Gillian Anderson to play Eleanor Roosevelt in Showtime's The First Lady

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After her Golden Globe-nominated performance as Margaret Thatcher in The Crown, Anderson will play another 20th century female political icon: Eleanor Roosevelt, who from 1933 through 1945 became the longest-serving first lady in American history. Anderson will co-lead Season 1 with Viola Davis, who stars as Michelle Obama, and Michelle Pfeiffer, who'll play Betty Ford. All three actresses are nominated at next Sunday's Golden Globe ceremony. The First Lady is described as a "revelatory reframing of American leadership, told through the lens of the women at the heart of the White House." Showtime's Amy Israel says of Anderson's casting: "Gillian Anderson is an actress of incredible range and exquisite talent – she is the perfect choice to complete this powerhouse trio, who will inhabit the roles of these iconic women. It’s inspiring to have Gillian, Viola Davis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Susanne Bier and Cathy Schulman at the forefront of The First Lady. They have truly set the stage for a landmark Showtime series."