Chrissy Metz on her breakout role on ‘This is Us’

Katie Couric
·Global Anchor

By Kaye Foley

Since it premiered last fall, NBC’s “This is Us” has been the hottest new family drama on television. The show has received praise for its thoughtful storytelling and superb acting, especially by one of its breakout stars, Chrissy Metz.

The show revolves around the Pearson family — primarily fraternal twins Kevin (Justin Hartley) and Kate (Metz), and their adopted brother Randall (Sterling K. Brown). The main story arc for Metz’s character is her struggle with weight loss and her budding relationship with Toby, a fellow member of Overeaters Anonymous. Metz sat down with Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric to talk about the reaction to the show, her path to success and feeling comfortable in her own skin.

Metz says she is thrilled and grateful for the response to “This is Us.” The show has already been picked up for two more seasons, and was nominated for a Golden Globe. Metz also received a Golden Globe nomination.

“It’s overwhelming sometimes,” Metz said. “I have to pinch myself.”

Before she booked “This is Us,” Metz only had 81 cents in the bank. While it’s been a long journey getting to this point in her life, Metz had the support of her family and friends.

“I just had this … intuition that it was going to be okay, and that there’s always a calm after the storm,” Metz said.

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“Kate, in particular, and the show is allowing people to realize that we are enough — but if we want to change, we can do that as well,” she said. Metz told Couric that she draws from her personal experience for Kate’s weight-loss journey in the show.

She added that she’s glad society seems to be broadening its perspective about beauty. “So much of the mainstream media has taught us what beauty is, but everyone is beautiful,” Metz said. “I’m excited because it’s just embracing who we are.”

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