Chrissy Metz
She brought profound emotional honesty and body positivity to network television as the beloved Kate Pearson on This Is Us.
Born 1980 (age 46)·American actress·Birthday: September 29·Generation X
Biography
Chrissy Metz's journey to stardom was anything but overnight. Before landing the role that would define her career, she worked as a talent agent's assistant in Hollywood, a period of hustle and hope that informed her grounded perspective. Her breakthrough came with the casting as Kate Pearson in NBC's 'This Is Us,' a character whose struggles with weight, self-worth, and family dynamics resonated with millions. Metz didn't just play the part; she infused it with a raw vulnerability that challenged narrow industry standards and made her a symbol of representation. Her performance, praised for its lack of vanity, earned major award nominations and cemented her status as an actress who could carry deep, complex narratives. Beyond acting, she has authored a memoir and advocates for mental health, using her platform to discuss the very personal battles that mirror those of her iconic character.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Chrissy was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chrissy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Chrissy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role in 'This Is Us'.
- Nominated for two Golden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Kate Pearson.
- Published the memoir 'This Is Me: Loving the Person You Are Today,' which became a New York Times Best Seller.
- Starred in the major studio film 'Breakthrough,' portraying the real-life mother of a boy who survived a tragic accident.
Did You Know?
She moved to Los Angeles with only $15 in her pocket to pursue her entertainment dreams.
Metz is a certified life coach.
She performed the song "I'm Standing with You" for the 'Breakthrough' soundtrack, which was considered for an Academy Award nomination.
Her first acting credit was a small role in the TV series 'Entourage' in 2005.
““Your body is the vehicle to your dreams. Respect it.””
