Kamala Harris has now officially secured the Democratic Party’s nomination for president. It’s time to take a look at how fiction has surpassed reality with some of the most memorable American presidents in film and television.
The vice president Kamala Harris and his running mate, the governor Tim Walzwere the stars in Chicago after the Democratic National Convention held until Thursday, August 22.
This is a historic event, since Kamala Harris has been officially assured Democratic Party candidacy for presidentbecoming the first woman of color to win a major party nomination.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus assured ‘The Times‘ that she will support Harris, adding that she plans to be involved in Harris’ campaign to defeat Donald Trump.
The award-winning actress is famous for several of her roles on the big and small screen, including ‘Veep,’ the fantastical HBO political comedy created by Scottish satirist Armando Iannucci.
The series, based on the fictional vice president Selina Meyer who ends up becoming president, earned Louis-Dreyfus six Emmy Awards. It ended in 2019, but viewers of the comedy have skyrocketed since Harris’ departure was announced.
Louis-Dreyfus said female candidates are always more scrutinized than their male counterparts. Although there has not yet been no female president in the United Statesfiction has long surpassed reality.
The oldest example dates back 100 years, to the 1924 silent science fiction comedy ‘The Last Man on Earth’, which shows a woman as president of the United Statesa necessity rather than a choice, as the film depicts how all adult men die from the disease ‘masculitis’.
Since then, there have been numerous films and television shows that have featured a woman as president of the United States: Ernestine Barrier in the 1953 science fiction film ‘Project Moon Base’; Polly Bergen en ‘Kisses for my President’ (1964); Patty Duke in the 1985 comedy ‘Hail to the Chief’…
Others are Teresa Barnwell interpreting the Hillary Clinton as president in an episode of the science fiction series ‘Sliders’ (1995); Natalie Portman at the end of Tim Burton’s sci-fi comedy ‘Mars Attacks!’; Glenn Close as acting president in ‘Air Force One’ (1997); and Christina Applegate as head of state in the comedy ‘Mafia’ (1998).
Of course, there is still a disproportionate number of men compared to women (predominantly white) who have occupied the fictitious oval office, especially on television in recent years. Maybe reality will finally catch up this year?
It’s time to take a look at how fiction has surpassed reality featuring some of the most memorable American presidents in film and television from 2000 onwards.
President Mackenzie Allen (played by Geena Davis) in ‘Commander in Chief’ (2006)
Mackenzie Allen, played by Geena Davis, was a former congresswoman and political independent who was elected vice president in the candidacy of Republican Teddy Bridges, and who soon dies of a brain aneurysm.
Davis took home the Golden Globe for best actress for her role as the first female president. Throughout the series, several powerful men try to take her down. She stands her ground and is one of the best presidents on screen.
President Caroline Reynolds (played by Patricia Wettig) in ‘Prison Break’ (2006)
Caroline Reynolds is a pretty evil president. Played by Patricia Wettig, she is vice president of the United States and frames one of our heroes, Lincolnof the (false) death of his brother.
She remains vice president until the president is assassinated. And, you guessed it, poison ‘POTUS’ to get to the top job. Although she is not a good image of women presidents, she cannot be accused of lack of ambition.
ADVERTISINGPresident Allison Taylor (played by Cherry Jones) in ’24’ (2008)
Fox has had its fair share of female presidents, but in ’24: Redemption’, President Allison Taylor is elected. She continued in the position in seasons seven and eight. Actress Cherry Jones told ‘Vulture’ that the president, who does not give in to terrorist demands despite the murder of her son, It wasn’t based on Hillary Clinton.but it was “a combination of Eleanor Roosevelt, Golda Meier y John Wayne“.
President of the United States (played by Stephanie Paul) in ‘Iron Sky’ (2012)
In this Finnish science fiction comedy, Nazis return to Earth in 2018having hidden on the Moon since its defeat in 1945. Yes, that’s the argument. It’s a ridiculous movie – and one of the most expensive Finnish films ever made – with a great premise but mediocre execution.
Even so, the nameless president of Earth is a woman and New Zealand actress Stephanie Paul plays her as a parody of Sarah Palin. It is not an essential film, but it is a fun comedy that tries to be a satire.
President Constance Payton (played by Alfre Woodard) in “State of Affairs” (2014)
The ‘NBC’ series ‘State of Affairs’ only lasted one season and followed CIA analyst Charleston (Katherine Heigl), who presents the daily briefing to President Constance Payton. the first African American woman president of the United States.
ADVERTISINGWoodard brought a lot of gravitas to the role, telling the Huffington Post: “With Constance Payton, I had the big challenge of figuring out how we were going to have an African-American president after the first african american president“.
President Selina Meyer (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) in ‘Veep’ (2014)
Selina Meyer’s presidency didn’t begin until the fourth season of ‘Veep,’ after the president resigned to take care of his wife. His chaotic mandate in White House She did not last long, as she is replaced by Andrea Savage’s Laura Montez during the season five finale.
However, Meyer returns to being ‘POTUS’ in the final season. Meyer is not a role model, as she is more obsessed with her legacy in the history books than doing anything good. However, Julia Louis-Dreyfus She is fantastic in the role, making Meyer perhaps not the best president, but certainly the funniest.
President Olivia Marsdin (played by Lynda Carter) in ‘Supergirl’ (2015)
The original ‘Wonder Woman’ as ‘POTUS’… Indeed, Lynda Carter was a symbol of female empowerment as the DC character in the 70s, and does the same as tactical president Olivia Marsdin. However, she (‘spoilers’) is revealed to be an alien and she has to resign.
ADVERTISINGPresident Elizabeth Lanford (played by Sela Ward) in ‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ (2016)
‘Independence Day: Resurgence’, the sequel to ‘Independence Day‘ from 1996, features Sela Ward as Elizabeth Lanford, a ‘POTUS’ who lost her entire family in the first alien attack.
Fate forces her to lead the country during a second invasion and, unfortunately, (‘spoiler’) His character does not reach the end. Not the best ending for what appeared to be a decent president with very little screen time.
President Charlie Roan (played by Elizabeth Mitchell) in ‘The Purge: Election Year’ (2016)
In the dystopian horror thriller ‘The Purge: Election Year’ (2016) Elizabeth Mitchell plays a purge survivor who is elected president on the platform of ending the annual slaughter fest.
She is presented as a noble and headstrong woman, and in 2021’s ‘The Infinite Purge’ we discover that she was successful, as Charlie Roan was president for two terms and He managed to cancel the purge during his eight years in power. More like her, please. Less like the declining quality of the Purge movies. Thank you.
ADVERTISINGLa presidenta Claire Underwood (interpretada por Robin Wright) en ‘House of Cards’ (2017).
At the end of the fifth season of the drama NetflixFrank (Kevin Spacey) and Claire Underwood are running for the White House together, and Claire is sworn in as president after Frank resigns amid a cloud of scandals.
The plot was introduced when the series had to be rewritten, taking into account that Spacey left the series, also involved in a scandal. Even so, Claire is a powerful and confident woman, and no matter the machinations, she is a good President.
President Elizabeth Keane (played by Elizabeth Marvel) in ‘Homeland’ (2017)
Elizabeth Keane, Senator New Yorkis elected president in the season six finale of Homeland. She is forced to resign the following season, and necessarily so, as she distrusts the CIA after surviving an assassination attempt.
“Right now, in what’s going on in our world, it’s a huge honor to play a president,” Marvel told ‘The Wrap’ in 2018. “I also really appreciated that they didn’t just paint her as this noble, virtuous heroine. She was a survivor. She was a very complicated individual they created.”
ADVERTISINGPresident Mellie Grant (played by Bellamy Young) in ‘Scandal’ (2017).
At the end of the sixth season of the ‘ABC’ drama, Bellamy Young’s Mellie Grant loses the presidential electiononly for his opponent to be assassinated before being sworn into office. After much plotting, Grant is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. USA.
Presented as a fighter and an advocate for women, she appoints Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) as chief of staff and it is suggested that Pope will take her place after her term.
President Charlotte Field (played by Charlize Theron) in ‘Long Shot’ (2019)
In this surprisingly decent 2019 odd-couple romantic comedy, Seth Rogen plays a journalist who reunites with his former childhood nanny, who now serves as Secretary of State.
She is everything he is not (successful), but she still decides to hire him as a speechwriter after reading some of his columns. Everything works out for Field, as sheA is elected president and they both get married.
ADVERTISINGPresident Ellen Waverly Wilson (played by Jodi Balfour) in ‘For All Mankind’ (2019)
Apple TV+ sci-fi drama sees an astronaut (Balfour) become administrator of the NASAsenator and, later, president. As a lifelong member of the ‘second sex’, standing, sitting and acting in the Oval Office is like evoke a more beautiful and true worldone that I’m confident many of us are longing for,” Balfour told The Hollywood Reporter.
President Janie Orlean (played by Meryl Streep) in ‘Don’t Look Up’ (2021)
In Netflix’s clumsy but funny apocalyptic political satire ‘Don’t Look Up,’ none other than Meryl Streep plays President Janie Orleanwho does not want to believe that there is a comet heading towards Earth.
Apparently based both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trumpthe character is far from noble, since he prefers to commercially exploit the comet and earn millions in the face of the global catastrophe rather than pay attention to scientific facts.
Moral of the story at the end of ‘Don’t Look Up’: Facts matter, and sometimes presidents (men or women) should do well to remember that.
ADVERTISINGThere you have it.
Although women presidents do not always have the best team of screenwriters and there is still a way to go, life may imitate art and The United States will soon have its first female president of the United States.
