Chrissy Metz on Faith, Prayer and Her Movie, ‘Breakthrough’

Hi. I’m Chrissy Metz, star of a new feature film titled Breakthrough. So Breakthrough is my first feature film leading—very exciting. But of course, people know me as Kate Pearson from This Is Us. I got to star alongside Josh Lucas, Topher Grace, Mike Colter.

Based on a true story of a family set in St. Louis, Missouri—a miraculous story of really faith and collective consciousness, and the love surrounding my son—my adopted son. Of course, the character Joyce Smith’s son falls through an icy lake and is pronounced dead. And really, through the community and the belief of faith in prayer and love, he actually comes back to life.

The message of Breakthrough, I believe, is really about our collective consciousness of faith and love. You know, the community of St. Louis really came together and prayed for John, and of course, the entire Smith family. So Breakthrough is a real-life true story of the Smith family—Joyce and John and, of course, Pastor Jason and Brian, who is Joyce’s husband.  

I hope viewers take away a sense of not only self-love, but a love of community and a love of family. And that we really are a force when we’re together. And because we are so much more alike than we are different, that when it comes to really difficult life events, it really sort of pulls us all together in a really beautiful way.

And sometimes it feels as if these tragedies—you can never overcome them. But you really can with—whether it’s a community or your family, or people that you love. And also, it brings people together that might not have ever been even in the same path as you. I think the message is really about community, and that we’re stronger together than we are apart.

Faith and prayer play a huge part in my life. I really try to start my day with gratitude, which is, of course, another way to pray, I believe. And I really am just sort of rooted in gratitude when I—before I even put my feet on the ground. And my faith absolutely plays a huge role in everything that I do. My best friend and I, we often pray together. Sometimes I call him when I’m feeling a little anxious or worried.

Oh, I think being kind is probably the most important thing that you could ever do. Nobody is going to, at your funeral, talk about how many cars you had in your garage or how many numbers were in your bank account, but how you treated someone. And how you helped them, or how you showed up for them. And I think being kind—what’s really amazing about being kind is the more kind you are, the more that that kindness will come back to you, so it’s this beautiful, cyclical thing that you can only keep what you give away.

You know, it’s sort of words to live by, but “If you can’t be kind, then be quiet.” And I think that’s something that’s really important. And because that stems from “Hurt people hurt people,” that I really don’t feel like anyone wants to be unkind. I feel that they’re either troubled or they’re going through something and they don’t know how to convey that, and they’re reaching out for help or for love. And so you can be kind, and you can show them mercy, when seemingly they least deserve it—is probably the most important thing.