Michelle Pfeiffer Shares Birthday Message for Viola Davis and Gillian Anderson: ‘Two of My Favorite First Ladies’

Mar. 15, 2025

From left: Viola Davis, Gillian Anderson and Michelle Pfeiffer in 2022.Photo:Mike Marsland/WireImageMichelle Pfeifferhas two Leo ladies she’s celebrating this weekend.On Sunday, Aug. 11, theScarfaceactress, 66, posted a picture of herself and herThe First LadycostarsGillian AndersonandViola Davisin honor of their very close birthdays. “Happy birthday week to two of my favorite First Ladies,” Pfeiffer wrote in a post on herInstagram Stories.Anderson’s 56th birthday was Friday, Aug. 9, while Davis turned 59 on Sunday, Aug 11.The three actresses portrayed first ladiesMichelle Obama(Davis),Betty Ford(Pfeiffer) andEleanor Roosevelt(Anderson) for the 2012 historical drama series.The First Ladyfocused on the political and personal lives of the women who were married to the presidents of the United States, and how they experienced their time in the White House.From left: Viola Davis, Gillian Anderson and Michelle Pfeiffer in 2022.Jon Kopaloff/GettyAfter its 10-episode run, the Emmy-nominated series was not picked upfor a second season.Pfeiffer, who will star in the upcomingYellowstoneprequel seriesThe Madison, was so eager to portray Ford — whodied in 2011at 93 — that she signed onto the show before even reading the script.“I knew about — like most people — she’s very famous for the Betty Ford clinic, which has, again, saved hundreds of thousands of people’s lives,“Pfeiffer said during an April 2022 interviewwithToday.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“And, obviously,her issues with substance abuse,” she continued. “So that, in and of itself, was a really interesting story to tell. And I felt really important.“Pfeiffer added: “When Susanne Bier — the director I was anxious to work with — called, all she said to me was, ‘I’m doing a project on the first ladies and I’d like you to play Betty Ford.’ And I said, ‘I’m in.’ “From left: Michelle Pfeiffer, Viola Davis and Gillian Anderson in ‘The First Lady’.Ramona Rosales/SHOWTIMEThe fascination and interest in the stars' respective first ladies was a mutual feeling across the board. When speaking withThe Wall Street Journalin April 2022, the actresses told the publication about the common thread they found between Roosevelt, Ford and Obama.“For me, it’s agency,” Davis said at the time. “That ability to make decisions and know who you are.“Pfeiffer noted that all of the first ladies had been “struggling to be heard” while “dealing with living under a microscope.“She said, “And I do think they all find their voice, and use it, along with their public profile, to encourage other women to do the same.“Anderson, meanwhile, praised the all-female press corps that Roosevelt started during the Great Depression, where Roosevelt spoke to the American people daily, reminding them to remain positive.“And people listened to them, and trusted them and believed them,” Anderson said, adding: “At the time, there was something unprecedented about that.”

From left: Viola Davis, Gillian Anderson and Michelle Pfeiffer in 2022.Photo:Mike Marsland/WireImage

Mike Marsland/WireImage

Michelle Pfeifferhas two Leo ladies she’s celebrating this weekend.On Sunday, Aug. 11, theScarfaceactress, 66, posted a picture of herself and herThe First LadycostarsGillian AndersonandViola Davisin honor of their very close birthdays. “Happy birthday week to two of my favorite First Ladies,” Pfeiffer wrote in a post on herInstagram Stories.Anderson’s 56th birthday was Friday, Aug. 9, while Davis turned 59 on Sunday, Aug 11.The three actresses portrayed first ladiesMichelle Obama(Davis),Betty Ford(Pfeiffer) andEleanor Roosevelt(Anderson) for the 2012 historical drama series.The First Ladyfocused on the political and personal lives of the women who were married to the presidents of the United States, and how they experienced their time in the White House.From left: Viola Davis, Gillian Anderson and Michelle Pfeiffer in 2022.Jon Kopaloff/GettyAfter its 10-episode run, the Emmy-nominated series was not picked upfor a second season.Pfeiffer, who will star in the upcomingYellowstoneprequel seriesThe Madison, was so eager to portray Ford — whodied in 2011at 93 — that she signed onto the show before even reading the script.“I knew about — like most people — she’s very famous for the Betty Ford clinic, which has, again, saved hundreds of thousands of people’s lives,“Pfeiffer said during an April 2022 interviewwithToday.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“And, obviously,her issues with substance abuse,” she continued. “So that, in and of itself, was a really interesting story to tell. And I felt really important.“Pfeiffer added: “When Susanne Bier — the director I was anxious to work with — called, all she said to me was, ‘I’m doing a project on the first ladies and I’d like you to play Betty Ford.’ And I said, ‘I’m in.’ “From left: Michelle Pfeiffer, Viola Davis and Gillian Anderson in ‘The First Lady’.Ramona Rosales/SHOWTIMEThe fascination and interest in the stars' respective first ladies was a mutual feeling across the board. When speaking withThe Wall Street Journalin April 2022, the actresses told the publication about the common thread they found between Roosevelt, Ford and Obama.“For me, it’s agency,” Davis said at the time. “That ability to make decisions and know who you are.“Pfeiffer noted that all of the first ladies had been “struggling to be heard” while “dealing with living under a microscope.“She said, “And I do think they all find their voice, and use it, along with their public profile, to encourage other women to do the same.“Anderson, meanwhile, praised the all-female press corps that Roosevelt started during the Great Depression, where Roosevelt spoke to the American people daily, reminding them to remain positive.“And people listened to them, and trusted them and believed them,” Anderson said, adding: “At the time, there was something unprecedented about that.”

Michelle Pfeifferhas two Leo ladies she’s celebrating this weekend.

On Sunday, Aug. 11, theScarfaceactress, 66, posted a picture of herself and herThe First LadycostarsGillian AndersonandViola Davisin honor of their very close birthdays. “Happy birthday week to two of my favorite First Ladies,” Pfeiffer wrote in a post on herInstagram Stories.

Anderson’s 56th birthday was Friday, Aug. 9, while Davis turned 59 on Sunday, Aug 11.

The three actresses portrayed first ladiesMichelle Obama(Davis),Betty Ford(Pfeiffer) andEleanor Roosevelt(Anderson) for the 2012 historical drama series.The First Ladyfocused on the political and personal lives of the women who were married to the presidents of the United States, and how they experienced their time in the White House.

From left: Viola Davis, Gillian Anderson and Michelle Pfeiffer in 2022.Jon Kopaloff/Getty

Jon Kopaloff/Getty

After its 10-episode run, the Emmy-nominated series was not picked upfor a second season.

Pfeiffer, who will star in the upcomingYellowstoneprequel seriesThe Madison, was so eager to portray Ford — whodied in 2011at 93 — that she signed onto the show before even reading the script.

“I knew about — like most people — she’s very famous for the Betty Ford clinic, which has, again, saved hundreds of thousands of people’s lives,“Pfeiffer said during an April 2022 interviewwithToday.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“And, obviously,her issues with substance abuse,” she continued. “So that, in and of itself, was a really interesting story to tell. And I felt really important.”

Pfeiffer added: “When Susanne Bier — the director I was anxious to work with — called, all she said to me was, ‘I’m doing a project on the first ladies and I’d like you to play Betty Ford.’ And I said, ‘I’m in.’ "

From left: Michelle Pfeiffer, Viola Davis and Gillian Anderson in ‘The First Lady’.Ramona Rosales/SHOWTIME

The fascination and interest in the stars' respective first ladies was a mutual feeling across the board. When speaking withThe Wall Street Journalin April 2022, the actresses told the publication about the common thread they found between Roosevelt, Ford and Obama.

“For me, it’s agency,” Davis said at the time. “That ability to make decisions and know who you are.”

Pfeiffer noted that all of the first ladies had been “struggling to be heard” while “dealing with living under a microscope.”

She said, “And I do think they all find their voice, and use it, along with their public profile, to encourage other women to do the same.”

Anderson, meanwhile, praised the all-female press corps that Roosevelt started during the Great Depression, where Roosevelt spoke to the American people daily, reminding them to remain positive.

“And people listened to them, and trusted them and believed them,” Anderson said, adding: “At the time, there was something unprecedented about that.”

source: people.com