Vanessa Williams stars because the First Woman in Broadway's "POTUS."
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She went from being topped Miss America — to being elected First Woman.
Vanessa Williams stars because the First Woman in Broadway’s “POTUS” —a task she’s been gathering materials for her whole life.
“I’ve met 5 first women in my lifetime, which has been fairly extraordinary, so I’ve acquired some nice historical past to tug from,” the 59-year-old advised The Submit through Zoom on Friday. “As a result of they’re all wonderful, swish, good, passionate, devoted ladies.”
Her first encounter with the president’s different half got here after getting topped Miss America in 1983 —when she attended the state dinner on the White Home and met President Ronald Reagan and his spouse, Nancy.
Within the play, which has been nominated for three Tony Awards, audiences by no means see the president, however be taught a salacious reality about him —that he acquired a younger lady, performed by Julianne Hough, pregnant.
The actress and “Save the Finest for Final” singer —who invited her Chappaqua neighbor Hillary Clinton to see the present —shrugged off any trace of irony.
“However you recognize what … there’s been a number of scandals, John F. Kennedy, I imply, there’s been scandal throughout the board,” she mentioned.
Some of the current scandals to rock the Nice White Manner is the leak of a cellular phone video and pictures of a nude Jessie Williams in “Take Me Out.” The mother of 4 and first-time grandmother says that’s par for the course and “a part of the chance of doing a present the place you’re full frontal and full rear.”
The previous pageant queen understands the dangers firsthand, having had bare pictures of herself emerge after successful Miss America, which led her to in the end resign.
In truth, she first acquired the information that her “Penthouse” pictures went public with out her permission from a New York Submit reporter throughout an interview in 1984 —which was additionally a few lady within the White Home.
“Geraldine Ferraro was working because the ticket for feminine vice chairman … It was July thirteenth, Friday the thirteenth, after I had the interview … On the very finish, he mentioned, ‘Oh, by the way in which, we heard from a dependable supply. And I used to be like, ‘I do not know what you’re speaking about.’”
Williams —who received Miss America whereas she was nonetheless a scholar at Syracuse College —mentioned she didn’t expertise the identical pressures as different magnificence opponents had.
This was as a result of the Bronx native, who grew up in Millwood, was awarded the title after collaborating in solely a handful of contests, together with Miss New York, a title she was awarded only a few months previous to Miss America.
She met Miss Universe winner Chelsie Kryst, who dedicated suicide in January by leaping off her Midtown constructing, when the Further correspondent interviewed her nearly in 2020.
“I did one interview together with her throughout the pandemic,” she mentioned. “However I had no concept. She didn't seem like she had any psychological points that she was coping with in any respect. So I do not know what was happening in her life, however to take your life in that method, it’s a really sturdy declaration of desirous to be seen and heard.”
For her character, Margaret, who Williams calls a “badass,” the actress does her personal make-up. And as for equipment, she took inspiration from real-life White Home ladies.
“The triple strand of pearls is certainly very Barbara Bush,” she mentioned. “The headscarf that I put on in Act II, Hillary went by way of her headband part. The jumpsuit, I feel Michelle Obama might be the one First Woman that’s ever finished a jumpsuit.”
And talking about signature equipment, Williams nonetheless has her Miss America crown in a field at residence. “I resigned, nobody got here to my home to dethrone me,” she mentioned, laughing.
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