Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis stars as Michelle Obama in Showtime’s “The First Lady”, which premiered on April 17.
Critics have not been kind about the show, while social media users have taken issue with how the actress pursed her lips to play the former first lady of the USA.
Davis has admitted that the “cruel” criticism of her performance has been “incredibly hurtful”.
“How do you move on from the hurt, from failure?” she said to BBC News. “But you have to. Not everything is going to be an awards-worthy performance.”
Some on social media have criticised Davis for her performance, focusing on what they viewed as her exaggerated facial expressions.
Davis told BBC News that “Critics absolutely serve no purpose. And I’m not saying that to be nasty either.”
She said those critics feel like “you’re surrounded by people who lie to you and ‘I’m going to be the person that leans in and tells you the truth'” which allows them to be “cruel.”
“But ultimately I feel like it is my job as a leader to make bold choices,” Davis said. “Win or fail it is my duty to do that.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .“The First Lady” also stars Michelle Pfeiffer as Betty Ford and Gillian Anderson as Eleanor Roosevelt.