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Comparing The Cast Of "The First Lady" With Their Real-Life CounterParts

by May

When you think about the White House, perhaps the first thing you'll remember is the president. Perhaps the Oval Office will also come to mind.

If you watched Showtime's anthology series, The First Lady, you will also remember the women who walked along its hallways when their husbands were the incumbent president. The drama series centers on three of those women who made an impact using their Office of the First Lady of the United States.

Michelle Obama is played by Viola Davis, Betty Ford is played by Michelle Pfeiffer, and Eleanor Roosevelt is played by Gillian Anderson. The drama series takes viewers behind the scenes inside the White House executive mansion. It gives us an idea of how important these women were in molding American culture and how being a first lady impacted their lives.

In addition to Davis, Pfeiffer, and Anderson, the show will star renowned Hollywood actors, including Dakota Fanning as Susan Elizabeth Ford, Kiefer Sutherland as Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Lily Rabe as Lorena Hickock, O-T Fagbenle as Barack Obama, and more.

According to the entertainment news site Deadline, the show is so intimate, that it's almost like we could hear the White House walls talking. See the pictures below to compare the actors and their real-life counterparts.

Through the eyes of these three women, the show examines the events of their respective husbands' administrations.

Through the eyes of these three women, the show examines the events of their respective husbands' administrations.Jackson Lee Davis / Jackson Lee Davis/SHOWTIME

A photo of President Franklin D. Roosevelt

A photo of President Franklin D. RooseveltNew York Daily News Archive / NY Daily News via Getty Images

Kiefer Sutherland taking the role of President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Kiefer Sutherland taking the role of President Franklin D. RooseveltShowtime

Eleanor Roosevelt in real life

Eleanor Roosevelt in real lifeFotosearch / Getty Images

Gillian Anderson is Eleanor Roosevelt. She has now played a prominent historical character for the second time recently with this series.

Gillian Anderson is Eleanor Roosevelt. She has now played a prominent historical character for the second time recently with this series.Daniel Mcfadden / Daniel McFadden/SHOWTIME

Laura Bush in real life.

Laura Bush in real life.Medianews Group / MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Kathleen Garrett plays Laura Bush in Showtime's drama series.

Kathleen Garrett plays Laura Bush in Showtime's drama series.Showtime

Michelle Obama in real life.

Michelle Obama in real life.Gilbert Carrasquillo / FilmMagic

Viola Davis plays Michelle Obama in the series.

Davis reportedly was pressured playing Obama because hers is the only character who is still alive today.

Viola Davis plays Michelle Obama in the series.Showtime

President Barack Obama

President Barack ObamaHum Images / HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

O-T Fagbenle plays Barack Obama in the show.

O-T Fagbenle plays Barack Obama in the show.Jackson Lee Davis / Jackson Lee Davis/SHOWTIME

Gerald Ford

Gerald FordNew York Daily News Archive / NY Daily News via Getty Images

This is Aaron Eckhart as Gerald Ford

This is Aaron Eckhart as Gerald FordMurray Close / Murray Close/SHOWTIME

This is the real Betty Ford

This is the real Betty Ford Derek Hudson / Getty Images

Michelle Pfeiffer playing Betty Ford in the series.

According to Pfeiffer, she will never take on a role of a real person again.

It's just, it's very, very weighty. And it's with you all the time.Michelle Pfeiffer playing Betty Ford in the series.Murray Close / Murray Close/SHOWTIME

Susan Ford in real life.

Susan Ford in real life.Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

Dakota Fanning taking the role of Susan Ford.

Dakota Fanning taking the role of Susan Ford.Showtime

Donald H. Rumsfeld

Donald H. RumsfeldConsolidated News Pictures / Getty Images

Derek Cecil plays Donald H. Rumsfeld in The First Lady

Derek Cecil plays Donald H. Rumsfeld in The First LadyShowtime

Dick Cheney in real life.

Dick Cheney in real life.Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

This is Rhys Wakefield as Dick Cheney.

This is Rhys Wakefield as Dick Cheney.Murray Close / Murray Close/SHOWTIME

The First Lady is a 10-episode drama series by Aaron Cooley and executive produced by Cathy Schulman.

The show, which premiered on April 17, 2022, is an impressive reimagining of American leadership portrayed through the eyes of the presidents' respective wives. It is set in the East Wing.

Viewers will witness the history's groundbreaking and consequential decisions, which were made by America's charismatic first ladies behind closed doors. The first season followers three enigmatic women, remembering their life as a president's wife in Washington.

What do you think of the performance of the three women highlighted by the show?

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