Viola Davis a 'little scared' of playing Michelle Obama in Showtime's First Ladies: 'Succeed very big or fail very big moment'
Viola Davis will soon be gearing up to portray former first lady Michelle Obama, and the 54-year-old actress said she feels this is either her "succeed very big or fail very big moment."
Davis made the admission during an interview with ET for the promotion of the final season of hit legal drama 'How To Get Away with Murder,' also going into the details of her role in upcoming Showtime series 'First Ladies.'
The series will be exploring the lives of some of the most influential and renowned women who have called the White House their home throughout its history, starting with Michelle Obama, Betty Ford, and Eleanor Roosevelt in season 1.
"I'm always intrigued by the first ladies," said Davis about the show. "I'm always intrigued by the person who doesn't get as much attention as the other person. And I don't wanna say 'the women behind the men,' the women beside the men, what their sacrifices are…their day-to-day."
Despite her stellar credentials, which include an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award, as well as multiple nominations in Time magazine's '100 most influential people in the world list,' Davis said she felt this was a make it or break it moment for her.
"Listen, here's the thing, you could either fail really big or succeed really big, and I feel this is my succeed very big or fail very big moment," she said.
She also said she was intimidated by the prospect of portraying Obama. "I'm a little scared…," she admitted. "I've met Michelle Obama and…exactly what you think she is, she is. She's awesome. She's awesome in every way. She's smart. She's confident. She's articulate. She believes in sisterhood."
"I think Michelle Obama really sacrificed a lot being in the White House, being the first lady, but being the first lady of color also, which is…who do you go to to learn that?" she added.
When asked if reading Obama's 2018 book 'Becoming' would help her prepare for the role, the 54-year-old replied, "Absolutely it will help. All of it helps. You know, as an actor, you arm yourself with information. That's what you do. So, even if it's not on the page, you have that in your internal life and it informs every word, every relationship you have. Because, let's face it, with the first lady, you gotta keep a lot down, right? You just do. …As any public figure, you have to sometimes manage your behavior in public."
