Don't Metz with Texas

Summary

Sibling Revelry with Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson

Episode: "Don't Metz with Texas"

Date: September 8, 2025
Guest: Chrissy Metz

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Episode Overview

This episode features actress and singer Chrissy Metz (“This Is Us,” “The Hunting Wives”) in a candid, in-person conversation with Oliver Hudson (Kate was not present in the interview portion). The discussion explores Chrissy’s personal journey of self-acceptance, family dynamics, and wellness, delving into body image, career struggles, vulnerability, and the deep impact of parental relationships. The tone is relaxed, humorous, and at times, deeply moving, reflecting both the podcast’s irreverent spirit and its sincere exploration of what it means to grow up and grow into oneself.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Shift to In-Person and Podcasting Real Talk

• Return to In-Person: Oliver and Chrissy note the rarity of face-to-face podcasting post-COVID.

  "In person has sort of died as far as the podcasting goes...everyone gets so comfortable with Zoom." (Oliver, 05:13)

• Lighthearted Banter: Humorous anecdotes on podcasting in underwear, keeping things casual—making guests, even Michelle Obama, laugh.

  "I suited up and... I looked like a young Republican. And then... I was in my underwear. I was like, but it's a little bit...party down below." (Oliver, 06:08)

2. Wellness, Self-Acceptance, and Body Image

• The Wellness Journey: Both discuss struggles with consistency, the wellness industry, and doing what feels good while aging.
• Supplements & Health: Chrissy shares the transformative impact of magnesium, managing anxiety, and learning about her health as she ages.

  "Magnesium ... helps with sleep and heart health ... and just, I suffer with anxiety." (Chrissy, 10:05)

• Body Positivity: Chrissy reflects on always being the “chubby girl,” the stigma attached, and the journey toward body acceptance.

  "I've always been sort of chasing contentment with my body, so I've yet to really find that, but I'm certainly in a better place mentally and emotionally." (Chrissy, 11:10)

3. Family Dynamics & Healing Parental Relationships

• Estrangement and Loss: Chrissy discusses her estranged relationship with her father, how his death shaped her, and how she found healing through therapy and even a medium.

  "You really grieve a relationship...I grieved the relationship I didn't have." (Chrissy, 30:23)

• Mother’s Influence: The shift in perspective after a heartfelt, clarifying conversation with her mom before her stroke.

  "Our perspective is different...it was nice to have that conversation...I didn't consider what they might have gone through or our parents doing the best they could." (Chrissy, 28:44)

• Forgiving Parental Absence:

  "I have to love myself the way he couldn't. And that is so hard." (Chrissy, 13:03)

4. Humor as Coping Mechanism and Self-Deprecation

• Deflecting Through Comedy:

  "It's like my knee-jerk default...I need to make fun of myself first before you do." (Chrissy, 20:02)

• Insights: Both note how self-deprecating humor can be both a shield and a subtle form of self-harm.
• Therapy Nuggets: Sharing breakthroughs from therapy retreats, like receiving the words of acceptance from surrogate ‘fathers’ during exercises.

  "I was like, that's it. Take me out. I gotta go. But it was so helpful..." (Chrissy, 21:33)

5. Sibling Bonds, Support, and the Challenge of Giving

• Being in the Middle: Chrissy describes her place as one of five siblings, always the middle child, and her sense of responsibility.
• Giving Back: Insights into the complications of financial support for family, the emotional cost, and the need for boundaries.

  "You're not Santa Claus. You're not the bank...I cannot just be an endless source of this...it's now creating a wedge." (Chrissy, 28:04)

6. Career: From Choir and Service Jobs to Stardom

• Early Steps: Music was Chrissy’s first love, but her family couldn’t afford music lessons or instruments. Choir became her refuge.
• Talent Shows, Auditions, and a Serendipitous Advisor:

  "A woman ... said, 'Are you here for auditioning?' I was like, no, I'm just taking my sister...She gone! She gone, she gone." (Chrissy, 48:01)

• LA Struggles: 12 years in LA, nine spent as an agent, all while nurturing the dream of performing.

  "I was out here for 12 before This Is Us happened." (Chrissy, 51:54)

7. Breakthrough Roles & Artistic Growth

• First LA Gigs: Recounts mix of humble beginnings and high-pressure moments (e.g., Entourage, American Horror Story).

  "They rewrote [the line]...I could not get the line...I flubbed it again. [James Cameron:] 'Is there something that I'm doing?'" (Chrissy, 54:03)

• Impact of Acting Experience: Lessons in perseverance, self-doubt, and learning not to equate performance with self-worth.

  "People don't really understand, like, unless they're in it...you just feel like...the writers are talking about me...they're going to write me out of the show." (Chrissy, 55:43)

8. The Hunting Wives & Breaking Out of Typecasting

• New Role: Chrissy discusses her character in Netflix’s “The Hunting Wives”—a sweet, God-fearing woman, different from her “This Is Us” role.

  "Literally, people don't even consider me as Chrissy Metz...they're like, oh, Kate Pearson...doesn't mean I don't want to do other roles." (Chrissy, 57:36)

• Show's Popularity: Notes the show’s success across demographics, its “sexy” vibe, and being happy to try new things.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Progress and Self-Compassion:

  "When I wrote that memoir years ago, learning to love yourself for who you are today, that was...I'm literally learning to accept myself for who I am right now. Because if you don't, you can't get to the place you want to be..."
  (Chrissy Metz, 11:37)

• On Filling the Parental Void:

  "There's no substance that can plug it. Even though you keep fucking trying."
  (Oliver, 13:49)

• On Self-Deprecating Humor:

  "Our subconscious still hears that stuff and we're still putting ourselves down just in the event someone might... that negative self talk... even though it's couched in humor, it's still...'
  (Chrissy, 20:19)

• On Accepting Life’s Path:

  "You would not change it...it has all led you to who you are right now."
  (Oliver, 36:02)

• On Artistic Serendipity:

  "A random guy comes up to me and he's like... 'I just heard the voice of God say, talk to her about music.'...turns out he's Kelly Clarkson's MD..."
  (Chrissy, 41:10)

• On Audience Perception:

  "People at the airport were like, 'justice for star.' I won't spoil anything, but...it's so wild because people are really into it."
  (Chrissy, 57:36)

• On Sibling Solidarity:

  "I've been very intentional about giving back to my family and to my friends because they were there for me."
  (Chrissy, 27:11)

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• In-person Podcasting and Michelle Obama story: 05:13
• Chrissy on body image and starting her wellness journey: 09:14
• Learning to accept herself & memoir inspiration: 11:37
• Overcoming parental abandonment: 13:03
• Humor as deflection and its cost: 20:02
• Therapy exercise on healing father-daughter wounds: 21:08
• Chrissy describes family, siblings, and childhood: 23:10
• Building boundaries in giving to family: 28:04
• Last conversation with her mom before her stroke: 28:44
• Processing her father's death: 30:23
• Finding forgiveness and healing: 32:20
• How music became her safe space: 34:39
• The pivotal open call and her “ghost” motivator: 48:01
• First acting jobs in LA, being an agent: 51:54
• "This Is Us" breakthrough and acting nerves: 54:03
• The Hunting Wives and moving beyond typecasting: 57:36

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Conclusion

Chrissy Metz’s candidness about her struggles, the power of self-acceptance, and her commitment to finding joy in both music and acting make this episode a standout. The conversation covers the importance of self-compassion, the therapy of creativity, breaking out of familial and career roles, and ultimately, learning to "give yourself grace" as you keep moving forward.

The episode’s tone embodies what Sibling Revelry does best: blending humor and honesty to illuminate the universality of family trials and the lifelong journey toward self-acceptance.

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Transcript

[Chrissy Metz]

This is an I Heart podcast.

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[Oliver Hudson]

September is a great time to travel, especially because it's my birthday in September. Especially internationally, because in the past, we've stayed in some pretty awesome Airbnbs in Europe. Did one in France. We did one in Greece. We've done actually one in Italy a couple years ago. Anyway, it just made our trip feel extra special. So if you're heading out this month, consider hosting your home on Airbnb. With the co host feature, you can hire someone local to help manage Airbnb everything. So find a co [e-mail] host.

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[Chrissy Metz]

Hi, I'm Kate Hudson, and.

[Oliver Hudson]

My name is Oliver Hudson.

[Chrissy Metz]

We wanted to do something that highlighted.

[Oliver Hudson]

Our relationship and what it's like to be siblings.

[Chrissy Metz]

We are a sibling revelry. No, no sibling revelry.

[Sponsor Voice - Tommy Bahama / Airbnb]

Don't do that with your mouth.

[Oliver Hudson]

Sibling revelry. That's good. My name is Oliver Hudson, in case you guys didn't know that. And I have a future icon sitting next to me right now. She. Don't say anything. Yeah, just keep it quiet. So after years of grinding it out in Hollywood, okay, this woman, she has won us over as Kate Pearson on this Is Us. She was a fan favorite. And now, of course, she's turning heads again in Netflix's new hit the Hunting Wives, which I have started. I'm three episodes in and a little bit spicy.

[Chrissy Metz]

It's a little bit inappropriate.

[Oliver Hudson]

There's a little bit of nudity, I would say, but it's good. It's amazing. It's this. It's this tangled web and Southern secrets. There's betrayal, there's murder. Anyway, let's just get to the point. Chrissy Metz is sitting next to me. Well, this is fun, because in person has sort of died as far as the podcasting goes. I've been doing this with my sister for years. And it started before COVID where everything was in person. Then it went to Zoom. Then everyone gets so fucking comfortable with Zoom that no one wants to do anything in person anymore.

[Chrissy Metz]

And put pants On. Right.

[Oliver Hudson]

Exactly right. I mean, half of my podcast, I'm fully naked.

[Chrissy Metz]

Do you tell people. Do you disclose that information?

[Oliver Hudson]

So we did. I had Michelle Obama.

[Chrissy Metz]

Oh.

[Oliver Hudson]

But with her brother on the podcast. And she was like, don't. She's like, I want to keep this super casual. With her brother Craig. Casual. We like. It's like, as far as the dress goes. Because it's a whole thing.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

You know, obviously, it's Michelle Obama.

[Chrissy Metz]

Hello.

[Oliver Hudson]

And I decided to go against that. And I suited up and, like, slicked my hair. I looked like a young Republican. And she's like, what are you doing? Oh, my God. And then I said, no, look, it's fun up top. And then I backed away and I was in my underwear. I was like, but it's a little bit. You know, it's a little party down below. And she shot with Michelle Obama. And did she laughed?

[Chrissy Metz]

It worked. Was it obligatory?

[Oliver Hudson]

No, it worked.

[Chrissy Metz]

Okay.

[Oliver Hudson]

It worked.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

It was funny. It was funny. I think it was funny.

[Chrissy Metz]

If it falls flat and you're just like. It's like the most awkward moment. You're like, that. That's not what I've been thinking about in my mind.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah. You just.

[Chrissy Metz]

Three days, click.

[Oliver Hudson]

The zoom goes off like, oh, oh, okay.

[Chrissy Metz]

Then you get, like a terrible letter in the mail.

[Oliver Hudson]

So we were talking about, first of all, Chris Metz is here.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yay. Yay.

[Oliver Hudson]

Thank you for being here.

[Chrissy Metz]

This finally invited me.

[Oliver Hudson]

Finally. I know, because we've had all your. We've had Sterling on, we've had Mandy on, we've had Chris on, you know, saving the best for last.

[Chrissy Metz]

Wow. I told him he had to say that.

[Oliver Hudson]

Milo, you know, he's just rejected me a thousand times.

[Chrissy Metz]

Same.

[Oliver Hudson]

No, no, no.

[Chrissy Metz]

He's a busy.

[Oliver Hudson]

But we were talking about age, and. And before we started rolling, you asked me if I cared about age, so. My birthday is September 7th.

[Chrissy Metz]

Oh, you're Virgo. I'm September 29th.

[Oliver Hudson]

Are you?

[Chrissy Metz]

But Virgo rising. Libra.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

Ye know what your rising is?

[Oliver Hudson]

I don't know, but I just had my chart done by these girls called the Astro Twins.

[Chrissy Metz]

Wait, so you don't know your.

[Oliver Hudson]

They throw so much out.

[Chrissy Metz]

Where's your chart?

[Oliver Hudson]

That I don't know. I. I have voice notes from her saying what I'm this and what I'm not. They were on the podcast, and it was incredible.

[Chrissy Metz]

I'm into it.

[Oliver Hudson]

It was on the incredible. And I'm a bunch of. There's a bunch of moons and I don't know what the hell There's a bunch of moons, there's rising things.

[Chrissy Metz]

Well, the ascending is what people view you as, so I'm Virgo ascending, which means that's what people view me. Okay, but it depends on your moon, so. My moon's in Gemini. Okay, so that's like two different people. So I don't know who I am.

[Oliver Hudson]

No, I don't know who I am either. All I know is that I'm more Libra, apparently, than Virgo.

[Chrissy Metz]

Okay, so I'm more Virgo than. I am Libra, but Libra is my star sign. We're twins.

[Oliver Hudson]

Oh, my gosh.

[Chrissy Metz]

Weird.

[Oliver Hudson]

Anyway, you know, I'm don't care about the numbers so much, but when 50 hits, I don't know.

[Chrissy Metz]

Listen, I'm about to be 45.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

And I'm like, okay, but then I also don't feel 45. And, like, what does that even mean, to feel 45?

[Oliver Hudson]

No. Well, I wanted to talk to you about, like, sort of your wellness journey and all that, because I'm kind of on one myself.

[Chrissy Metz]

Okay. What does that mean, kind of?

[Oliver Hudson]

Well, I'm on and off, sure.

[Chrissy Metz]

Of course. Because we're human.

[Oliver Hudson]

But I want to say. Yeah, that's the whole point. I just decided I want to be in the best shape of my life at 50.

[Chrissy Metz]

Oh, okay.

[Oliver Hudson]

So now I'm on supplements. I'm thinking about peptides, all this stuff. So I just wanted to. I know I've been talking for an hour, but I wanted to get your journey because I want to. It coincides possibly with some of the things I'm trying to accomplish, honestly, as I'm getting older. And so where did this start for you? How ingrained are you in it and how hard is it to stay on it? Because that's the heart.

[Chrissy Metz]

That's the toughest part.

[Oliver Hudson]

Consistency.

[Chrissy Metz]

Consistency, yeah. So, I mean, I've always been a chubby girl since I was literally an infant. And so it was always sort of a point of contention and. Because there's such a negative outlook on people who are overweight, because if you're overweight, you're absolutely unhealthy, which is not true. However, as you age, obviously, like, all the perimenopausal stuff. Menopause, my mom didn't teach me that stuff. And I don't know that she even wanted to, because it was sort of like that don't sort of talk about it kind of thing. She's tough. Kids are seen and not heard kind of thing. So she.

[Oliver Hudson]

I don't think things change.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yes. So perhaps now she would have explained more to me. But I. The things that I'm figuring out and the stuff. And the supplements, the magnesium. Like, who knew magnesium could change your life? We, We. We thank God. But all the things that explain really.

[Oliver Hudson]

Quickly how magnesium does work.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah. So, I mean, for me, it helps with sleep and heart health and just. I suffer with anxiety.

[Oliver Hudson]

Me too. I'm on Lexapro.

[Chrissy Metz]

Okay.

[Oliver Hudson]

20 milligrams.

[Chrissy Metz]

Okay. Does it. Do you feel like it's.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, I think I've tried to go. I tried to go off of it, and it spiraled me into, like, the crazies ever. Because weaning off of Alex Pro specifically, can get nutty.

[Chrissy Metz]

Oh, okay.

[Oliver Hudson]

And then I had to go do a job, and I'm like, oh, this. Like, I can't go work like this. I'm a crazy person.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah. You know, it's just sort of like, you don't know what you don't know. And the more that you dig, you find like, oh, I. I need peptides, potentially, and magnesium and supplements and, like, amino acids. Because if you want to have, like, pure protein as opposed to, like, all the junk that's in a lot of protein powders, you know, and because our business is so weird and wacky, like, we get up at 4 in the morning, we work 18 hours. How do you fit the food in, and how do you fit the appropriate food in that you feel satiated, like, all of the things. And obviously I didn't know that until I was an actual working actor, but I've always been sort of chasing contentment with my body, so I've yet to really find that, but I'm certainly in a better place mentally and emotionally.

[Oliver Hudson]

How do you start that journey to be content with your body, and how does it get better? Yeah, and I'm assuming it's like two steps forward, a couple steps back, sometimes one. Steph Abdul vibes. Totally.

[Chrissy Metz]

For sure. Yes.

[Oliver Hudson]

So it takes a lot of mental fortitude to be able to take those. Those new two steps forward, I assume.

[Chrissy Metz]

Like, when I wrote that memoir years ago, learning to love yourself for who you are today, that was like, not just like a little quip kind of catchy title. It was like, I'm literally learning to accept myself for who I am right now. Because if you don't, you can't get to the place you want to be because you're in this cycle, the cyclical, crazy Ferris wheel that you're like, I hate myself. I should eat now. I hate myself for eating. Oh, I should eat more. Like, you're like, you just can't get off the ride. So I have attempted to, like, get off the ride, and I'm like, oh, I don't like that ride. But sometimes I like the ride. Or sometimes I think I like the ride, and I'll stand by the ride, but. But then I'll get off quicker now than I ever had before. So I was like, that's progress. That is a forward movement direction. And so I try to just have grace around it and with myself. Cause I'm like, I say that to all my friends and my family, people I love, but I don't have it for myself. So patience and grace.

[Oliver Hudson]

Oh, my God. Isn't that so true? I'm the best advice giver of all time. I've been through a billion years of therapy. I can be a therapist, and people come to me naturally to help, you know, just because I have my own personal insights. But can I follow them myself? No.

[Chrissy Metz]

Right, right.

[Oliver Hudson]

You know, I'm like, practice what you preach. Like, what the are you doing? I know it's about self love, self worth and the. And self. Compassion is what you're saying.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

Give yourself some grace.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

You know, give yourself a little leeway.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

Don't be so hard.

[Chrissy Metz]

I had to give myself compassion that I never received. And so that's like. You know, my dad, when he passed away, we were estranged, and I realized, like, to make, like, a living, amends, it was to myself because of the love I never got from him, that I'm still seeking through other people and the validation. And I'm like, oh, I have to love myself the way he couldn't. And that is so hard.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

Ooh.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's not dissimilar. My dad didn't pass, but he wasn't around.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

Kurt came into my life and became my father. But there's something to be said about your biological.

[Chrissy Metz]

Of course.

[Oliver Hudson]

And so same thing. It's trying to fill this void that you can't. There's. Whether it be food or sex or drugs or whatever it is, you can't feel it. You can't plug it.

[Chrissy Metz]

No.

[Oliver Hudson]

There's nothing. There's no substance that can plug it. Even though you keep fucking trying.

[Chrissy Metz]

Oh. With everything. Not this one. And that's, I think, the ride. Right. The ride that you want to get off of. So. Yeah. I mean, some weeks, some months are great. And then some days I'm like. And then that's when you have the grace for yourself. But it's also just like, sort of acquiring all this data collection. I'm like, okay, okay, I'll use this. Okay. That doesn't work for me. I use that. I've been doing more strength training, which makes me feel like, oh, Because I've always wanted to be Lucy Lawless. Okay. Like, can I please have her body things? And my boyfriend lifts weights, and he's very consistent. He was also in the Nigerian Navy. Like, very different from, like, my inconsistencies. Like, he's very regimented and scheduled. And I'm like, oh, this is good. This is good to see it in practice and in a positive way. And he never enforces anything. Like, in fact, he's like, when I was in South Africa, he's like, are they feeding you? I'm like, babe, I'm missing a meal. But it's a different cultural thing in Nigeria. Like, you know, so here, I mean, literally, one of his sisters said she prayed to gain weight. She prayed to get fat. I was like, I pray to get skinny. Like, this is crazy. It's just so different here. And of course, in our business, even. Even more magnified.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

So it's wonderful. And I keep saying when people ask, like, oh, how you really. How is your relationship? And it's like, there's a love that I haven't experienced before. That's like. He's like, I would never want anything to be removed and nothing gained.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

Just as you are. And that gives me the liberty to say, oh, I can love myself enough. You love me enough that I don't have to do anything, but now I want to.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

For the longevity of my health.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

Which is a whole other thing now. So.

[Oliver Hudson]

No.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

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[Oliver Hudson]

How much did you use? Because you're funny. Right? So how much did you use humor and self deprecation to deflect how you.

[Chrissy Metz]

Were feeling every single second.

[Oliver Hudson]

Every single second.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah, it's like. It's like my knee jerk default.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

To the point where I think I saw someone talk about how self deprecating humor is just like the worst thing.

[Oliver Hudson]

You can do in my jam though for myself.

[Chrissy Metz]

Like I need to make fun of myself first before you do.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

Okay. I'm gonna beat you to the punch.

[Oliver Hudson]

Right, Right.

[Chrissy Metz]

Okay.

[Oliver Hudson]

Right.

[Chrissy Metz]

Like I'll talk about my family, but don't you dare. Yeah, you know, it's that thing. And so I realize I'm like, oh, our subconscious still hears that stuff and we're still putting ourselves down just in the the event someone might that negative self talk.

[Oliver Hudson]

Even though it's couched in humor, it still is still. You up?

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah. You know. You know, like I used food as a protection and whether whatever we're filling the void with. It's like we have a coping mechanism and it might have worked for many years and then we realized, oh, this ain't. This ain't it anymore. Like we've got to figure this out in a different way and return.

[Oliver Hudson]

And I think generally too people who judge, whether they judge you, judge me, judge anyone. Everyone has some sort of a coping mechanism. 100 we are all afflicted one way or another. Everybody.

[Chrissy Metz]

I went to a place called on site which is outside of Nashville. Oh, you do? Okay. So there is a particular exercise that we used and you speak to the person. So like say you became my father and I got to say all the things I never got to say to him. And then you get to then respond and say, I didn't know. I'm sorry. Like, and you hear things that you never would have heard from your parent. And I was like. Like, it was so cathartic.

[Oliver Hudson]

It was like, oh, my God.

[Chrissy Metz]

Or the. There were two men in our particular small group, and they were so complimentary and so kind. And they're like, oh, no, I could cry now. They're like, I would be so proud to be your father. And I was like, that's it. Take me out. I. I gotta go. But it was so helpful because if you haven't heard these things and you've. It's like the one thing you needed to hear or wanted to hear, it. It really can make a difference, you know?

[Oliver Hudson]

I wish I could say to my mom or. Or Kate or. Or Aaron, my wife, and I'm way better now. But this is kind of before, like, I. I just want to say that I love you so much and I'm so happy to be with you and I feel lucky.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

Easy to say.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

But I would approach that and be like, I can't say. I feel like I want to, like, do this.

[Chrissy Metz]

Do you think it's because you don't know what the reaction's going to be or that you're going to disappoint them or.

[Oliver Hudson]

I think it has to be subconscious because. Because, you know, cerebrally, in the moment. Of course I know.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

Imagine my wife was like, ew, fuck you.

[Chrissy Metz]

Right.

[Oliver Hudson]

You know what? That's just. Don't ever say that again. I mean, then there's no chance.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

It would only be positive.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

But there's a vulnerability there that was very hard for me.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

To sort of express writing. Easy. I could gush.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

But the in person stuff was difficult.

[Chrissy Metz]

Well, yeah. Like, vocalizing is very different than having it secretly in your journal.

[Oliver Hudson]

Exactly. Or I can send it to them. They can read the writing.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah, right, right, right. But there is something different about saying oh, yeah and owning the words.

[Oliver Hudson]

Oh, yes.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

All right, let's go back to your childhood because this all relates. We're just going backwards.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yes. Yes.

[Oliver Hudson]

Where did you grow up?

[Chrissy Metz]

So I was born in Homestead, Florida, but when I was six months old, we moved to Japan. My dad was in the Navy.

[Oliver Hudson]

Oh, wow.

[Chrissy Metz]

So we were there until I was almost nine. My parents divorced. We moved back to Gainesville, Florida. I don't even know why. Of all the places. And then moved to LA when I was 20.

[Oliver Hudson]

Did you have. You have siblings?

[Chrissy Metz]

Oh, yeah. I'm one of five. The middle, of course.

[Oliver Hudson]

You're the who?

[Chrissy Metz]

The middle.

[Oliver Hudson]

You're the middle.

[Chrissy Metz]

Course, of course. Can you. No. Shocker.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

It was my oldest sister, brother and I, and then my parents divorced. My mom had two other daughters.

[Oliver Hudson]

Okay.

[Chrissy Metz]

And so I had the experience of being the baby. But like, my. The lore states in our family that my dad really just wanted nine boys for a baseball team. So a little disappointed when two girls came in, only one. One boy. So they were always very close. And I felt like I could never measure up. Like, you know, I was like, I don't even remember as a kid having a relationship with my father. I saw a picture of me, like, swinging with him, and I was like, when did that happen?

[Oliver Hudson]

Right.

[Chrissy Metz]

Who was that girl? Yeah, that's me. So it's bizarre to sort of look back, but, like, growing up in Japan was so cool.

[Oliver Hudson]

Wow. So you grew up in Japan. Your parents were still together when you were in Japan because your dad had to visit?

[Chrissy Metz]

Yes, for about eight and a half years. And my grandmother lived with us, my mom's mom. And she was like, my saving grace. And so she was, like my little best friend. And she would pick me up from school and at lunchtime and make me a little grilled cheese and some Ovaltine, you know, whatever. And walking back to school. Hello.

[Oliver Hudson]

Love some Ovaltine.

[Chrissy Metz]

Oh, we love it. Especially with your grams.

[Oliver Hudson]

Oh, my gosh. You kidding me?

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah. So, yeah, that was very, very helpful and instrumental.

[Oliver Hudson]

Do you think it was just a gender thing? Do you think it was because you were a girl? I mean, y.

[Chrissy Metz]

But they also felt something a little deeper. And then I thought, it is as an adult, I'm like, did my mom sort of construct these thoughts because she was so upset with him, even though when he passed away, she was still in love with him, even though he was very unfaithful for many, many years. My grandmother and I were very close. She instilled faith in my life. But I have conversations with my older sister all the time that she's like, I don't know that dad didn't try to reach out to you, because I remember getting my high school graduation announcement to invite him, the invitation, and it was return to sender. So all my life, I've replayed the tape of. He didn't want to come. He reset. He, like, send the invitation. It's one thing to, like, get it and throw it away, but to, like, return to sender.

[Oliver Hudson]

Right.

[Chrissy Metz]

And so my sister's like, do you think maybe mom didn't want us to have a relationship with. And I just can't believe that. Like, I don't think that to be true. Right. Maybe she was protecting us. But I remember the last moment I had with my dad. Really? He came to school shop for me. I think it was whatever year Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves was out. We saw that in the movie theater. I think I was Kevin Costner. I mean, everything I do, like, do it for you. Oh, my God, I'm obsessed with that movie. And maybe because it's nostalgic, because I had that bonding experience with my dad.

[Oliver Hudson]

Brian Adams, and it's Brian Adams.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah, I know. I love that movie. Yeah. So anyway, I just. That's, like, sort of the last memory I have of my dad and I ever, ever having just, like, any sort of connection. And I think that was third or fourth grade.

[Oliver Hudson]

Oh, really?

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah. And I know he remarried a woman, like, right after he divorced my mom and then got married again. And my brother was really close with them and ended up moving down to Miami with them.

[Oliver Hudson]

Really?

[Chrissy Metz]

Yes.

[Oliver Hudson]

And were you close with your brother?

[Chrissy Metz]

Not really. No.

[Oliver Hudson]

No.

[Chrissy Metz]

No.

[Oliver Hudson]

And what about your older sister?

[Chrissy Metz]

So she. She was sort of close to my dad, but they got into this big fight, and my sister is tough as nails, and my dad went to, like, put his finger in her face and she pushed him and he was like, you need to get out of this house. And she was 17, so she went and did her own thing.

[Oliver Hudson]

Are you tight with your sister?

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah. Like, all my sisters and I are close.

[Oliver Hudson]

You are?

[Chrissy Metz]

They all live in Florida still. I've been very intentional about giving back to my family and to my friends because they were there for me. My friends, particularly here in la, were there for me when I was broke. Si joke, couldn't pay attention. And my family, I just feel they're my family, you know, And I want to give back. And, like, my therapist is like, yeah, but they didn't spend 20 years in LA and break their backs and go through everything you went through. Like, you're not Santa Claus. You're not the bank. And I'm like, yeah, I know, but, like, the life that I get to live, like, I want them to share in it, but then what ends up happening is then they're resentful that I give too much because, A, they can't give back, which I don't need anything back. It's more just like, if you're happy, I'm happy. Great. But you create, like, a precedent, and then sometimes you create a monster.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

And that breaks my heart because I'm like, I know it just came from a good place, but damn it, like, I cannot just be an endless source of this because it's not even. Not only is it potentially not appreciated, but, like, it's now creating a wedge.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah. So your mom has. What is it called?

[Chrissy Metz]

Aphasia from her stroke.

[Oliver Hudson]

Were you. Were you ever able to actually sit down with your mom and get answers that you wanted before?

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah. It's interesting you asked that, because there was right before this is Us started, I was back home in Florida, and I was so anxious. I was like, they're gonna fire me. I can't do this. All the. All the things. And I remember having conversations with my mom because I was very, very anxious. And I don't know how we got on the subject, but I was like, you know, I felt like, you guys didn't do this, you didn't do that. And this is where my anxiety stems from. And this was before her stroke. And she was like, chrissy, I lovingly want to say, like, I don't think that was what really happened. Like, our perspective is different. And I was like, what do you mean? There's another perspective, not just about me. And so it was nice to have that conversation with her because I felt like, oh, I didn't consider what they might have gone through or our parents doing the best they could. And it was nice to have that. It wasn't as in depth as I had hoped, but it definitely was important and needed and providential.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

One more thing, and then we'll go to some more fun stuff. But I love this shit. I love talking about this stuff. But, you know, when your dad did pass, and I think this is pretty relatable to a lot of people who have parents who have. Are estranged.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

I wonder, you know, again, I have a. More of a relationship with my dad right now, you know, but it had been 12, 13, 14 years, and I would go through this in my head, like, if he dies, what am I going to feel?

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

You know, And I would. I couldn't put myself in that situation or put myself in that feeling because I really didn't know how to. I didn't know what that would feel like. Well, you lived. You've kind of lived it.

[Chrissy Metz]

You know, there's an obligation of, like, oh, they're my father. It's. They're biological or blood related, but you don't have a relationship with them, so you really grieve a relationship. Or for me, I grieved the relationship I didn't have. And so that was hard. It was like, did I miss an opportunity? Did. Did the information given to me was that incorrect? Did I have this idea that I keep replaying this tape that wasn't true, and there was nothing I could do about it. Now, interestingly enough, I went to this medium, and she said, your father keeps coming around and bringing you gifts. Just like, all I see is, like, tons and tons of presents with these beautiful bows all around you. For all the times. Oh, no. For all the times, like, he wasn't there. And all the times that he's like, apologies and gifts. And I was like, oh, that's very healing. That's very sweet. And depending on if you want to believe it or not, but I know that nobody's all bad and nobody's all good. And so I really chose to believe that, like, he did the best he could. It's unfortunate that we didn't have the relationship I wanted, but I can redirect that and hopefully, you know, heal it in a different way. But I certainly was sad. I mean, it was like, the last time I hung out with him, one of the first questions he asked me was like, how much did I make on this is Us per episode? And I was like, this ain't. This is not good. Okay. This is. This is the kind of stuff I'm talking about. This is why I don't want to have a relationship with you. And then I'm thinking, well, what if that was the only thing that he could sort of ask about? Like, what I wanted him to say was, I didn't know you were interested in acting. Tell me about that. Like. But then when I was watching and observing him with, you know, with everybody, I was like, oh, he's gregarious, he's smart, he's clever. I'm maybe more like him than I have to say. Yes.

[Oliver Hudson]

You know, there's DNA in there, right?

[Chrissy Metz]

And so I was like, oh, okay, yeah. Nobody is all bad, and we're all troubled, and we're all just trying to figure this thing out, and we have this blueprint of life, and we're like, oh, what is it?

[Oliver Hudson]

Some people choose to go deep and figure it out. And some people just say it. This is who I am.

[Chrissy Metz]

Like, they aren't able.

[Oliver Hudson]

A true acceptance of who they are, even if they're bad.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

You know, so it's like, is that good or bad? I accept who I am. I'm an.

[Chrissy Metz]

You know, you're like, oh, no, you just don't want to change it. Oh, so you accept it but don't want to change it?

[Oliver Hudson]

You're scared. Okay.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah. So it was. But he also was very loved. He had a lot of friends, and his. His widow, Maria, really sweet woman, was obsessed with him. And thank God, because he really needed someone to dote on him. Like, that was. My mom did that with him. She, like, kept him underweight to stay in the Navy. Like, she really. Yeah. So there. It was cool that I got to see other aspects of him, even though. Yeah, he's definitely fallible and, you know.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So anyway, I would say this. You should write another book on your dad and those feelings. And we title it Return to Sender. Oh, hey, come on. Hey, it's a good title.

[Chrissy Metz]

I'm gonna have to give you a.

[Oliver Hudson]

Credit for the acknowledgments, but Return to Sender. All about your dad. Come on. What a fucking great.

[Chrissy Metz]

I did write a song called Daddy's Girl.

[Oliver Hudson]

Did you?

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah, about being more like him than I wanted to even admit. So musically. Yeah, musically, it's, like, very cathartic for me in that way.

[Oliver Hudson]

So getting into all that.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yes.

[Oliver Hudson]

How did you get into the arts? You know, acting, singing. I mean.

[Chrissy Metz]

Okay, so yesterday someone asked me, like, how did you know you were an actor? And I was like, I. I was writing in a journal, and I had this epiphany. I was like, oh, I've been acting all my life. I've been acting like I've. I'm. Okay. I've been acting like I'm happy. I've been acting like I'm loved. I've. You know, I'm like, oh, Oh, I didn't need to go to Carnegie Mellon. Like, I didn't need to go to nyc. I wish I did, but I didn't. But I think it was more over. Like, I have such empathy for people, and that's where I think real acting is. Like, that's why we are attracted to it. Because even if you're the villain or you're the in between or whatever protagonist. Act what? Like, you have to have empathy and understanding of why the motivations are the motivations. But music was my first love, and I. My family couldn't afford to, like, rent an instrument for band. And all the cool kids were in band, and all the cute girls. All the cute skinny girls had the piccolos and the flutes and the clarinets, and they were like, we have the baritone. I said, I will not be the biggest, chubbiest girl in sixth grade with the Baritone that.

[Sponsor Voice - Tommy Bahama / Airbnb]

For shame.

[Oliver Hudson]

They're setting you up.

[Chrissy Metz]

They're setting me up.

[Oliver Hudson]

They're setting you up.

[Chrissy Metz]

Everybody's been setting me up in my life.

[Oliver Hudson]

They're setting you up for failure.

[Chrissy Metz]

And so I was like, I can't do this. And my mom's like, well, I can't rent it anyway. And I was like, great. And you're not buying it. So I end up joining choir. And I was like, oh, I can be one of many that sounds like one voice, but also sort of hide, but also still, like, sing. And music was always prevalent in our family growing up. And, like, it was, yeah, like Motown to, like, the Doobie Brothers, like, everything. And so I've always been influenced by music, but I never thought, like, I was gonna sing. I never thought that I. Yeah, I mean, I had no self esteem. Middle school, my stepfather was very difficult. He was very hard on me. My mom remarried, and ironically, when he passed away two years ago, I was able to write him a letter and forgive him for everything that he's done, but he was more of a father to me than my own father, so. It's wild.

[Oliver Hudson]

The whole family shit. Yeah, I know, but. But you would. You would. You would not change it. No, I'm saying that because I know, and I wouldn't either. It has all led you to who you are right now.

[Chrissy Metz]

It helps me. Every single scene that I'm ever in, 100%. Every single song that I write or the people that I talk to who might be going through the same thing. Yes, I would not change it. It was difficult in the moment. I'm like, what the actual is going on? So it really sort of came out of choir that I really fell in love with music. And then I was like, oh, okay, I can sight read. Okay, this and that. And I wish I would have taken piano lessons or violin or some sort of instrument. But it really wasn't until high school when everyone's like, oh, my gosh, we're gonna nominate you for class clown. And the support lid. And I was like, why? Like what? Cause I was an angsty teenager. Very. Yes. My stepdad was very hard on me. And so instead of turning inward in a soft, sweet way, I was like, just, yeah, a br. And talk back to my teachers in middle school, like eighth grade. I'll never. Poor Ms. Smith. I was such a mean girl to her, and I feel terrible for it. I have apologized and I hope she hears me, but it's like, because I knew that I was gonna make people laugh, I was like, oh, I'll get attention that I don't get at home. And it's mostly positive, but this isn't good. But the Dean, Ms. Meadows, who I am obsessed with, she change my life anytime I would get, like, a referral, like a write up, she's like, come to my office and you can answer the phones. And she knew that I was troubled, and she knew, like, I just needed, like, positive love and positive reinforcement. So she was.

[Oliver Hudson]

So those are the. Those are the special people.

[Chrissy Metz]

Oh, she's the best.

[Oliver Hudson]

Who look well beyond.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yes.

[Oliver Hudson]

The. The act.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yes.

[Oliver Hudson]

They dig deeper to understand why.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yes. Yeah. Thank God for her. So. Yeah. But it wasn't really until high school, senior year of high school, where I actually had enough guts to audition for chamber choir because I wanted to do theater. And all the cool kids were doing theater who were, like, tapped for Broadway. And I was like, wow. But I never thought I could do it. I was just so interested because I was obsessed with Jim Carrey and Jack Black. I was like, I'm gonna be on snl and I'm gonna be the female version. That didn't happen. And so.

[Oliver Hudson]

Not yet.

[Chrissy Metz]

Not.

[Oliver Hudson]

Well, there's still time.

[Chrissy Metz]

I guess there's still time, but, like.

[Oliver Hudson]

You could be on snl. You could maybe not cast member. You don't want to be on it now.

[Chrissy Metz]

Not well beyond, but I.

[Oliver Hudson]

You're going to be on it.

[Chrissy Metz]

I. I think it's time. Give me a little. Come on.

[Oliver Hudson]

Oh, my God, Be so nervous.

[Chrissy Metz]

Oh, okay. First of all, Sterling was on it, and he was like, it was so stressful. And then my old client, because I was. I told you, I have a talent agent ego. She is a cast member now.

[Oliver Hudson]

Oh, my God.

[Chrissy Metz]

She's like, it is full throttle all the time. I mean, she loves it, but it's stressful.

[Oliver Hudson]

Oh, yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

And things are, like, being rewritten as, like, the cue cards are going up and you're.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

Oh, and then be funny. Okay. And then with a celebrity that you might not know or you're afraid of.

[Oliver Hudson]

I can't imagine.

[Chrissy Metz]

Anyway, I want to believe that the universe is. If it should happen, it'll be in the right time. We'll see. All that to say, my choir teacher in my senior year was like, I'm going to nominate you for this, the scholarship for this choral camp at University of Florida. And I was like, oh, no, no, it's okay. And she's like, no, there's only, like, two people out of the state that teachers get to, you know, actually choose to go for free. Because my parents obviously couldn't afford it. I got the scholarship.

[Oliver Hudson]

Wow.

[Chrissy Metz]

And it was so, like. I mean, I was way in over my head. All these kids, like, can sight read. They're like. And I'll never forget, we had a scat workshop. Okay. A scat workshop. Correct. Right. So I'm like, we're all sitting in, like, a semicircle, and they're like, just improvise. And I was like, you know, getting closer and closer and closer to me. And I was like, okay, do I go to the bathroom now? Do I say, my stomach hurts? Am I gonna throw up? Like, I was just trying to get out of it. I was so afraid. And I was like, skip it up a little. Like, I was like, I don't know what to do. And they were like, that's scatting. And I was like, I think I'm gonna be my man today.

[Oliver Hudson]

You're like, I'm gonna scat in my pants right now.

[Chrissy Metz]

And I did. And I did. I skiddity scanned. And I was like, oh, it was petrifying. But, like, you know, as, you know, when you, like, move through the hard stuff, you're like, oh, I didn't die. Yeah, okay, okay, maybe I can do this again. So every single time, I was like, okay, okay, okay. But it really wasn't until. And I'm jumping ahead, but I was at presenting at the Billboard Awards with Justin. I think the second or third year of this is US and 2018 or something. And a random guy comes up to me and he's like. Like, I literally just heard the voice of God say, talk to her about music. And I was like, huh? What? And he's like, my wife said I should do. Should talk to you. Like, I know it sounds crazy, but do you want to write? Do you sing?

[Oliver Hudson]

Like, he didn't know if you have a voice?

[Chrissy Metz]

No, he didn't know no nothing. And he's like, by the way, I'm Kelly Clarkson's MD for the past 20 years. My name's Jason, and I live in Nashville. If you want a songwrite, I'll hook you up with some songwriters. What the. Hello? I was like, oh, my God. Okay.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah, sure.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was like, okay, sure.

[Oliver Hudson]

He's like, have you heard me scat?

[Chrissy Metz]

You've heard me scout. Yeah, right? So he's like, DM me on Instagram. And I was like, oh, this ain't real. And then I did, and he was. And he set me up with, like, the most prolific writers in all of Nashville.

[Oliver Hudson]

Wow.

[Chrissy Metz]

For my first write, and I was freaking out, like Natalie Hemby and Daniel Tashian, who did, like, all of Casey Musgrave's albums and Miranda Lambert.

[Oliver Hudson]

And like, I just saw Casey in Colorado a week ago.

[Chrissy Metz]

Did you love it?

[Oliver Hudson]

She was great. She was a festival. Oh, fun. Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

Oh, fun. Yeah. So anyway, I was like, what am I getting? I don't even know what I'm doing. But I found that I love songwriting to the point of, like, it's the most magical thing. In four hours, you have a song that never existed that will change people's lives. It's incredible.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

So then I kept going back and forth just songwriting. During the hiatus of this Is Us signed with UMG because I got to sing at the Oscars because Diane Warren wrote a song for a movie that he did. Amazing what's happening in my life. But then three years in, I didn't get to go on tour because Covid the world shut down. And then I was like, I'm writing music, but I don't get to put it out. So I end up leaving the label, which was the really, really, really tough. It was so disheartening. Oh, it was really tough.

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[Oliver Hudson]

You can make a difference in someone's life, including your own, with a job in home care. These jobs offer flexible schedules, health care, retirement options and free training. They also provide paid time off and opportunities for overtime. Visit oregonhomecarejobs.com to learn more and apply. That's oregonhomecarejobs.com and then acting. I mean, did you. When did you come to la, by the way?

[Chrissy Metz]

Hello. Okay, let's.

[Oliver Hudson]

And you. How long were you here? You. How long were you struggling here?

[Chrissy Metz]

Okay.

[Oliver Hudson]

How many years?

[Chrissy Metz]

So my sister, who takes care of my mom.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

Who has four kids. She's an angel.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

She heard about this open call at a Holiday Inn that my stepdaddy and my mama met at. At the bar.

[Oliver Hudson]

Oh, really?

[Chrissy Metz]

And that's where the open call was. So she heard about this open call on the radio, and she was like, will you take me? Because she wanted to be a print model. She has a different dad than I do. She's tall and thin, and so it's okay. God doesn't give it two hands. It's fine, it's fine, it's fine. So I'm still working on that. It's fine. So we go. There's a woman who's sitting across from me, and I'm filling out the paperwork for my sister. And she's like, are you here for auditioning? Are you here for a reason? And I was like, no, I'm just taking my sister. I was teaching preschool at the time, and she's done it all.

[Oliver Hudson]

I mean, agent, teacher, singer.

[Chrissy Metz]

McDonald's was my first job.

[Oliver Hudson]

Mickey D's.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yeah. That's where I really fell in love with those fries. And I still eat them. Beef fat and all. Exactly. I shouldn't, but I do.

[Oliver Hudson]

I just ate.

[Chrissy Metz]

You can't help it, okay? They're drugs. That's my. That's mine.

[Oliver Hudson]

Love. A quarter pound of wheat with extra cheese.

[Chrissy Metz]

Oh, my gosh. Okay. So I digress.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

It's all about food. So anyway, the lady was like, well, I think you should audition. I was like, like, what is she talking about? And she said, you know, I taught at your high school. I was like, no, you didn't. When I tell you I've never seen this person in my life. She's a liar. What is she talking about? So then I fill out the paperwork. I go to, like, turn around to talk to her. I'm not kidding, you guys. She gone. She gone, she gone. And I was like. I was like, where's the lady in the hat? And everyone's like, what lady in the hat? Nobody ever remembered seeing her. I'm like, this is bizarre.

[Oliver Hudson]

That's like a ghost.

[Chrissy Metz]

Yes, she a ghost. I'm like, this is bizarre. And I'm like, like, was It a guardian angel who was like, here to give me some positive reinforcement. Anyway, the lady comes out, she's like, okay, what do you do? And I was like, oh, this is just my sister. And I came here to take her, and she's like, you don't do anything. You don't sing, act, whatever. I was like, even though my heart. I was like, take me away, right? Like, I was like, get me out of Gainesville. And my sister. My sister's like, yes, you do sing. And I'm like, no, I don't. And so I end up singing, of course, reflection from Mulan, as one does. Why did I choose that hard song? I'll never know. So anyway, I sing, and she was like, oh, okay, well, we'll let you know. Forgive you guys. I know.

[Oliver Hudson]

Anyway, wait, hold on. Because. Because I, Mulan, was on a repeat 247 with my kids.

[Chrissy Metz]

The movie, the live action or the cartoon?

[Oliver Hudson]

The cartoon.

[Chrissy Metz]

Okay, Right.

[Oliver Hudson]

But reflections, it's the theme. Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

Look at me. You may think you see who I really am, but you never know me.

[Oliver Hudson]

What's the chorus?

[Chrissy Metz]

Who is that girl? Yeah.

[Oliver Hudson]

Hard.

[Chrissy Metz]

Still don't sing it now. Yeah. So she said, well, if we give you a call back, we'll let you know by Wednesday. The following two days, she calls us back and she's like, you know, if your sister wants to do print modeling, great. But, like, are you interested in doing, like, comedy or acting? I was like, I really want to sing. And she's like, I don't think you should focus on that. I was, like, gutted because that was my. That's what I wanted to do. And she said, but I think are funny and like, there might be something there. Well, it turns out what I find out three years later is she had wanted to be an actor. She was a plus size girl. And I think she was sort of living vicariously through me, which ended up being great for me. But like, also. Huh. So we did classes. I went down to Orlando every single weekend. And then we did a showcase for all these agents and managers. And I was like, oh, all the skinny girls are gonna get agents. Like, whatever. And it was like the days of, like, Aaron Spelling. And like, you know, you had to look a certain whatever. And I had this crunchy, curly hair. It was a mess. Like, a mess. And so anyway, I was the woman at the convenience store, and all the actors would come in and they do monologues, you know, like, it was written well, it was entertaining.

[Oliver Hudson]

It was like a showcase.

[Chrissy Metz]

It was exactly a showcase. And So I got a call back. And so my first agent, Jackie Lewis, who's still my dear friend, signed me. And I couldn't. I couldn't. Adam and Evit. I couldn't add some and evict and end up moving when I was 20 into a two bedroom apartment in Burbank with six girls. And the manager slept in the living room. We had a printer on a table with plastic chairs. Yeah, we did. Yes, we did. And I took all the kids on auditions. And then that's when she was like, oh, your agent Jackie needs an assistant. Can you go work with her? And I'm like, oh, you really don't want me to pursue my dreams? Okay, got it, got it. And so that was like a nine year detour. And I did get to learn so much behind the desk, of course, but.

[Oliver Hudson]

Man, you were an agent for nine years?

[Chrissy Metz]

Yes. So I was out here for 12 before this is Us happened.

[Oliver Hudson]

Were you still. Were you still performing even though you were an agent? You were like, no, I'm an agent now. I'm not singing, I'm not auditioning, I'm not acting. I'm like.

[Chrissy Metz]

I would take like a voice lesson here or there, and I wanted to. John Kirby, who's my acting coach, who's the just love of my life, he. Every time I would see him and a couple other friends would coach with him, he's like, christy, I hope that you join my class sometime. Like, there is something special about you. And I was like, oh, John, you're sweet, but okay. My. And then I finally was like, okay, I'm gonna commit to an acting class while I'm agenting. And like, I could barely get together with my scene partner because I was always working 24 hours a day. And then I got. I booked an arc on American Horror Story, the Freak show season. And I said, oh, my God, my life is starting now. No, it didn't. I did five episodes and it was like the scariest thing ever because Jessica Lange, I'm pretty sure hates me. And if you don't. Okay, thank you. And if you do, I'm sorry. How fucking cool.

[Oliver Hudson]

How cool is that, though? I mean, you booked with. You're working with Jessica Lange.

[Chrissy Metz]

I mean, Kathy Bates, Angel, Aspen, Evan Peters, Emma Roberts. Like, I was like, afraid out of my mind. And like, my first co star was on Entourage and my scene was with James Cameron.

[Oliver Hudson]

Really?

[Chrissy Metz]

When I tell you I was scared, I'll never forget. I called my manager and I was like, I can't do it. And she's like, you put your big girl panties on and you figure it out, but. Because what happened was I had a really crazy line that they rewrote, and I didn't get to audition with it. This is Entourage. And so there's the fake Harvey Weinstein. It's when they're at Sundance, and Adrienne Grenier's character is Aquaman, and it's premiering, and James Cameron comes, and I'm just the counter girl. That was the role. And I'll never forget the line now. But during rehearsal, I could not get the line. And drama was like, don't even worry about it. I'll give you my baby sides. And I was like, what are baby sides? Like, I don't know what you're talking about. I was petrified. And so I called my manager. I was like, I. I can't do this.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

So the scene goes up. We're on the day. James says, I go through the line, flub it again. And he goes, is there something that I'm doing? And I'm like, you're like, yes, yes, Mr. Cameron.

[Oliver Hudson]

It's you.

[Chrissy Metz]

It's all you. Because I'm intimidated. And I was like, oh, I'll never gonna do this. Like, I can't.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

Like, I can't do this. And I cried, like, all the way home. And I was like, I'm terrible. This will never happen again.

[Oliver Hudson]

What's the line?

[Chrissy Metz]

What's the scene? God. So he comes up to me and says, oh, gosh. Something about, like, wanting a water, right? And I was like, oh, can I ask you a question, Mr. Cameron? He's like, yeah, sure. Some random counter girl. And I said, was the sinking of the ship an attempt to foreshadow the forthcoming sinking of the tech market in 2000? Right.

[Oliver Hudson]

To be fair, that's not easy.

[Chrissy Metz]

Thank you.

[Oliver Hudson]

That's. That's a mouth. That's a mouthful.

[Chrissy Metz]

Thank you. I appreciate that. And all his response was, no, I just wanted to make little girls cry.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

Oh, okay.

[Oliver Hudson]

So tongue twister.

[Chrissy Metz]

Tongue twister.

[Oliver Hudson]

Especially when the nerves kick in. You're dead.

[Chrissy Metz]

Oh, my God. And Turtle was like, what's going on? And I was like, oh, my God. Everybody hates me.

[Oliver Hudson]

Oh, I had a cause. I did Dawson's Creek. I did the last year of Dawson's Creek Creek. And that dialogue was always so mouthy, you know, Kevin Williams. But it was. It was like. It was always just very specific. And I had this big. Not big, but medium speech. And it was pushing up against lunch and the nerves. I Was new. You know, the nerves start to kick.

[Chrissy Metz]

In and then you're.

[Oliver Hudson]

And then you're dead. Yeah, that's it. Yeah, it just goes to blank. And now there's pressure. We're now going into sort of, you.

[Chrissy Metz]

Know, over time or whatever. Yes, blah, blah, blah.

[Oliver Hudson]

And it's like, I couldn't get it. They had a break for lunch. I was gonna kill myself. It was horrendous.

[Chrissy Metz]

You know, people don't really understand, like, unless they're in it. Do you know? Because like, you, you just feel like. I feel like, oh, my God, the writers are talking about me. They're gonna write me out of the show. They're gonna kill me off the show, whatever. Like it's always so.

[Oliver Hudson]

I think that's natural for all actors to be like. I mean, even, maybe even if you're Meryl Streep. I don't even know, but.

[Chrissy Metz]

I don't know. But.

[Oliver Hudson]

But maybe she doesn't. But it's like you finish a take and like what they're saying about me.

[Chrissy Metz]

I know.

[Oliver Hudson]

And then I would go through these things much. I'm much better now. But in the beginning, you know, the end of the day, the showrunner, director, producer would go, you know, other actors, like, hey, man, amazing. You were an amazing. You're amazing today. I'm like, is he gonna send it to me? And then it's like, hey, I'll see you tomorrow. I'm like, oh, my God, I'm not. I'm nobody. No, he didn't, he didn't say, you're good. I mean, this, this is the. That would go through my.

[Chrissy Metz]

The overanalyzation of every single language. Like, did he look at me weird? Was he disappointed? Why didn't he come and ask me if I wanted to sit with him at lunch? Like, I'm like, oh, wow, Chrissy. Like, this is torture. Torture.

[Oliver Hudson]

I don't think we're alone. I think this is more. I think this is more natural than we even think. I think a lot of actors feel.

[Chrissy Metz]

Stop this. Because it's too much.

[Oliver Hudson]

I know. But before we get out of here, the Hunting Wives. I haven't seen it yet. I have friends who've called me and said, you got, you have to watch this show.

[Chrissy Metz]

She's wild. She's a wild ride. Yeah, it's. It's certainly when I read it, it's, you know, as, you know, like then seeing it.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

You're like, oh, this is kind of shocking.

[Oliver Hudson]

Yeah.

[Chrissy Metz]

Luckily my character was, you know, this very sweet, God fearing Woman who sort of like, grounded the whole series because she. Well, dare I say, she's the only one with morals. But it was really cool to work with everybody and it was cool to do something different, you know, because it's. It's the most wonderful thing to have a job that's changed your life and created so many opportunities. But, like, literally, people don't even consider me as Chrissy Metz. They're like, oh, Kate Pearson. Which, I get it.

[Oliver Hudson]

Fine.

[Chrissy Metz]

Like, fine. But, like, doesn't mean I don't want to do other roles, you know, so it's interesting. People at the airport were like, justice for star. So I won't give you any. I won't spoil anything. I won't spoil it. But it was also cool to play someone who's southern because I am from Florida and. And I know women like her and. Yeah, it's just been. It's so wild because people are really into it. Like, I crazy. Billions of minutes of watching and people loved it. I mean, all demographics have come up to me and there's something for everyone. I like to say, there's something for everyone. And it's a fun watch.

[Oliver Hudson]

I know. I'm gonna watch. Yeah, I'm gonna watch.

[Chrissy Metz]

All right.

[Oliver Hudson]

Well, if you want, I'm going to. All my friends are coming to watch and you know, of course it's great, but they're like, like, it's really, like, highly sexual.

[Chrissy Metz]

I'm like, yeah, she's very sexy. It's a very sexy show. I said, mom, I'm not watching this with you. She watched it by herself. Little cheeky little minks. But yeah. Anyway, thanks for having me.

[Oliver Hudson]

This was so fun. I've.

[Chrissy Metz]

Maybe one day I'll come back if I get a return. An invitation.

[Oliver Hudson]

Of course you have a return.

[Chrissy Metz]

A lot to talk about.

[Oliver Hudson]

We have a lot to talk about.

[Chrissy Metz]

We've just scratched.

[Oliver Hudson]

We have. We have. We're more like than maybe we knew.

[Chrissy Metz]

I know.

[Oliver Hudson]

This has been fun.

[Chrissy Metz]

I know.

[Oliver Hudson]

Well, good luck on your. All of your journeys.

[Chrissy Metz]

Thank you.

[Oliver Hudson]

You know, you have many. Anyway, I love you. Thank you.

[Chrissy Metz]

Thank you. It was so good to chat. Thanks, guys.

[Sponsor Voice - Tommy Bahama / Airbnb]

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[Oliver Hudson]

A new NFL season means a fresh start and fresh styles. @nflshop.com you'll find the latest jerseys, hats and sideline gear to rep your team all season long.

[Sponsor Voice - Better Picks]

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[Oliver Hudson]

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[Chrissy Metz]

Learn more at chase. Com Sapphire reserve cards issued by Morgan Chase bank and a member FDIC, subject to credit approval. This is an iHeart podcast.