Viola Davis Responds to ‘Incredibly Hurtful’ Criticism of Michelle Obama Portrayal on Showtime’s ‘The First Lady’

usmagazine.com:

Putting it all out there. Viola Davis doesn’t have time for critics — especially when it comes to her portrayal of Michelle Obama on Showtime’s The First Lady.The 56-year-old actress told BBC News in an interview published on Monday, April 25, that it is “incredibly hurtful when people say negative things about your work.”While the How to Get Away With Murder alum acknowledged that harsh reactions to her performances are an “occupational hazard” of being an actress, she noted that critics aren’t necessarily essential to the craft.“They feel like they’re telling you what you don’t know, like, ‘Oh, you’re surrounded by people who lie to you and I’m going to be the person who leans in and tells you the truth,’” Davis explained. “It gives them an opportunity to be cruel.”She added: “The thing about critics is they serve absolutely no purpose.”Following the premiere of The First Lady earlier this month, the South Carolina native was slammed via social media for how she channeled Obama, 58, with some viewers calling out her dramatic facial expressions and physical mannerisms.“I imagine Viola Davis watched a lot of video footage of Michelle Obama speaking,” one person tweeted. “Where she got the idea to do the weird, exaggerated pursed-lip thing is beyond me.

It’s distracting and unnecessary.”Another Twitter user wrote: “They set Viola Davis up by allowing her [to] keep her mouth that way throughout the filming.

It’s so cringey and distracting.”Davis’ portrayal of the former first lady was unlike any other in the cast, as the Becoming author is the only living character being depicted on the series. Michelle Pfeiffer plays Betty Ford, who died in 2011, while Gillian Anderson portrays Eleanor Roosevelt, who passed away in 1962.O