Julia Roberts And Sean Penn In A New TV Show About Watergate Scandal

Oscar winners Sean Penn and Julia Roberts star in a new biographical tv series called „Gaslit“. Julia plays the role of eccentric Martha Mitchell in the investigation of the Watergate scandal, which led to the resignation of US President Richard Nixon two years later.

Penn plays the role of Nixon's loyal Attorney General John Mitchell, while Julia Roberts plays his wife Martha Mitchell. Watergate participants are trying to prevent her from saying everything she knows.
Robbie Pickering, the creator of the series, says that his goal was for the viewers to see the human aspect of this scandal and to tell a story that is much more personal than usual male political dramas at that time.

“The goal in making this project has always been to bring a real humanity to this subject, which yields a far richer and more relatable story than the standard male-driven political dramas about the period,” Robbie Pickering said. He also said that he can't wait for viewers to experience the extraordinary performances in this remarkable ensemble, led by Julia Roberts.
The Watergate scandal began early in the morning of June 17, 1972, when several burglars were arrested in the office of the Democratic National Committee, located in the Watergate complex of buildings in Washington, D.C

Despite attempts of President Nixon's confidants to cover up who was arrested that evening, soon came the information that his Republican operatives were trying to put microphones to the opposition six months before the presidential election.
The consequences of this scandal were enormous. Some participants ended up in jail. Nixon resigned. Public trust in the entire political system has fallen. The famous movie „All the President's people“ was made about journalists who discovered the scandal. The suffix „gate“ become popular for use in various political and other scandals.

In addition to Roberts and Penn, the series also stars Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) as White House Chief Legal Adviser John Dean, Betty Gilpin (GLOW) as his wife Mo Dean, Shay Wigam (Kingdom of Vice) as Nixon's notorious operative J. Gordon Lidi, Darby Kemp (Innocent Lies) as the daughter of the Michels, and Aleksandar Filimonović (Montevideo, God bless you!) in the supporting role.