In 2012, Daniel Day-Lewis played former President Abraham Lincoln in the blockbuster Lincoln, directed by Steven Spielberg, and has 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 as Abraham Lincoln, who sent text messages to Sally Field in character. The time and care that Day-Lewis put into this role made it one of the best portraits of Lincoln to date, as well as one of Spielberg’s best films.
However, it’s a very different challenge when an actor/actress portrays a fictional president, one where the audience can’t base their acting on a real person. They have to make it their own, speak a certain way with bass and deep tones to be seen as respected and understood. Often, movies and television centered around Washington or some sort of important history will have a fictional president to run the business, as will the United States. In the fictional universe, some presidents are loved and some are hated, just like in real life, so it makes it much more realistic. Some presidents are new to the role and some have been sitting for more than four years, confident that they are making the right decision when it comes to life or death in a movie where it is a race against time. There have been quite a few memorable fictional presidents, and here’s a list of the best, ranked.
5 Tom Kirkman – Designated Survivor (2016-2019)
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 when a targeted attack hits the building where the event took place. The previous president, along with everyone in line before Tom takes over, is killed in the explosion, immediately swearing Tom to take over presidential duties. A few of his closer staff became his most trusted confidants. Aaron, who was once his chief of staff, is now his vice president, and Emily; who soon becomes his special advisor. Throughout the series, Kirkman struggles to find his footing to become the newly elected president, while trying to figure out exactly what happened on that fateful night.
4 Selina Meyer – Veep (2012-2019)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus won a total of six Emmys for her role as Selina Meyer in Veep. For most of the series, Meyer is usually shown as the Vice President after unsuccessfully winning the election race after being the former United States Senator. Veep had cult following when it premiered, and still does, 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 peers and eventually becomes president in the third season, but her struggle doesn’t stop there as the episodes continue.
3 Fitz – Scandal (2012-2018)
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 president, he has a long-standing affair with Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington), his communications director. Throughout the seasons, Fitz faces a number of events bordering on over-the-top, from his son dying on national television, to 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 is kidnapped, fully prepared to lose everything, but showrunner Shonda Rhimes, of course, managed to run it just right to avoid the war.
2 James Marshall – Air Force One (1997)
President James Marshall, a veteran who served as a pilot in the Vietnam War, was a beloved and popular president, known by the American people for never negotiating with terrorists. However, when he flies Air Force One, the plane is hijacked by a terrorist (Gary Oldman), and things take a drastic turn when the White House tries to intervene, but President Marshall reminds them not to negotiate. Drastic action takes place, several Secret Service agents are killed and Marshall stands victorious. a true patriot to the American people when he stands upright. He is reunited with the Vice President (Glenn Close) and the rest of his family.
1 Josiah Bartlet – The West Wing (1999-2006)
After serving two terms, from 1999 to 2007, President Josiah Bartlet is one of the most respected fictional presidents in television history. He’s been battling MS for a significant part of his life, but kept it hidden so as not to get nonsense from other political candidates, but the secret comes out midway through the first season. It ends up working for him, with more citizens sympathizing with Bartlet as he gains more votes and supporters. Like Fitz, Bartlet has done some traumatic things to him, such as an assassination attempt, as well as kidnapping his daughter, which leads Bartlet to invoke the 25th Amendment. Finally, Bartlet is wheelchair-bound and retires to New Hampshire, and three years later a library is opened in President Bartlet’s honor.