The hit show’s breakout star opens up about finding success by embracing her body—and why she still plans to lose weight
Chrissy Metz’s first foray onto a red carpet wasn’t exactly an auspicious one. “I basically felt like I was sneaking on,” she jokes. She’d just scored the role that would kick-start her career, as the “fat lady” in the circus on 2014’s American Horror Story: Freak Show.But for the show’s premiere, she attended in a dress that came off the rack from Nordstrom, and “I brought a friend to be my date,” she says with a sigh. Two years later, as the breakout star of NBC’s smash drama This Is Us, Metz has a Golden Globe nomination under her belt and has become a red carpet regular with designers like Christian Siriano engaged to dress her. “It still hasn’t really sunk in,” she confesses, sipping from a cup of hot water with ginger. “I always watched awards shows at home. It’s crazy—flash forward, and John Travolta’s a foot in front of me. I’m elated to be here.”
With a hit show and a hot new boyfriend (she’s been seeing This Is Us cameraman Josh Stancil, 40, for four months and says, “He’s very mature. We’re in a very healthy relationship”), the 36-year-old actress has every reason to feel pretty content. But as she embraces becoming a role model for body positivity, Metz admits she still has conflicting feelings about her size. “Sometimes I feel like I’m two people: I’m proud of who I am as a person, but I do want to be at a healthy weight,” she says. “Just not for anybody but myself.”
This story is from the February 20,2017 edition of People.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 20,2017 edition of People.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Justin & Hailey Bieber's Surprise Pregnancy Reveal
Justin and Hailey Bieber have new reason to sing \"Baby, baby, baby, oh!\" The Grammy winner, 30, and the model, 27, are expecting their first child together-and a source says they couldn't be more ecstatic to expand their family. \"When they found out that Hailey was pregnant, it was just the best day for them,\" says the source. \"They have both been very emotional about it. They feel so blessed.\"
Bowen Yang
THE SNL STAR, 33, LENDS HIS VOICE TO THE NEW ANIMATED THE GARFIELD MOVIE
'My Only Choice Is Changing the Internet'
AT 24, BREEZE LIU DISCOVERED A MAN USED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO MAKE FAKE PORN OF HER AND THEN THE VIDEO SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE. NOW SHE'S ON A MISSION TO END THE TERRIFYING TREND
Our Bridgerton Dream Wedding
SUPERFANS TIFFANY RAE AND SHANTI HINTON SAY 'I DO' IN A REGENCY-THEMED 'FAIRY TALE' CEREMONY: 'IT WAS PERFECT'
JOHN OATES' LIFE AFTER HALL & OATES RECLAIMING MY VOICE
THE MUSICIAN MAKES HIS SOLO DREAMS COME TRUE AFTER A CONTENTIOUS END TO HIS CHART-TOPPING PARTNERSHIP
'I HAD TO CHARM HIM OR DIE'
BARBARA MABEE ABEL CAME HOME FROM WORK TO DISCOVER THAT A CRIMINAL WHO'D ESCAPED FROM JAIL HAD ASSAULTED HER SISTER AND WAS THREATENING TO ABDUCT HER SON. HER COURAGE AND QUICK THINKING SAVED AT LEAST THREE LIVES
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy 'As Brave As She Was Beautiful'
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AFTER HER TRAGIC DEATH, A NEW BIOGRAPHY REVEALS THE PRIVATE SIDE OF THE ENIGMATIC WOMAN AND HER TEMPESTUOUS LOVE AFFAIR WITH JOHN F. KENNEDY JR.
JOHN KRASINSKI CHANNELS HIS INNER CHILD!
HE FATHER OF TWO SHARES HOW HIS DAUGHTERS INSPIRED HIS FANTASTICAL NEW COMEDY IF
Harry & Meghan Their Big Return, on Their Terms
FOUR YEARS AFTER STEPPING BACK FROM THEIR ROYAL ROLES, HARRY AND MEGHAN EMBARK ON A HIGH-PROFILE TOUR OF NIGERIA: 'WE'RE REALLY HAPPY'
KATE HUDSON-'I NEVER LOST SIGN IT OF WHAT I LOVED'
THE ACTRESS AND MOM OF THREE OPENS UP ABOUT HER JOYFUL FAMILY LIFE AND HER NEW CAREER MOVE: MUSIC