Social media began buzzing Sunday night, following Viola Davis’s depiction of Michelle Obama, following the premiere of “The First Lady” on Showtime.
Davis had the Twitter sphere ablaze after fans watched her portrayal of the former First Lady, particularly in a scene that Obama was conversing with her husband Barack, played by O-T Fagbenle. Viewers began to mock–yet defend–Davis’s “duck face” pursed lips that she put on to accurately portray the former FLOTUS.
Viola Davis does one questionable role and people acting like she’s not a good actor 😭
— it ain’t fun Paramore! (@stuckiny2k) April 17, 2022
Viola Davis does one questionable role and people acting like she’s not a good actor 😭
— it ain’t fun Paramore! (@stuckiny2k) April 17, 2022
Dear Twitter,
Please keep your hyperbolic Viola Davis slander to yourself.
Yes, her performance in #TheFirstLady is not her best.
Big. Fucking. Whoop.
Happens to the best of them. And make no mistake about it she is and forever will be one of the best of them.
Love,
Phantom pic.twitter.com/9NDk5mO1Me
— Phantom (@effoff1988) April 17, 2022
In preparation for the role, Davis said she studied Obama’s speech patterns by listening to her podcasts “over a hundred times,” and watching numerous videos to nail her mannerisms. She also got in touch with the Chicago attorney and consulted with her before filming.
While the “Fences” star’s performance received mixed reviews from fans, many continued to praise Davis as an actress, noting that aside from her choice of facial expression used for the former First Lady, Davis’s performance was still a knock-out one.
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