(Photo by Christina Sturdivant)
Breaking the rules is routine for Francis Underwood, the lead character of Netflix’s House of Cards. Today, he did it again, unveiling a presidential painting at the National Portrait Gallery—a tradition that usually takes place once a U.S. president leaves office.
“Since Francis Underwood doesn’t believe in term limits, I don’t see a reason why it shouldn’t be unveiled now,” says the series’ star Kevin Spacey of his character, during a press conference.
The portrait is a collaboration between British artist Jonathan Yeo and the museum, which houses the only complete collection of presidential portraits outside of the White House. Yeo’s previous sitters range from political figures such as British Prime Minister David Cameron and Prince Philip to actors including Dennis Hopper and Nicole Kidman.
He’s also painted Spacey before, depicting the actor as Shakespeare’s Richard III, which was displayed at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Now three years later, he says he knows the leading man a bit better, which helped the process of creating a “slightly larger than life” portrait.
“It is a great honor to see one of our most renowned series’ characters immortalized in the National Portrait Gallery, alongside such esteemed presidential portraits,” said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer at Netflix in a release. “We have watched as the character Frank Underwood has taken hold in popular culture and this wonderful portrait by Jonathan Yeo is a fine testament to the impact of the character that Kevin Spacey has created.”
Artist Jonathan Yeo and actor Kevin Spacey pose in front of President Frank Underwood portrait. Photo by Christina Sturdivant
Audiences first binge watched their way through the series in 2013, when Underwood was introduced as a power-hungry democrat from South Carolina’s 5th congressional district. Since then, he’s plowed his way to the oval office as a machiavellian politician.
The series’ third season ended with President Underwood in a fractured marriage and equally floundering presidential bid. In season four, we find him trying to put the pieces back together amidst “tensions, conflict, deception, and plenty of surprises,” according to Netflix.
The streaming giant also revealed that several esteemed actors will join the cast of deviants. Emmy and Tony-winning actress Cicely Tyson will play the influential Texas congresswoman Doris Jones. “When that character came along, we thought if we could be so fortunate to work with (Tyson), that’s where we would like to start,” casting director Laray Mayfield said in a release. “And we were very lucky that’s where we stopped, because she said yes.”
Acclaimed performer Neve Campbell will also join the mix as Leann Harvey, a confident and driven political strategist who works closely with the Underwoods. “Sometimes, what we try to do is find actors and actresses that may not always be though of for these types of roles,” Mayfield said. “That’s exactly what happened with Neve. And when Neve came in to read for the role, it was one of those things when everybody was like, ‘Yep. That’s her.’”
With his own fictional campaign to run, Spacey told reporters that he didn’t have time to comment on the 2016 race to succeed President Barack Obama, only saying that it’s “getting less amusing.”
Season four of House of Cards hits Netflix on March 4 at 12:01 a.m.
Meanwhile, the series’ actors will walk a red carpet at 8 p.m. this evening for the show’s official premiere at the National Portrait Gallery. And Spacey has put up a timely first Instagram post, with him outside of the White House, that reads: “I’m a man of the people. Even I like to take a selfie outside my house from time to time.”
