Chrissy Metz counts herself a fan of This Is Us years after playing Kate Pearson, though there are still scenes she cannot bear to rewatch.
“I mean, as a fan, obviously when William passed away,” Metz, 44, exclusively told Us Weekly on Wednesday, April 9, while promoting her children’s book When I Talk to God, I Talk About Feelings. “And then, now knowing that Ron [Cephas Jones] has transitioned, it’s like, ‘I can’t watch that.’”
During the debut season of This Is Us, Randall (Sterling K. Brown) reunited with his biological father (played by Cephas Jones) amid William’s private cancer battle. The character died during season 1, though Cephas Jones continued to make onscreen cameos in flashback scenes for the remainder of the show. Cephas Jones himself died in 2023 at the age of 66 due to heart-related issues.
This Is Us, NBC’s heart-wrenching drama created by Dan Fogelman, aired for six seasons from 2017 to 2022. The series chronicled the lives of the Pearson family — parents Jack and Rebecca with children Kevin, Kate and Randall — across multiple timelines. Metz, for her part, portrayed the adult version of daughter Kate.
“When Kate and Toby experienced the miscarriage, that was really difficult,” Metz told Us, referring to onscreen husband Chris Sullivan’s character and their fertility journey. “That’s something that people often approach me about because it’s something we don’t really talk about.”
She added, “We don’t talk about this and what it means for the relationship, and then the man and also the shame that women experience. Oh, goodness, it’s so complicated. So that one in the way that Rebecca [Mandy Moore] showed up for Kate, and Kate was so vulnerable with her.”
While it’s been years since This Is Us wrapped, Metz found that pieces of Kate have remained with her.
Chrissy Metz. Us Weekly
“I think that we informed each other so much,” Metz recalled to Us. “They pulled some things from my real life and real experiences and relationships and that — it was who I used to be. It’s so strange. Like, how do I [separate]? I mean, I am her; she is me. We are what? I don’t know. It’s wild. I can’t explain it. It feels very strange.”
According to Metz, it was “cathartic” learning from Kate.
Many of Ron Cephas Jones’ former This Is Us costars are honoring his legacy following his death. “Life imitated art today, and one of the most wonderful people the world has ever seen is no longer with us,” Sterling K. Brown wrote via his Instagram on Saturday, August 19. “@cephasjaz has passed away, and the world is a […]
“I think through the insecurities that she and I both shared, and then going through them and just always showing up for myself — even though it was difficult or hard — the things that she went through as a character really helped me to be like, ‘OK, everybody’s going through something and it’s OK, and it’s not going to be perfect. And life is not linear, and healing is difficult,’” Metz said. “I really feel that it was so cathartic.”
In the time since This Is Us concluded, Metz has written two children’s books with cowriter Bradley Collins. Their second, When I Talk to God, I Talk About Feelings, hit bookstores earlier this month.
“Well, when we were doing a bit of our tour during the first book [When I Talk to God, I Talk About You], all the kids would want to talk about their feelings inevitably,” Metz said on Wednesday. “I’m like, ‘Wait, OK.’ And of course … I have a big family, and I know how kids operate, but it’s really amazing when your demographic tells you what they need. I feel like that’s what they did. I mean, I know as an adult I need to talk about my feelings, so it just felt like the right thing to write next.”
Metz wanted to dive into helping kids “name [their] feelings” to bolster confidence.
“We still, I think, are working on that as adults,” the actress explained. “I always say treat the soil and get them when they’re very impressionable and young, and help them to just feel loved and confidently supported. I’m like, ‘Oh, maybe we could change the world in that way’ — as cheesy as it sounds.”
When I Talk to God, I Talk About Feelings, written by Metz and Collins and illustrated by Lisa Fields, is now available from Flamingo Books everywhere books are sold.
