February 7, 2017 10:05 AM ByPaulette CohnParade@paulette49 More byPaulette

This is Us is the most buzzed-about show of the 2016-2017 TV season, and as a result, Chrissy Metzis one of the breakout stars of the year, earning a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.

Metz, who plays Justin Hartleys twin sister Kate Pearson, was down to 81 cents in the bank when she landed the role, and she says, the reaction to the show has been a life-changing experience for her and in more ways than just having a steady paycheck.

Its very strange. I cant go anywhere without somebody stopping me, which is so cool that I get to connect to people that I never mightve ever spoken to, or they have an impetus to speak to me. Its created a career that I wasnt sure if Id ever really have. I was moving back home to Florida.

Kate, who began the series as her actor brother Kevins (Hartley) assistant, has moved way beyond that. She has tried a few new jobs, but more importantly, she found love and is now an engaged woman, so her storylines are not just about her pursuit to lose weight.

In fact, the former American Horror Story: Freak Show star recently clarified that her This Is Us contract does not say she has to lose weight. Rather, there simply have been conversations that the trajectory of Kates story is that shes going to lose weight.

At the NBC Television Critics Association press tour, she told reporters, We dont have any specifics, theres nothing mandated. Theres nothing set in stone. We havent really talked about weight, or a number, or any of that even for a second. [It is something that all actors do]. They get to go on a journey at some point to lose weight, gain weight, change hair, whatever.

In this interview, Metz also talks about parallels between Kates story and her real-life, how she almost quit acting before landing the role on This Is Us, how she is staying frugal despite the Season 2 and 3 pickups for the series, and more.

So much of Kates story deals with weight issues. Is it weird to be saying lines about what its like to struggle with body-image issues?

Yeah, I think that every actor, specifically for acting, and every human being, we use what we know. People write what they know, and if I wasnt overweight, I wouldnt be able to portray this character in such an authentic way, like feeling the uncomfortability when you sit down in the airplane, or any of those things. That really lends itself to an authenticity that is really hard to portray unless youve experienced that.

Did you share any of Kates journey? Did you go to meetings and all of that?

Sure, Ive been to meetings before, and even with that MomFit class I was like, Im into this. There was something so cathartic about pounding something and really releasing that anger, I have never done anything like that before. Im interested in drumming, but I had never done something like that, and I was like, Oh, everybody should try this.

You obviously seem like someone whos really happy and secure in yourself.

Yeah. I think that my whole journey had been getting to the place where I can accept myself for who I am, to be the woman that Im meant to be, but you have to get there first.

How did that happen?

Spiritual work. I did a lot of meditation, I just realized that it is really about why were here and that [our bodies] are vessels and they get to change. You wouldnt be talking to me and I wouldnt be on the show if I wasnt an overweight woman, but while this is really difficult for me to navigate, part of the reason why Im here is to teach, to educate, to just relate, so I think I just came to that place where I was like, Oh, you cant take yourself so seriously. Come on, theres a bigger picture and its not just about ego and pride.

How much does it impact you when you see the footage of little Kate in incidents like the mean note at the swimming pool?

Its heart-wrenching. I remember being a kid and always feeling a little different than all my friends. I remember the incident where I did decide to put a t-shirt on to go swimming. We were hitting puberty, and it was like, Oh, boys are actually looking at us now. Its heartbreaking because you know that we all want the same things. I dont know why we decide to hurt each other in the process.

You almost quit acting?

Oh, yeah, after American Horror Story there was a year where I had maybe two auditions, and I was like, Maybe this was a fluke and this isnt really going to happen for me. Theres so many layers and levels within Kate, as within me my life had some parallels to the show that its all very overwhelming and wonderful.

When you thought about quitting acting what were you thinking about doing?

I taught preschool previously, so I was like, Oh, I can teach little kids to act, and I can go back home. But my mom was like, You could either be miserable in L.A. or miserable in Florida, but in L.A., you could be pursuing your dreams. I was like, Okay, Ill stick around but I dont know whats going to happen, and six months later this role comes along.

Is there something youre lusting after now that you have a steady paycheck, especially with the series being picked up for two more seasons?

I dont know. For me, material things are likemy grandma always said, You cant take that to heaven, theyre just material things, but I do need to buy myself a laptop.

Was your childhood dream to be an actress?

No, it was to do stand-up comedy, to be a comedian, to just entertain people. To make people laugh instead of cry.

What is it like being on a show that makes people cry since you wanted to make people laugh?

Okay, the irony, right, but comedy stems from tragedy, so its also really closer than most people would think. We do get to play with the comedy, and I do get to joke and all that, so I feel like its such a beautiful balance of both, but, eventually, I want to do some sketch comedy or some kooky really broad stuff. Well see.

What has been some of the fan reaction to this role?

Oh geez. Women have cried. Women have told me that they feel confident enough to walk out of their home, and people have given me health advice, thats always interesting. Im like, I dont need your gastric bypass doctors number, but thanks. Women of all races, all ages, all sizes, everything. Women who are fit, who have never had a weight issue, and its so beautiful that art, something that I wanted to do for so long [produces these results]. This is the reason why we decide to do it but it doesnt always coincide, so its so beautiful.

This is Us airs Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

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This Is Us Star Chrissy Metz on Kate's Weight Issues, Meditation ... - Parade