Viola Davis implied that she was hurt by the criticism she’s received for her portrayal of former first lady Michelle Obama for the Showtime limited series The First Lady.
Some viewers took issue with Davis’ attempt to embody Obama by mimicking her pursed lips and facial expressions.
The Academy Award winner said it is “incredibly hurtful when people say negative things about your work,” according to BBC News.
“How do you move on from the hurt, from failure?” the 56-year-old actor said. “But you have to. Not everything is going to be an awards-worthy performance.”
Davis also shot back at the critics, saying they serve “no purpose.”
“And I’m not saying that to be nasty either,” she said, CNN reports.
She added that critics assume “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.'”
“But ultimately I feel like it is my job as a leader to make bold choices,” the Fences actor said. “Win or fail it is my duty to do that.”
As Blavity previously reported, Davis said she was nervous about what Obama would think of her portrayal in the show. While preparing for the role, she said she watched Obama’s documentary Becoming multiple times.
In the Showtime series, Michelle Pfeiffer plays former first lady Betty Ford, and Gillian Anderson portrays Eleanor Roosevelt.
