Presidential Portrayals in Film

Real world people, either dead or alive, are played by actors in the film industry all the time. Regardless of whether the person being portrayed is known for being generally good or bad, an actor’s portrayal can change one’s opinion about the person. One specific roll has made some films more lifelike than others, and that roll is the President of the United States. The president is a well-known figure of authority around the world, and many real presidents have been portrayed by many actors over the years. Only a few of these portrayals have been realistic enough to become iconic. Discussed below are three of the most memorable presidential portrayals and why they have become so iconic.

1. Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln (2012)

In this Academy Award-winning film, Daniel Day-Lewis plays America’s 16th president, and the plot surrounds Lincoln’s political fight with the Confederacy and with congress to abolish slavery in the United States. Physically, Day-Lewis fits the part as he is tall and thin with a stoop to his posture like Lincoln. Lincoln was also weary during his last few years in office before his death, and was portrayed as such in this movie without a gaudy old man type of persona. Though we have no recordings of Abraham Lincoln’s actual voice, there are accounts of it being higher and almost “whiny,” which Day-Lewis executed with a genuine presidential disposition.

Day-Lewis (left) and Lincoln (right)

2. Anthony Hopkins as Richard Nixon in Nixon (1995)

Richard Nixon is most known for his infamous Watergate Scandal, and this movie not only depicts the events surrounding the scandal but also dives deep into why Nixon is such a complex person by jumping to key points throughout his life. Legendary actor Anthony Hopkins takes on the roll of Nixon, and he really brings out the troubled side of the 37th president, but there are a few things that make us see Hopkins rather than Nixon. Nixon’s deep and grumbly western American accent is iconic, and Hopkins got the deep and grumbly side of it down, but his own European dialect is extremely distinct throughout the movie. Though Hopkins also has the physical build of Nixon, his facial structure is far from similar to the president’s. Hopkins’ face comes to a sharp point on the chin whereas Nixon’s cheeks were very rounded and had more of a flat chin.

Hopkins (left) and Nixon (right)

3. Josh Brolin as George W. Bush in W. (2008)

As one of the most recent presidents, George W. Bush’s rise to leadership is depicted by Josh Brolin in this late 2000’s film. Bush Jr. is known for many things as a president, but one major aspect is his southern country origins. From an impersonation perspective, Josh Brolin does an excellent job capturing the essence of the 43rd president by way of facial posture and accent. Bush has a naturally squinting face with pursed lips, as if he is always comprehending something, and this is bluntly carried out by Brolin as seen in the photo below. Brolin also gives a realistic impression of Bush’s southern accent, though Brolin’s voice is naturally deeper than Bush’s.

Brolin (left) and Bush (right)