Showtime's The First Lady reframes US history through three First Ladies

Collider reports that Showtime’s anthology series The First Lady reframes the White House by centering three First Ladies across 10 episodes.

Created by Aaron Cooley and directed by Susanne Bier, the political drama uses a three-timeline structure that cross-cuts between eras. Viola Davis plays Michelle Obama, Michelle Pfeiffer portrays Betty Ford and Gillian Anderson takes on Eleanor Roosevelt, with supporting turns from Kiefer Sutherland as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dakota Fanning as Susan Ford, O-T Fagbenle as Barack Obama and Aaron Eckhart as Gerald Ford.

The series emphasizes the private and political roles these women played: Betty Ford’s openness about mental health and addiction, Eleanor Roosevelt framed as a blueprint for a modern First Lady, and Michelle Obama’s experience under intense scrutiny shaped by race and sexism. The show takes creative license while aiming for emotional truth and features performances several reviewers and viewers found compelling.

Released in 2022, The First Lady was cancelled after one season. The anthology format was built for expansion, and the cancellation means other eras and First Ladies the series could have explored remain unaddressed, though the existing season continues to be noted for its performances and perspective.

Key Topics

Culture, Showtime, Viola Davis, Michelle Obama, Betty Ford, Eleanor Roosevelt