Chrissy Metz: “There is something that happens when you are grateful, you continue to keep receiving blessings.”
This Is Us is a television series unlike any other. The show is uniting friends and family all across the world as they watch a couple, who are insanely in love, navigate marriage, becoming parents, the loss of a child, and ‘the big three’ in a way they never imagined. Chrissy Metz, star of This Is Us, recently sat down with Glamour Magazine to discuss the road that got her to where she is today and how she stays humble and constantly grateful.
Chrissy grew up, and while she didn’t say the word herself, her family knew what it meant to struggle all too well. She also said that in her family food was equal to love. Her grandma would bring a sandwich every time she picked Chrissy up from school, she said she loved that attention. Chrissy’s mom would go without meals sometimes so that her children were fed. She would play it off as if she weren’t hungry, but Chrissy knew, and it’s something she’s never forgotten.
Once her mom remarried, they were a bit better off financially, but she never speaks of their lack of money as a burden, she speaks of the love she had within her family and the support – two things which are far more important than currency. She also speaks of the drive she had to make sure she followed her dreams, no matter what.
After high school, I really wanted to act, but I didn’t even know how to begin. I didn’t know anybody with connections, I didn’t come from money, I didn’t go to Juilliard. But I never was afraid of the odds, even though they were seriously stacked against me.
At first, landing gigs was hard, but she didn’t let it keep her down. She actually ended up working harder and landing a role she wanted on American Horror Story. She thought the gig would propel her career but it didn’t, she then considered packing up and going home. However, her mom gave her advice that pushed her to stay and her friends in LA helped as they could as well.
“You can either be miserable here and not pursue your dreams, or you can be miserable in L.A. and at least pursue what you want.”
Another thing Chrissy never forgot, was how much money she had in her own bank account when she landed her spot on This Is Us.
I moved in with a roommate who told me, “Stay with me until you can afford rent. Don’t give up.” People who supported me were like, “If you don’t have money for food, I’ll cook you dinner. You don’t have money for acting class? Let’s get together and read lines.” I am so grateful that I had such an amazing support system, but when I booked This Is Us, I had 81 cents in my bank account. I could cry right now just thinking about it.
Chrissy is an icon for young and adult women all across the world. One, for her incredible attitude and her confidence – she knows who she is and she embraces it. She’s also an icon for her kindness and her humble nature. She lives comfortably now, but she doesn’t want to forget what it felt like when she didn’t, she also tries to help other people who may be going through what she did as well.
When you’ve been down on your luck, you can really see that [need] in other people. Now that I’m living more comfortably, how do I share with others? That’s what I’m trying to figure out.
This Is Us is one of our favorite shows, and while we’ve been a fan of Chrissy from the beginning, this interview made us an even bigger one. She’s got the right idea when it comes to living well. Every day we’re here and every opportunity we have to live our dream – that’s a blessing.
‘…but I knew him’
