Michelle Pfeiffer was 'pleasantly surprised' to work with Dakota Fanning after a 20-year break

She stars opposite Dakota Fanning in the upcoming Showtime historical drama series The First Lady. Reunited: Michelle Pfeiffer, 63, told ET on Thursday that she was 'pleasantly surprised' to reunite with Dakota Fanning, 28, on the set of The First Lady after they worked together on 2001's I Am Sam; seen Thursday in LA Michelle appeared in that film as a hotshot lawyer, but she and Dakota are now playing the mother and daughter duo of Betty and Susan Ford in the political drama series. Like family: Michelle and Dakota are now playing the mother and daughter duo of Betty and Susan Ford in the Showtime political drama series; seen Thursday in LA First collaboration: When Dakota was only seven, she appeared in I Am Sam — her first film — as the daughter of the intellectually disabled titled character. Michelle also stars with Viola Davis as Michelle Obama in the Showtime series, which offers a 'revelatory reframing of American leadership, told through the lens of the women at the heart of the White House' The Hairspray actress added that she 'loved' getting to work with Aaron Eckhart — who stars as her husband and the 38th President of the United States Gerald Ford — because she has been a fan of his for many years. Big fan: The Hairspray actress added that she 'loved' getting to work with Aaron Eckhart — who stars as her husband and the 38th President of the United States Gerald Ford — because she had admired his work for years; still from The First Lady 'I loved working with Aaron.