I really enjoy seeing interviews with actress Chrissy Metz of This is Us. I like how down-to-earth she is, I like how she’s both a positive role model for larger women while talking about inclusivity for women of all sizes, and I like how open and honest she’s been about the struggles she’s faced in life, which included growing up poor and being destitute for part of her adult life too. Chrissy has admitted that she was so broke before she landed the role of Kate that she was living with friends and was about to move back home. She’s not only achieved financial success and security, Chrissy was also just nominated for an Emmy. She spoke to Hoda and Savannah on The Today Show about how she landed the part on This is Us and how her life has changed since. It turns out that it’s the small things which have made a difference for her, like being able to do laundry at home. She’s also just so grateful and happy that she’s part of something which is so meaningful to so many people. Here are excerpts from her Today Show interview and you can see more on the video below.

On being nominated for an Emmy
Literally I was going to quit acting and move back home and now my mom is going to be my Emmy date.

Savannah: “When did you realize [This is Us] is something special?”
We knew at the table read when everyone got together. We read the script so many times. It’s still so emotional, everbody there was so engaged. All the executives were still crying. We’re like ‘this is amazing.’ In the fourth of fifth episode we start to see people really get into it. Then I cry with strangers in bathrooms.

On what everyday people tell her about the show
It’s typically ‘thank you so much for enlightening me’ or ‘I’ve never had a relationship with my daughter who has a weight issue and I’ve never understood her and thank you for doing that for us in the relationship.’ Then I’m in tears. Anybody who feels ‘other’ relates to the characters. We’re all looking to get through this thing called life.

Savannah: “How has your life changed?”
I have my own washer and dryer. I do laundry pretty much twice a day [now]. It’s a little excessive.

Hoda: “How has your life changed otherwise?”
To be a part of something so spectacular… it’s like everything you could ever ask for. People are like ‘what did you buy?’

I’m like ‘I didn’t need anything. You don’t understand my life.’ So wonderful on so many levels. I can’t even explain it.

[From video on Today]

Honestly I have not seen This is Us yet, Corey is our resident fan and she raves about it, as do a bunch of my friends. I will watch it now and I have a feeling I’m not going to be able to stop. Chrissy has really won me over. You can just tell she’s a good person and I’m not saying that to blow smoke. People concern troll her all the time and the way she handles that shows that she has so much class and grace and that she knows what matters in life. She could just blast those people and that would be totally understandable, but that’s not the kind of person she is. She’s someone who is grateful for having a washer and dryer and she’ll tell you what that means to her.

Here’s the video and there are mild This is Us spoilers, mainly for already aired episodes. She promises fans closure for a major point plot which has been all over the internet and which I won’t mention.

Also here’s a link to part two of Chrissy’s interview. She talks about a close friend who lent her money and supported her. She also worked as a Hollywood Agent. As for how she learned about her Emmy nomination, she was watching Wimbledon at the time and her mom was with her.

Photos credit: WENN.com