In 2012, Daniel Day-Lewis played former President Abraham Lincoln in the box-office hit Lincoln, directed by Steven Spielberg, and features an incredibly stacked cast. Sally Field, James Spader, Tommy Lee Jones, and more stood alongside Day-Lewis as they delivered a historical dramatization of Abraham Lincoln struggling to get the 13th Amendment passed. MSN states that Daniel Day-Lewis went deep into method acting to tap into the role of such an important historical figure such as Abraham Lincoln, sending text messages to Sally Field in character. Such time and care that Day-Lewis put into this role made it one of the best portrayals of Lincoln to date, as well as one of Spielberg’s best movies.
However, it’s a completely different challenge when an actor/actress is portraying a fictional president, one where audiences can’t base their acting on a real-life person. They have to make it their own, speaking a certain way with bass and deep tones to be seen as respected and understood. Many times, movies and television centering around Washington or some sort of important history will have a fictional president in order to run things, as well as run the United States. In the fictional universe, some presidents are beloved and some are hated, just like in real life, so it makes it that much more realistic. Some presidents are new to the role and some have been seated for more than four years, trusted to make the right decision when it’s life or death in a movie where it’s a race against time. There have been quite a few memorable fictional presidents, and here is a list of the best, ranked.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
5 Tom Kirkman - Designated Survivor (2016-2019)
The Mark Gordon Company
On the night of the State of the Union, Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland), who was originally just the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, suddenly becomes POTUS, as a targeted attack hits the building where the event was taking place. The previous President, along with everyone in line before Tom to take over, is killed in the explosion, leaving Tom to be immediately sworn in to take over presidential duties. A few of his closer level staff became his most trusted confidants. Aaron, who was once his Chief of Staff, is now his Vice President, and Emily; who quickly becomes his Special Advisor. Throughout the series, Kirkman struggles to find his footing with becoming the newly-elected President, as he’s trying to figure out what exactly happened on that fateful night.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
4 Selina Meyer - Veep (2012-2019)
Dundee Productions
Julia Louis-Dreyfus won six Emmys in total for her role as Selina Meyer in Veep. Throughout most of the series, Meyer is mostly shown as the Vice President after unsuccessfully winning the electoral race after she was the former United States Senator. Veep had a cult following when it premiered, and even still, the website, Selina Meyer for President, is still active, and you can buy her fictional book, “A Woman First: First Woman”. Throughout the show, Meyer fights for respect through her coworkers, and finally becomes President in the third season, but her struggles don’t stop there as the episodes continue.
3 Fitz - Scandal (2012-2018)
ABC Studios
Fitz, or Fitzgerald Thomas “Fitz” Grant III, is one of the messiest fictional presidents of all time. Originally married to Mellie Grant, who later takes Fitz’s place as the President, he has a long-lasting affair with Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington), his communication director. Throughout the seasons, Fitz faces a number of events that borderline on over-the-top, from his son dying on national television, to facing an assassination attempt after breaking up with Pope. At one point, Fitz goes so far as to start a war for Olivia Pope, when she gets kidnapped, fully prepared to lose it all, but of course, showrunner Shonda Rhimes managed to twist it just right in order for the war to be avoided.
2 James Marshall - Air Force One (1997)
Columbia Pictures
A veteran who fought in the Vietnam War as a pilot, President James Marshall was a beloved and popular president, who was known to the American people to never negotiate with terrorists. However, when he’s flying on Air Force One, the plane gets hijacked by a terrorist (Gary Oldman), and things take a drastic turn as the White House tries to intervene, but President Marshall reminds them that they don’t negotiate. Drastic measures take place, several Secret Service Agents get killed, and Marshall is left standing as the victor; a true patriot to the American people as he stands tall. He’s reunited with the Vice President (Glenn Close) and the rest of his family.
1 Josiah Bartlet - The West Wing (1999-2006)
John Wells Productions
Having served two terms, from 1999-2007, President Josiah Bartlet is one of the most respected fictional presidents in television history. He battles M.S. for a substantial part of his life, but kept it hidden, as to not catch flack from other political candidates, but the secret does come out in the middle of the first season. It proves to work out for him in the end though, with more citizens sympathizing with Bartlet, as he gets more votes and supporters. Similar to Fitz, Bartlet has a number of traumatic things happen to him, such as an assassination attempt, as well as his daughter being kidnapped, leading to Bartlet invoking the 25th amendment. Eventually, Bartlet is wheelchair bound and retires in New Hampshire, and three years later, a library is opened in honor of President Bartlet.
