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Viola Davis Will Play Michelle Obama In An Upcoming Series About U.S. First Ladies

"Honouring and elevating these powerful, worthy Queens with respect"

When it comes to naming the world’s most influential women of colour, Viola Davis and Michelle Obama certainly come to mind. Now in a new series, Davis has been cast as Obama to document the power and strength of various former First Ladies of the United States. 

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According to Variety, the show will “peel back the curtain on the personal and political lives” of past FLOTUS. It will focus on “where many of history’s most impactful and world-changing decisions have been hidden from view, made by America’s charismatic, complex, and dynamic First Ladies.”

Celebrating the news on Twitter, Davis wrote: “Sooo proud!!! Honouring and elevating these powerful, worthy Queens with respect.” 

The series will also feature Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Betty Ford, wife of Gerald Ford. 

RELATED: Michelle Obama Announces The Release Of Her Netflix Documentary ‘Becoming’

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The casting choice is fitting, with Davis regularly singing the praises of Obama. 

In January, she celebrated the former First Lady’s birthday by tweeting a photo of them together, writing, “Happy birthday to the Queen! My sis! My image of grace and beauty and intelligence!! All hail!!”

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It’s also not the first time Obama is being taken to the screen. She was previously portrayed by Tika Sumpter in 2016’s Southside with You, as well as signing a major deal with Netflix alongside husband Barack Obama to produce series and movies for the streaming service, including the documentary American Factory.

No release date or other cast members have been announced as yet, so stay tuned for updates.

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