Chrissy Metz didn't want Juliet bosses to consider her a 'charity case'
Chrissy Metz has been showered with praise from critics for her Broadway debut in Juliet, but said she was determined to prove she was right for the role - and didn’t want to be considered a “charity case” because of her previous TV roles.
Chrissy Metz didn’t want Juliet bosses to give her a role in the Broadway show without her “working for it”.
The This Is Us star has been showered with praise from critics for her debut in the titular role of the musical, but said she was determined to prove she was right for the role - and didn’t want to be considered a “charity case” because of her previous TV roles.
She told TheaterMania: “I didn’t want to be a charity case or get it because I was on television. I wanted to work for it and I wanted it to mean something.
“We had some meetings and I auditioned. I wanted to get it fair and square and if they didn’t see me for the role, then I didn’t want it.
“I even told them I was unavailable, and they kept pushing it!”
Chrissy’s Juliet role also requires her to dance - something she isn’t naturally comfortable with.
So when it came to heading to initial rehearsals, Chrissy found herself breaking down.
She continued: “The first couple of days I cried. I called my boyfriend and said, ‘This isn’t for me. It’s too hard. Who do I think I am?’
“He said, ‘You’ll regret it if you don’t see it through. You don’t want to quit something you’ve wanted for so long because it got difficult. That’s when you excel.’
“I came home very discouraged, but I kept pushing forward. I think what’s really special about live theatre is that you’ll never have a perfect show.
“[Theatre is] such a great metaphor for life. If you keep showing up, you’re going to get better. The thing I’ve most taken away is to just have fun.”
Chrissy is also the first plus size actress to take on the Juliet role, and loves the fact that her costume was “really tailored” to her and her body.
She said: “That was so refreshing. Whether they are making modifications for me or letting me bring my own spirit and interpretation to the role, it’s so meta.
“I love that Angelique tells Lance how she wants things, and realises she doesn’t have to settle. As a plus-size woman, as a human, that’s a big deal. Plus-size women have trouble drawing boundaries.
“In the arts we feel we should just be happy with the crumbs. In the show, Angelique is like, ‘You can give me the whole buffet, I am not just taking the crumbs.’”
