history. As exciting as the casting news is, it’s unclear if Anderson, Davis and Pfeiffer will ever have scenes together, considering their characters aren’t from the same era.
Anderson is a notable actress who previously received several accolades for her performance as Margaret Thatcher on The Crown in Season 4. She scored both a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nomination for the role. The X-Files alum also stars in the Netflix series Sex Education, which was renewed for a third season.
“Gillian Anderson is an actress of incredible range and exquisite talent — she is the perfect choice to complete this powerhouse trio, who will inhabit the roles of these iconic women,” said Amy Israel, Showtime’s executive vice president of scripted programming.
Who else is set to star in the upcoming Showtime series The First Lady?
Apart from Davis, Pfeiffer and Anderson, the series also stars Aaron Eckhart, Judy Greer, Rhys Wakefield, Kristine Forseth and Jayme Lawson. It’s not yet clear who will portray President Franklin D. Roosevelt opposite of Anderson.
Funnily enough, Anderson’s casting as Eleanor Roosevelt in The First Lady is kind of fortuitous. Fans of The X-Files might remember the Season 4 episode “Small Potatoes” when Mulder asked Dana if she could be someone else for a day. Who would she be? Guess who Dana (a.k.a. Anderson) chose? Yep, Eleanor Roosevelt!
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What do you think of Anderson’s casting? Are you looking forward to watching The First Lady when it debuts on Showtime? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.