How many shows? Do you know? Been 43 shows. Oh my gosh. Yeah.I'm just getting the hang of it. You're just getting the hang of it. No, I joke, but like, it's hard. It's hard and I'm no spring chicken. Oh, come on.Yeah, no, really, truly, I'm not. And, you know, everybody is so wonderful and it makes it so enjoyable. Like, if I don't go, I I think I've missed three shows and I'm like, miss it when I'm not there, but like, I think 6 months ago, I don't know physically I would have been able to like do this. And thank goodness I've been like, you know, strength training and doing all that cuz I didn't think I was going to be doing in Juliet. I wasn't like I saw it with Kandi Burruss and I loved it, but I wasn't thinking like, oh, I'm going to play that role one day.
And then my publicist was like, why don't you think about it? And I'm like, yeah, right girl, whatever. I don't think that's going to happen. And you know, Jennette who just left the show, she makes it look so easy. I was like, I don't think I can.
But but I'm doing it and it's so fun. It's one of the most challenging things I've ever done, but it's also one of the most rewarding things. It's so different also from television, from movies, from all the other things. And and every time I I think about it, you have eight shows a week. So that's like That's a joke.
Like I'm basically an athlete, guys. Honestly, like eight shows is no, it's like nothing to play with. It is not for the weak. It's not for the faint of heart. And I really think it's a young person's game.
I'm just saying. I'm just saying. Listen, we're young people's game because we have like 30 to 40 years plus left in our lives. So come on, we're not even We're not even I think everything is so different nowadays. We talk a lot on the podcast about, you know, we use these words like, oh, you know, you're in this certain time a certain age in your life, but I honestly feel like these are some of the best years.
Oh, I agree with that 100%. Let's talk about it. Did you think you were going to be here? Like, you know, you always wanted to be a performer? Yes.
For all since you were young? Yeah, I mean, I never thought it was going to happen cuz it wasn't necessarily like supported or encouraged. I was teaching preschool and I love kids. I have a big family. There's 10 nieces and nephews now.
I'm one of five, the middle. I think that sort of preempted my I don't get enough attention at home. Maybe I should be an actor. But I was like the entertaining diplomat, I always say. Like the the moderator between all the fights in my family and stuff and I think I understood people and I love people in in a certain way that lends itself to the TV and film or entertainment.
I just didn't think it would happen. Like, what? Like on paper it doesn't make sense. Well, in person it does. In person it does.
So, so we'll talk about it because, you know, I mean This Is Us was, you know, I'm sure people still I know people are still stopping you screaming out Kate. Oh, yeah. For sure. What is that been like, you know, kind of, you know, going through that and living in the wake of that and now moving on to so many other projects? Yeah, it's hard because I miss the cast.
I miss and we're still friends and we always talk and they're going to come see the show a lot of the my castmates, but it's hard to go I always say like I really started like I shot out of a cannon like the most prolific kind of, you know, network show and then I was like, oh, I I got to do other projects. Most people sort of like, you know, build up to that. And so, it was hard to know that like the show was going to be ending and where who are you without your identity of the for like six years and then I was like, oh, no, like I get to explore so many other sides of what it is that I want to do and obviously being musical theater and my own personal music, writing children's books, like wherever I could be creative is what I really wanted to do, but it's wonderful because people are still like just now discovering This Is Us. Like I was in Italy and there were Italian people in the hotel who were like, oh my god, he's like a I was like, oh my oh my gosh, you just said Kate Pearson in an Italian accent. That is so cute.
And What does that sound like? I right, like Beautiful. They can say anything and it's beautiful. With you. And it's just so nice because the show is something that I think will forever touch people's hearts, no matter when you find it.
And, you know, it's I always say like it's dealing with life on life's terms and we're all trying to figure that out cuz there is no blueprint. Yeah. There's no blueprint. Yeah. I'll let you know if I find it.
I have not found it yet. Please. I I want to go back to the thing you said that those six years not knowing who you were after that. You know, I left a job of 30 years as a career as a journalist and I did struggle with like, who am I without that title? And I think that a lot of the people that listen to this podcast, you you know, we all talk about it.
Like, who am I? Because you do go through different stages of your life, whether it's age, whether it's a job stopping and starting, whether it's being a mom and now your kids have left. I mean, we we all go through that identity shift. Yeah. What was that like for you?
How did you say every day like, I know I'm going to be doing something else? Yeah, you're right. You were shot out of a cannon with that show. Yeah, I think I just realized that we are not one-dimensional people. There's so many things to offer and every single person has so many stories to tell and parts of their their selves to to share and I was like, okay Chrissy, like that was one part and it was wonderful and it changed your your entire life, but there's also other aspects to, you know, and roads to walk down.
And so, I just I really am strong in my faith and I believe that like what is meant for us will find us. No matter I I said before like if we're trying to outrun it, it will hunt you down, thank goodness. And so, I just sort of like just always say like whatever's meant for me, like help it find help it to find me and like that I'm ready for it and to know that like it's okay to have lulls and it's okay to reinvent yourself. We're like that's what we're supposed to do. We can't just be one thing forever.
So, yeah, it was I learned a lot about myself and to give myself grace and patience, but also to try new things. That can be so scary, but there's always like through that fear, the the other side of it is so exciting. Well, it's so exciting right now. You've got a a new show, right? Yeah, an Apple TV show coming out.
So, tell me a little bit about that because that's very different than This Is Us. It was okay. Well, the I joke, but like the most wonderful thing is I was only in the hair and makeup chair for like 10 minutes. Oh, that's a dream, right? Especially when you wake up looking an act like an actual mess.
And I'm like, "Who cares?" I didn't have to prep my skin, do any of that, which is so nice. But, it is a very heavy show. It is based on a a thriller series. So, Stephen Graham plays the serial killer. Liev Schreiber is the detective.
Ozzy Beats. And my children are missing. So, yeah, it was very heavy. I seem to sort of and I'm happy to play the mother who is, you know, going through something or distraught. The tears come very quickly for me and I'm grateful for that.
But it was also just a masterclass in being able to be on set with with everyone. And I'm excited about it cuz I think Apple does such great content. But you know, it's always nerve-wracking cuz you're like, "Oh, what is it going to be like? I don't know." And like, I haven't seen much ADR. Like, you see like 2 minutes.
And I'm like, So, you get to watch it with the rest of us. Yeah. Okay, what about The Hunting Wives? Did you get to watch that? My goodness gracious.
I like to preface anybody who says Hunting Wives that if they haven't seen it, I'm like, "Not in the gym, not on the plane. By yourself. Do not watch it with other people." I did it on the plane. I had to turn my iPad because I'm like, "People I'm literally like, "I'm going to get red face. I'm going to get red face for you because there even reading the script, I was like, oh, I like and I'm by myself in my house.
Like, "Oh my goodness." So, watching it with other people cuz you also feel like, "I shouldn't be doing this. This is this is dirty or something." But, the show ended up being like such a hit that we had no idea that anyone was even going to see it and then to love it. And, you know, it's cute because people are like, "Justice for Star." Like, chasing me in the airport, which I agree with. Justice for Star Jackson and Abby. Spoiler alert if you haven't seen the show.
But, Star, another mom, another distraught mom. Another distraught mom. But, you know, when I read the script, I was like, "Oh, I know this woman who's from the South who's a single mom who's struggling to just literally buy her daughter a pair of boots for a hiking trip, you know? And my subtext was a lot of I think she was friends with these ladies before. Yeah.
Particularly Jill. And things went awry and yeah, they got a divorce and you know, all that. She didn't take care of herself and she was just trying to figure her life out with just her and her daughter. So, yeah, I mean, it was so fun to play with all the ladies. They were so wonderful.
But it was I I we were all shocked about I think it's the reception. Yeah, it's so fun. I I think I love anything you pick turns to gold. Like I really I but you're Look at Look at the Look at the list so far. I've been very lucky.
Yeah. You've also been very confident, it feels like. And And if I feel like you said like, "I want this. I'm going to confident and you're okay to say, it's going to come for me when it comes for me for the time." And that's a different type of confidence, but that is one that that we all need. Yeah, I think confidence is really trust in yourself and that took a while for me to cultivate the trust within myself to make the right decisions for myself or the ones that, you know, I was able to let go of and be okay [clears throat] with saying no, which I think is really hard, especially as women.
You know, we're sort of taught like, "Oh, well, if an opportunity comes, you better say yes, cuz you don't know if it's going to be coming again." Which is sort of true, especially in the entertainment industry, but also just in life. And trying to be intentional with everything I do is it's a practice. How so? It's I I just cuz you have to sit with the decision. Like, "Okay, you know, I'm missing summer with my family for this for Anne Juliette.
I'm missing being with my my partner and my dog and like, I really relish the summer, especially cuz that's typically when I have that family time." And I'm like, "Okay. All right, but I'm doing something I've always wanted to do." So, there's there's always a give and take and I'm like, what am I willing to sacrifice? And hopefully it it means that I've changed or challenged myself or I've grown or I've learned something. Hopefully we learn something in every aspect, but you What do you think you've learned sitting here today versus, you know, when you know, you first walk onto that set of This Is Us? Yeah.
Oh. I think really, I mean, there was a couple of first days on This Is Us that I was like, Chris, I I don't think I can do this. And he's like, yeah, you can. You're here. Yes, you can.
And I'm like, I don't think so. But cultivating that trust that like, okay, I suit up and I show up and that's 90% of it. Mhm. Being a good person, treating people well, that really matters, I think, in the grand scheme of life and what we do. And then if I do the work, then I'm I'm there.
So, just being present is what I really work on. But it's, again, a practice because we can get in our heads and we're like, oh, I shouldn't be here. I don't deserve to be here. And I feel like if I put the work in, then I do deserve to be there. If I'm, you know, matching my cast members and making sure that I'm doing my part tenfold, then I'm like, okay, I deserve to be here.
Yeah. Yeah. This is my chair. Yeah. Yeah.
I am 55 years old now and I have that identity, you know, crisis or whatever we want to call it every once in a while with like, am I too old for this? Are those, you know, should I have done this earlier? But I feel a real shift like I see I feel like this a phenomenon kind of happening right now for women in particular. You know, I talk a lot about perimenopause and menopause. Thank goodness.
Right? We need it. We need it. But we didn't talk about that stuff before. We didn't even talk about our age.
I didn't know it was a thing. Like, I'm like, this is what my mom, my poor mom was going through? No wonder she was so stressed all the time. She didn't even know what's happening. She can't talk to anybody about it.
And this is like, I don't know. I feel like this is a whole new way of life and Mhm. To even talk about it openly and freely about is so like you feel so less alone. You're like, "Oh, I'm not crazy." Like legitimately I'm like, "Wait, this brain fog thing is serious." Like I used to be very witty. Like where are the jokes?
Where did they go? What's happening? And it's and it comes quickly. So I'm so grateful that that you're you know talking about it. Well, thank you for helping us laugh about it, too, because you're right like you do have to laugh about it.
Or you'll cry. Or you'll And that happens Sometimes it's both. That happens sometimes too. Laughing through your tears.
You know, I think we talk a lot about you were talking about the show and how exhausting it can be and yeah just really having to focus on yourself and I think that during this time in our lives we're able to turn that attention back to ourselves. Whether it's the job, whether kids have left home, whether we've got a new partner, whatever it is that we're doing we turn our attention back to ourselves and that's where you are right now. Yeah, which is what a concept. You know, I think especially as women, we always are like everybody else first and then we are told, "Oh, but you have to put the oxygen mask on yourself in order to take care of your family, your friends, or your partner, or your dogs, or your pets, or your home, whatever." And it's like I don't have a choice.
Like I have to magnesium salt bath every night. I have to red light therapy every night. Like my body is like exhausted, but it's great because I haven't taken care of myself in such a way and so consistently. But like I don't have a choice. Whether it's, "Sorry guys, I'm not available to talk on the phone for 2 hours like I used to." Or, you know, call call me on Tuesday cuz I'm really going to take Monday off and binge-watch House of Dragon, you know, dragons.
And so whatever it is that I need to do. Yeah. But I think we need to do it more cuz it only it only behooves it only benefits everybody. You know. You you've done an incredible job of helping women feel seen, being honest, but then sometimes it's not always easy to be honest.
And you're setting out now on another project working with a new company. Can you talk a little bit about that? Yes. So I've been on Ro, which is like for me, you know, it was something that I being on a GLP-1 was something I I was so afraid of of even sort of partaking in and I had a lot of friends who were doing GLP-1s and finding so much success and like feeling better on them. And I'm like, "Yeah, I don't I don't know.
I'm like skeptical sister. Like I No, I don't even like to take ibuprofen. And so I'm like, how is it benefiting you and like what is it? And then, you know, my my father unfortunately passed away from obesity complications and I was like, oh, I can't [snorts] I can't do that. Like I if I can make like a living amends to the relationship we didn't have or to myself or something has to change.
Like if nothing I always say if nothing changes, nothing changes. And for the longest time I think I had so much shame about it. I was like, why can't I get it together? Like why can't I get it right? And Shame because you couldn't take control and you Yeah, like the food noise that was like so prevalent and like so loud.
I thought everybody felt this way. Like I know it sounds so silly now, but I'm like, oh wait, not everybody hears that all the time? Oh, okay. Oh, there's like something chemically off and metabolically off and hereditary, you know, issues. And so really when that happened with my family and my father, I was like, I have to do something about it.
And so yeah, and I've had It's It's nice because I don't think that I would be able I would have the stamina because of just the way that I feel. I feel better on the medication and I the food noise. I mean, aside from just feeling like more energized, but also like the non-scale victories that are so exciting or them having to change my costumes at work because you know, I'm able to do eight shows a week. Like all these things that I didn't even think that were going to be these wonderful side products and byproducts of just [snorts] trying to take care of myself and figure out what was right for me. I think a lot of people, and you're right, that haven't had food noise before don't understand what that is, but it doesn't It's not a shut off where you're like, I'll think about it now.
Oh, I'll just I'll medicate. It doesn't work like that. Can you explain I don't know Yeah, I mean, for me, my food noise was loud. Like I could be literally making breakfast and wondering what I'm going to have for lunch or like what I'm going to have for a snack. Even though like I could have been full or I've probably eaten too much or maybe didn't eat enough.
Whatever it is, it's like oh, I'm obsessing about what I haven't even had yet and that was It's like it's just it's so time-consuming and so even freeing up that space in my brain, I say like I can be more creative or I can be more present because that food noise is gone. I'm like, "Oh, this is amazing." It really really is amazing. Like I didn't think it was possible, you know? Well, I think you know, a lot of us I I I I tackled my own, you know, a disordered eating and food noise for a long time going into TV because TV they wanted you, you know, a certain way. Like that's what they thought you were supposed to be like.
I didn't even know what food noise was. I just knew just like you're saying, it never shut off. Like it just was always in my brain thinking. You know, you you really are a role model for a lot of women. Oh.
You know, not just Kate, but Chrissy. Wow. And I wonder what do you say to those women that are are thinking right now like I I want to feel like you. I want to think about things like you do and I really look up to you for a long time as I followed you through, you know, your career. That's very kind.
I I always say I'm doing it very imperfectly cuz I do not have anything figured out. I just know that I want to feel better. I want to be better. I've if I walk into a room, I want to leave the room better than I found it. Like and if that means I take care of myself physically, mentally, emotionally in ways that I haven't before, like I if I'm doing that, you can do that and you're deserving of that.
Everybody is deserving of that and I think it's hard to put that into practice, yeah, you know? And it's so nice that people look up to me cuz I I find so much inspiration and I look up to so many people that they probably don't know. Who's your role model? Who who do you look up to? Well, certainly my sisters and and my mom who recently passed away.
Yeah, just like they're tough women who just really just get things done and it's like, you know, I'm a very emotional person as we can all see. And they just inspire me to like also speak up for myself because I'm the tamest lady in my family if that means Can you believe that? Like they don't take BS and I'm like, oh yeah, I don't need to take BS either. I just do it in a in a calmer way, but they just, you know, two my youngest two sisters are mothers of three and four kids and they run a household. I just don't understand I can barely I'm like, do I have clean underwear on?
I think so. Like it's just amazing. Moms are amazing. I don't have children myself, so I I give it up to moms. And so selfless and I really try to encourage them and I think they're inspired by me that I'm pursuing things that I want to do and hopefully they'll do that as well when, you know, the kids are a little older and they can pursue their passions, but yeah, I'm just inspired by anybody who's like literally just gets up another day and is like okay, I'm I feel like living in New York is like you're going to battle every day just to get to work.
I'm like, how do people do this? So I'm inspired all the time everywhere. By all of New Yorkers. No, legitimately. Like I really am.
It's wow. You you talk about your mom and I'm so sorry she's gone. She was your rock? Yeah. [snorts] What would she say seeing you up on that stage every night? Oh.
Yeah, she Oh, she would be very I know that she's very proud and it's funny cuz my sister's like, you know, mom was here and I could feel her around here, but I feel like she's in New York with you now. So is she going to I was like, don't worry, she's everywhere. She's everywhere all at once now. But I know that she'd be very proud of me because you know, it's not that I don't have people and naysayers and people who comment all kinds of stuff still to this day. Like I don't know when people will stop doing that.
I don't think it ever will happen, but going through that and still like doing what you want to do is honestly like an act of rebellion because and my mom was kind of rebellious in that way. Like she was like, I'm doing what I want to do. And I think part of me is definitely, you know, from her. Like and in such a big way that I'm able to like get on the stage every night and not worry about what other people think. At least for two and a half hours.
You know, and then the comment sections come up blazing and you're like, whatever. Do you even read those? You know what? I don't mean to. Yeah.
I don't mean to, but it's very funny. My sister and I were laughing last night. There's like a second removed cousin aunt, somebody I've never met this this family member. And she was like, I'm so happy that you're taking control of your weight. She's like, weight has always been an issue in our family.
I'm like, it be your own family. Like my sister and I were crying. I said, not my own family member I've never even met. But like it's funny and you know, she she's an overweight woman. So like she gets it.
So I can take it from her, but the other comments are a little it's wild to me. Like when Brene Brown would say like, you're not in the ring. You're not with the blood, sweat, and the tears in the ring. You're from the cheap seats. Like you let me know when you get on the stage and sing for two and a half hours.
You let me know how you work that out. So it's interesting what people say cuz would they ever say it to you on the streets? Never. Never. They're like, oh Chrissy, you're pretty, but them eyebrows.
I'm like, oh my god. It doesn't matter what I do. It doesn't matter. Oh, you know what? Why did you do Why did you wear that?
Why did you do this? Like why Why aren't you losing weight? Oh, you're losing weight. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter what you do and I know it's not personal, but it's it can be taxing, but you sometimes just got to just shut it off cuz no matter what you do, somebody's going to have something to say.
You're the one on that stage. That is correct. Yes, you are. The one. That is the one to think about, yeah.
You are such a gem. Aw. Thank you. You're not finished yet. You got a lot more ahead of you.
Yeah, I hope so. You What do you want? What do you look forward to? What is like that next thing that you go, "Okay, I had to do Broadway." I guess that You said that somewhere, right? Like "I had to do Broadway." And now you're on Broadway.
Okay, bucket list. What's next on the bucket list? I would really love to star in a comedy or dramedy of you know, some sort. I just feel like people are like, "Oh, she cries a lot." And I do. But I really thought comedy was going to be my thing.
Like I thought I was like going to be like the SNL girl. Like that's, you know. So I'd love to do a comedy. I'd love to produce projects and I'd have a production company. I love to maybe write a musical.
Yeah, I'm working on like a one-woman show. So we'll see if that ever comes to fruition. Well, when it does, I would love to have you back here to talk about it. Aw, thank you. I'd love to.
Yeah. So, you know, and also just like be happy. Whatever that sort of looks like day-to-day. Like that's really the goal for all of us, so. Yeah.
Thank you so much. Aw, no, my pleasure. You have like seven more shows to do this week or whatever it It's okay. Right here right now we're together and present and that's I really have to compartmentalize. Like that is really important for me.
It's like I have to be present or I'm you're not present at all. My relationship with my dad was difficult growing up because I I didn't really feel like he was present for me and he was in the Navy and very close with my brother, but didn't really I never really felt close to him. And then when he passed away, we were estranged, which was even harder because I actually realized like, "Oh, there are things about him that I are like got from him and things that are good that I didn't even really know and I didn't get to sort of see until after he was gone and a relationship that wasn't cultivated. So, it's also you know, you grieve the relationship that wasn't. And so, I'm like, "Okay, I could imagine like what if he had access to medication that could have helped him or if he made different choices or he was maybe more vocal about the choices he wanted to make for himself." And I think weight for men is a different thing than it is for women.
So, I do wonder like what and how we could have bonded through that and through those issues or like did he have guilt about it because my sister and I are, you know, have always dealt with our our weight. So, it's a very complicated relationship that I still don't have answers and which is unfortunate. And so, that's why it's also really important for me to like do something different. What would you have wanted to ask him if you could ask him something? Oh, I think I think I'd want to ask him like why he had food issues and like where that pain and that suffering came from because people people aren't addicted to anything for no reason.
Like there's something. And perhaps we had more in common than maybe he even knew. So, yeah, I think I would just just want to like pick his brain and like know his heart in a way that I never had a chance to. And it's very very crazy to even say that now because I resented him for a long time. For a very very long time.
And ironically, the relationship with Kate and Jack from This Is Us really sort of healed a part of that because I got to have a relationship, even though it was on TV, with a loving father that was like present and there. And then I realized like, "Oh, people really can only meet you where they can meet you." And so, that was also something hard to deal with, you know. That that relationship that you played that that role really taught you. Yeah. Oh.
That role. 100 bajillion percent. Like changed my life in every single way. People have a lot of opinions about that. Oh, yeah. Oh, listen.
Oh, yeah. They have a lot of opinions about everything, but they have a lot of opinions about that relationship. To this day, what do people come up and talk to you about? They're like, "I don't understand why you and Toby." And I was like, "Hold on." And they always want to like go to bat for Toby. And I'm like, "Wait a second." I told Toby at that weight loss meeting that I was not prepared for a relationship, and he still pursued, and he still persisted, and while that's very romantic and sweet, I wasn't ready.
Kate was not ready. And so then it like it was a domino effect. And then he wasn't honest about his weight loss, and like I'm sorry, but like I'm not saying I'm a victim. Kate wasn't a victim per se because we're all a part of our own story, but like Toby was a not like he was not the little perfect little boy that everybody thinks he was. And that's what's beautiful about Dan Fogelman and the writing of the show Mhm.
Is it's complex, it's layered, it's nobody's bad, and nobody's good. We're just people trying to figure it out. But yeah, people love to go to bat for Toby. And I love you, Chris, but they really try to go to bat for Toby. It's real.
It's real. Yeah, and I'm sure they see themselves in I know they see themselves in the show and the characters. So, yeah. Is there advice that you would give to a woman that feels like she's running out of time because timelines are so prevalent in our lives? Yeah, I don't really understand time.
Like I don't have a concept of time. And maybe that's helped me in my career. But I think that when we know better, we do better. And I think that typically ends up as we age, like we're so I mean amazing. Like women are like incredible with our capabilities, but also like we're only getting better with age, and I really I truly believe that.
But I also think that like time really like what is time? Like what is it? And I think that if you if something's placed up on your heart, you're get you're never given a vision without a provision. So, like it doesn't matter. Like it doesn't you're never too late.
I I feel like everything is exactly how it's supposed to be and on time when it's supposed to be because all the other things, all the failures, all the no's, the yes's all lead up to like the next decision. And yeah, there's never I don't know. Time time does not exist for me. It sounds so silly. It doesn't.
I love it. I hear from a lot of young women that are and they they're looking for like you know, what what does the future hold? A lot of them are are tackling right now. Like should I have children? Should I not?
I feel this pressure. My career should be better. And it makes me sad because I but I do understand it and I I think that it's it's really difficult as a as a young woman to feel like you're living by that timeline. And I also think we the compare and despair thing is not helpful. Your life is not going to be my life and thank goodness because I get to learn and glean from you and vice versa and like all of our stories and all of our journeys only sort of help each other.
So, we can't do it all at the same time. We can't do all the same things because what's the point? How boring would that be? Honestly. It would be very dull.
Boring. Yeah. So, I don't know. I just I would say like you're never running out of time. Like never.
You can never and just do what you want to do, damn it. Chrissy, thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
