Michelle Obama thrilled that Viola Davis is playing her in The First Lady

17 March 2021

Michelle Obama is delighted that Viola Davis is playing her in 'The First Lady'.

Michelle Obama

The Oscar-winning star will portray Michelle in the upcoming drama series but the wife of former President Barack Obama doesn't feel she is "worthy" to be played by someone she describes as "the greatest".

Michelle said: "I feel that I'm not worthy. I wish I could be better to live up to the character that Viola has to play, but it's exciting.

"Anything Viola does, she does it with passion and vigour, and I know she will do no less for this role."

Viola previously explained how she was "a little scared" to be playing Michelle in the show, which also stars O.T. Fagbenle, Michelle Pfeiffer and Gillian Anderson.

The 55-year-old actress said: "She's smart. She's confident. She's articulate. She believes in sisterhood.

"I wanna honour her. I wanna honour her with this portrayal because that's what the drama is. That's what we do as actors, we want to honour the human being. We don't want to give a portrayal that isn't easy for people to swallow."

Meanwhile, Michelle is currently presenting the Netflix children's cookery show 'Waffles + Mochi' and explains how the show helps her continue the work she began in the White House.

And she hopes the show will offer more than what she used to tune in to when her daughters, Malia, 22, and Sasha, 19, were younger.

She told Entertainment Tonight: "I knew I wanted to find a way to continue the conversation about healthy eating and movement and 'Waffles + Mochi' does it in a fun and creative way.

"I remember when my kids were little and there wasn't a lot of TV that I wanted to watch with them. There was a lot of great kids TV, but to have a show that I thought was funny and that was entertaining for them, that was exciting for them, that was exciting, that took you around the world, that would teach them about experiencing different kind of foods, this is exactly the kind of show I would've wanted.

"I watch this show even without my kids because it is hilarious."