NBC series State Of Affairs left the image of a white male president behind and chose to Alfre Woodard to play the African-American, woman President of the United States.

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In a video that the Today Show posted on Sunday, Alfre Woodard talks about what it's like to play the woman of a minority who is also the President of the United States.

"I think the gorilla in the room is we all know that the world will not spin off its axis if there's an African-American as president. So the gorilla in the room is that I'm a woman. And, hopefully, everybody will get accustomed to saying 'Madam President' in their homes, and so we won't freak out when there is a Madam President."

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When producers of the new Katherine Heigl political series were putting the show together, the easy route would have been to make the president a white male, but they decided to be bold. They chose an African-American woman, and they chose Alfre Woodard to play the part.

"I am sure this will make women of every persuasion, of every political bench, and especially little girls, and make them say, 'Oh, look at that. Of course I can do that. I am going to be a CIA Analayst. Why not?'" she said in the interview.

The State reported that the executive producer of the show, Joe Carnahan, joked that Woodard makes everyone call her "Madam President" now.

Thew new NBC series State of Affairs on Mondays at 10pm ET.

Tags: State of Affairs nbc television Alfre Woodard