“The First Lady” star Viola Davis knows that not everyone appreciates her portrayal of Michelle Obama.
It’s “incredibly hurtful when people say negative things about your work,” but it’s part of the job, she told BBC News.
“How do you move on from the hurt, from failure?” she said. “But you have to. Not everything is going to be an awards-worthy performance.”
There has been some criticism of Davis’ performance on social media, mainly for her exaggerated facial expressions.
Davis told the outlet, “Critics absolutely serve no purpose. And I’m not saying that to be nasty either.”
She said 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.”
Gillian Anderson and Michelle Pfeiffer also star in “The First Lady,” which explores the lives of two former first ladies.
