Michelle Pfeiffer will star in Showtime's new drama "First Ladies," playing Betty Ford, wife of President Gerald Ford. Ford served as the first lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977. She was also one of the more active presidential wives in history and politics, and was keen to comment on various current events. She also raised public awareness of addiction after her public struggles with alcoholism and drug overdoses. The series is directed by Susanna Bier ("Nothing to Do") and created by writer Aaron Cooley, who serves as executive producer with Oscar-winning filmmaker Cathy Shulman, Davis, Julius Tenon, Andrew Wang, Jeff Gaspin and Brad Kaplan. The first season of the series will focus on the personal and political lives of three first ladies, Michelle Obama, Betty Ford and Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, who played a revelatory role in the reshaping of American leadership. Viola Davis was previously announced to play former first lady Michelle Obama.