The First Lady Cast: Where Are Viola Davis, Michelle Pfeiffer, And Gillian Anderson Now In 2025?

The Showtime anthology series, *The First Lady*, captivated audiences with its intimate and dramatic look into the lives of three of America's most influential women in the White House. The 2022 limited series, created by Aaron Cooley and directed by Susanne Bier, brought together a powerhouse cast to portray Michelle Obama, Betty Ford, and Eleanor Roosevelt, earning three Emmy nominations for its ambitious scope and stellar performances. As of late December 2025, while the series concluded its run, the phenomenal talent behind the portrayals continues to dominate Hollywood. This deep dive explores the complete cast list, provides the detailed biographies required, and reveals the newest projects from the leading ladies that you can expect to see in 2024 and 2025.

The Stellar Lead Cast and Full Biography Profiles

The core of *The First Lady* rested on the shoulders of three of the most decorated actresses in modern cinema. Their commitment to portraying the nuances, challenges, and public roles of these historical figures was the show's defining feature.

Viola Davis as Michelle Obama

Role in The First Lady: Portrayed Michelle Obama, the first African-American First Lady of the United States, focusing on her time in the White House and her relationship with President Barack Obama. Davis also served as an executive producer on the series.

Biography & Profile:

• Full Name: Viola Davis
• Born: August 11, 1965, St. Matthews, South Carolina, U.S.
• Major Accolades: Davis is one of the few performers to have achieved the coveted EGOT status (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award) and is the first African-American actor to achieve the "Triple Crown of Acting" (competitive Oscar, Emmy, and two Tony Awards).
• Notable Works: *How to Get Away with Murder* (Emmy Award), *Fences* (Academy Award), *The Help*, *Ma Rainey's Black Bottom*, and *The Woman King*.
• Recent & Upcoming Projects (2024–2025): Davis voiced the character of Shifu in the animated film *Kung Fu Panda 4* (2024). Her next major project is the action-thriller film *G20*, where she stars as a President dealing with a global summit under attack, which is expected to stream on Prime Video in 2025.

Michelle Pfeiffer as Betty Ford

Role in The First Lady: Played Betty Ford, the wife of President Gerald Ford, whose candidness on topics like breast cancer awareness, abortion rights, and her struggle with alcoholism and substance abuse made her one of the most politically active and influential First Ladies.

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Biography & Profile:

• Full Name: Michelle Marie Pfeiffer
• Born: April 29, 1958, Santa Ana, California, U.S.
• Major Accolades: A Golden Globe Award winner and a three-time Academy Award nominee for her performances in *Dangerous Liaisons*, *The Fabulous Baker Boys*, and *Love Field*.
• Notable Works: *Scarface*, *Batman Returns* (as Catwoman), *The Age of Innocence*, and her Golden Globe-winning role in *The Fabulous Baker Boys*.
• Recent & Upcoming Projects (2024–2025): Pfeiffer continues her career with roles in upcoming films. She is set to star in the Amazon MGM Christmas comedy *Oh. What. Fun.*, which is slated for a 2025 release. She is also attached to the films *Wild Four O'Clocks* and *Turn of Mind* (TBA).

Gillian Anderson as Eleanor Roosevelt

Role in The First Lady: Portrayed Eleanor Roosevelt, the longest-serving First Lady and a diplomat, activist, and human rights advocate who redefined the role during her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency.

Biography & Profile:

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• Full Name: Gillian Leigh Anderson, OBE
• Born: August 9, 1968, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
• Major Accolades: A multiple award winner, including two Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. She won a Golden Globe for her iconic role as Dana Scully in *The X-Files* and another for portraying Margaret Thatcher in *The Crown*.
• Notable Works: *The X-Files*, *The Crown*, *Sex Education*, and *The Fall*.
• Recent & Upcoming Projects (2024–2025): Anderson played a prominent role in the film *Scoop*, which dramatizes the Prince Andrew/Newsnight interview, released in April 2024. She is also in the cast of the film *White Bird: A Wonder Story* (Oct 2024) and is set to star alongside Jason Isaacs in the 2025 film adaptation of the novel *The Salt Path*.

Behind the Scenes: The Supporting Cast That Brought History to Life

The show’s success wasn't solely due to its leading ladies; the ensemble cast portraying their presidential husbands, children, and political figures was equally crucial in grounding the anthology drama in Presidential history. The show’s creator, Aaron Cooley, and director, Susanne Bier, expertly managed the interwoven timelines, which required multiple actors to portray the same historical figures at different ages.

Key Presidential and Political Figures

The series required acclaimed actors to step into the shoes of the Presidents, lending authenticity to the East Wing narratives. The casting choices for the Presidents were praised for their striking resemblance and dramatic depth.

• O-T Fagbenle as Barack Obama: Fagbenle portrayed the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, opposite Viola Davis.
• Aaron Eckhart as Gerald Ford: Known for his roles in *The Dark Knight*, Eckhart took on the role of President Gerald Ford, providing a compelling counterpoint to Michelle Pfeiffer's Betty Ford.
• Kiefer Sutherland as Franklin D. Roosevelt: The star of *24* and *Designated Survivor*, Sutherland portrayed President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), the husband of Eleanor Roosevelt.

The First Children and Inner Circle

The lives of the First Ladies were often inseparable from their family dynamics, and the series dedicated significant screen time to the First Children and their key aides.

• Dakota Fanning as Susan Elizabeth Ford: Fanning, a celebrated child star turned adult actress, played Betty Ford's daughter, Susan Ford.
• Eliza Scanlen as Young Eleanor Roosevelt: Scanlen, known for *Little Women*, played the younger version of Eleanor Roosevelt, showing her early life and marriage to FDR.
• Vivien Lyra Blair as Youngest Eleanor Roosevelt: Blair played Eleanor as a child, completing the three-stage portrayal of the historical figure.
• Kristine Froseth as Young Betty Ford: Froseth portrayed Betty Ford during her younger years.
• Julian De Niro as Young Barack Obama: The show utilized different actors to portray the Presidents and First Ladies at various stages of their careers, with De Niro playing a younger Barack Obama.
• Regina Taylor as Marian Shields Robinson: Taylor portrayed Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Shields Robinson, who lived in the White House during the Obama presidency.

The Lasting Impact and Emmy Recognition

Despite being a limited series that concluded its narrative, *The First Lady* left a notable mark on the television landscape, particularly during the 2022 awards season. The show's success is a testament to the power of biographical drama and the enduring public fascination with the women who shaped Presidential history from the East Wing. The Showtime series garnered three nominations at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, solidifying its place as a critically recognized project. Michelle Pfeiffer received a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her powerful performance as Betty Ford. The series also earned nominations in the technical categories, including Outstanding Period Costumes and Outstanding Period and/or Character Makeup. The decision to focus on the personal and political lives of the First Ladies—Michelle Obama's advocacy work, Betty Ford's public health battles, and Eleanor Roosevelt's human rights diplomacy—offered a fresh perspective on American leadership. By interweaving the stories across different historical periods, the series provided a rich, multi-layered look at the challenges and triumphs of these extraordinary women. The show is now available for streaming, allowing new audiences to discover the remarkable performances by the star-studded cast.