'I've always been chubby!': This Is Us star Chrissy Metz reveals mom took her to Weight Watchers at 11-years-old

By Bobbie Whiteman For Dailymail.com

Published: 18:22 EST, 26 October 2016 | Updated: 18:46 EST, 26 October 2016

She has battled with her weight since childhood.

But now Chrissy Metz can thank her heavier build for landing her the lead role in NBC's 45-minute comedy drama This Is Us.

And the 36-year-old is also grateful that she has become a role model for heavier women, young and old, she told People in the current issue, out on Friday.

Heavy-weight actress: This Is Us star Chrissy Metz, pictured at a Hollywood event on October 13, is grateful that the show has made her a role model for heavier women, young and old

She plays Kate in the series that follows a group of people all dealing with life as they hit 36.

Chrissy revealed  she understands the pain that eight-year-old Kate, played in flashbacks by Mackenzie Hancsicsak, felt during a recent episode as she learned to be ashamed of her body for the first time - because it happened to her.

Size 'was always something I was cognizant of. I’ve pictures of when I was three and four-years old, and I’ve always been chubby,' the beautiful brunette revealed.

'I remember being at Weight Watchers at, like, 11 years old and my mom just trying to figure it out for me,' Chrissy said.

Big star: Size 'was always something I was cognizant of. I’ve pictures of when I was three and four, and I’ve always been chubby,' the beautiful brunette, pictured in September, revealed

'It’s one of those things where it’s heartbreaking because, as a parent, you want your child to have the best life possible and you want them to be protected and in this little bubble where everybody finds them to be beautiful and perfect and their lives to be amazing. But that’s not always the case.'

Chrissy revealed she had a physically active childhood playing with her four siblings and riding her bike around their Miami neighbourhood. 

But she made poor food choices, such as polishing off a whole tray of freshly baked brownies with a friend when she was young.

 Role model: Chrissy plays Kate in NBC's This Is Us where her body-positive message struck a chord with viewers 'so far beyond acting and so far beyond my dreams,' she told People

 'When I turned 30, I had this epiphany that my life is my own and my choices are my own,' she says, adding that she put aside others’ opinions to 'focus on who I am, business or no business, actress or no actress. 

'And things just kind of started falling into place. There definitely was a shift.'

Since then, she's had a recurring story arc in American Horror Story before breaking out in This Is Us where her body-positive message has struck a chord with viewers 'so far beyond acting and so far beyond my dreams,' she told People.

'I just feel really grateful that I can pursue my dreams and also reach people in ways that I never expected.' 

This Is Us airs Tuesday nights at 9/8c on NBC.

The Big 3-0: Since hitting the milestone birthday 'things have started falling into place.' She had a recurring story arc in American Horror Story, above, before landing the lead in This is Us

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