Being the first lady of the United States is the role of a lifetime – just askViola Davis!While appearing onJimmy Kimmel LiveMonday night, the 56-year-old Oscar winner opened up about portrayingMichelle Obamain the upcoming political dramaThe First Ladyand the pressure of the part.“That’s crazy how good you are at this… it’s not just the voice you have down, it’s [also] the walking? It’s crazy how much you becameMichelle Obama,“Jimmy Kimmelcomplimented his guest.“And I’m glad it’s over!” Davis replied. “I mean, the stress. Because everybody lovesMichelle Obama. They know what she sounds like, they know what she looks like. And I’m like, ‘I don’t wantMichelle Obamacalling me, cussing me out.’ “The actress, who is also producing the 10-episode series, also revealed that she hasn’t reached out to Obama, 58, ahead of its Showtime premiere.For more on Viola Davis, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.“I am hiding from Michelle. I’m hiding in my house,” Davis joked to Kimmel, 54, when he asked if they had recently been in contact.Jackson Lee Davis/SHOWTIME; YURI GRIPAS/AFP/GettyLast year, theFencesstarsaid she spokewith the former first lady after accepting the role of her character in anthology series, and that they instantly clicked.Whileappearing virtuallyonThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonin March 2021, Davis raved about Obama, telling hostJimmy Fallonthat they spoke for “several hours” after she committed to the script.“And it’s terrifying because … sometimes someone doesn’t live up to whatever image you have in your head. But when they do live up to the image, it’s quite frightening,” theSuicide Squadstar admitted at the time. “It really is.“Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images; Jim Bennett/Getty ImagesFallon, 47, agreed with Davis' sentiments, stating that Obama “actually is that cool and that awesome.“The First Ladyalso starsMichelle PfeifferasBetty FordandGillian AndersonasEleanor Roosevelt.The series isdescribedas a “revelatory reframing of American leadership, told through the lens of the women at the heart of the White House.“In an official trailerfor the series, released in February, the trio appears separately in a collection of clips depicting the women’s time in the White House as their husbands presided as commanders-in-chief.“The series will peel back the curtain on the personal and political lives of three unique, enigmatic women and their families, tracing their journeys to Washington, dipping into their pasts and following them beyond the White House into their greatest moments,” Showtime said in astatement.Also appearing inThe First LadyisDakota Fanningas Susan Elizabeth Ford, O-T Fagbenle as former PresidentBarack Obama, Regina Tayloras Mrs. Obama’s mother Marian Shields Robinson, andJudy Greeras Nancy Howe.The First Ladypremieres Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime.
Being the first lady of the United States is the role of a lifetime – just askViola Davis!
While appearing onJimmy Kimmel LiveMonday night, the 56-year-old Oscar winner opened up about portrayingMichelle Obamain the upcoming political dramaThe First Ladyand the pressure of the part.
“That’s crazy how good you are at this… it’s not just the voice you have down, it’s [also] the walking? It’s crazy how much you becameMichelle Obama,“Jimmy Kimmelcomplimented his guest.
“And I’m glad it’s over!” Davis replied. “I mean, the stress. Because everybody lovesMichelle Obama. They know what she sounds like, they know what she looks like. And I’m like, ‘I don’t wantMichelle Obamacalling me, cussing me out.’ "
The actress, who is also producing the 10-episode series, also revealed that she hasn’t reached out to Obama, 58, ahead of its Showtime premiere.
For more on Viola Davis, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.
“I am hiding from Michelle. I’m hiding in my house,” Davis joked to Kimmel, 54, when he asked if they had recently been in contact.
Jackson Lee Davis/SHOWTIME; YURI GRIPAS/AFP/Getty
Last year, theFencesstarsaid she spokewith the former first lady after accepting the role of her character in anthology series, and that they instantly clicked.
Whileappearing virtuallyonThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonin March 2021, Davis raved about Obama, telling hostJimmy Fallonthat they spoke for “several hours” after she committed to the script.
“And it’s terrifying because … sometimes someone doesn’t live up to whatever image you have in your head. But when they do live up to the image, it’s quite frightening,” theSuicide Squadstar admitted at the time. “It really is.”
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images; Jim Bennett/Getty Images
Fallon, 47, agreed with Davis' sentiments, stating that Obama “actually is that cool and that awesome.”
The First Ladyalso starsMichelle PfeifferasBetty FordandGillian AndersonasEleanor Roosevelt.
The series isdescribedas a “revelatory reframing of American leadership, told through the lens of the women at the heart of the White House.”
In an official trailerfor the series, released in February, the trio appears separately in a collection of clips depicting the women’s time in the White House as their husbands presided as commanders-in-chief.
“The series will peel back the curtain on the personal and political lives of three unique, enigmatic women and their families, tracing their journeys to Washington, dipping into their pasts and following them beyond the White House into their greatest moments,” Showtime said in astatement.
Also appearing inThe First LadyisDakota Fanningas Susan Elizabeth Ford, O-T Fagbenle as former PresidentBarack Obama, Regina Tayloras Mrs. Obama’s mother Marian Shields Robinson, andJudy Greeras Nancy Howe.
The First Ladypremieres Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime.
source: people.com
