The First Lady Cast vs. Their Real-Life Counterparts

Is there anyone more fit to portray Michelle Obama than the Viola Davis? The Oscar and Emmy winner (for Fences and How to Get Away with Murder, respectively) transforms into the former first lady, who served in the White House from 2009 to 2017 and championed causes like nutrition and girls’ education.

After building an impressive resume (that includes Scarface, The Fabulous Baker Boys, and Batman Returns), the legendary Michelle Pfeiffer turns to former first lady Betty Ford for her next role. Serving from 1974 to 1977, Ford was a known supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment.

The X-Files and Sex Education star is no stranger to playing historical figures; in season 4 of The Crown, she portrayed the “iron lady” Margaret Thatcher. Now, she’ll play Eleanor Roosevelt, the longest-serving U.S. first lady (1933-1945), who transformed the role into a more active one and was a champion for women’s rights.

Best known for playing Luke in The Handmaid’s Tale, Fagbenle steps up to the challenge of portraying America’s historic 44th president, Barack Obama.

The former 24 star portrays Franklin D. Roosevelt, who led the country through the Great Depression and while Wold War II raged on outside its borders.

With credits including The Dark Knight, Erin Brockovich, and Thank You for Smoking, Eckhart portrays Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon’s vice president who took on the presidency after his superior resigned post-Watergate.

You’ve seen her as Kerry Washington’s onscreen daughter in Little Fires Everywhere. Now, newcomer Lexi Underwood finds a new onscreen mom in Viola Davis as she plays Michelle and Barack Obama’s oldest daughter, Malia.

Playing younger Obama daughter Sasha is Saniyya Sidney, who recently starred as Venus Williams in the Oscar-nominated King Richard.

Fanning starred in as Uptown Girls and War of the Worlds in her younger years and One Upon a Time…in Hollywood and The Alienist as an adult. In The First Lady, she’ll portray Susan Ford, daughter of Betty and Gerald R. Ford.

In her last TV role, Cailee Spaeny portrayed Mare of Easttown‘s central victim, Erin McMenamin, opposite Kate Winslet. Next, she’ll play Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s only daughter, Anna.

Eliza Scanlen, known for roles in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women (Beth) and HBO’s Sharp Objects, plays a younger version of Anderson’s Eleanor Roosevelt.

Kristine Froseth has come up on YA series like the Hulu’s Looking for Alaska and Netflix’s Sierra Burgess Is a Loser and The Society. The First Lady finds her playing Betty Fordin her younger years.

Young Michelle Obama will be played by Juilliard grad Jayme Lawson, who recently shared the screen with Robert Pattinson in The Batman.

Regina Taylor, who has starred in TV series I’ll Fly Away and The Unit (she also had a role in Lovecraft Country), plays Marian Lois Robinson, Michelle Obama’s mother.