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Chrissy Metz required to lose weight for 'This Is Us' — but it was a 'win-win'

Chrissy Metz has revealed that because her character will be shedding pounds on the show, she must do so in real life — in fact, it's in her contract.
/ Source: TODAY

Chrissy Metz became an instant fan favorite when she made her primetime debut as Kate Pearson, a 36-year-old personal assistant struggling with her weight, on the new hit NBC drama "This Is Us."

Now Metz has revealed that because her character will be shedding pounds on the show, she must do so in real life — in fact, it's in her contract.

"In our contract, it did state that that would be a part of it, to lose the weight in the trajectory of the character as she comes to find herself,” the 37-year-old actress told TVLine.

Chrissy Metz
Chrissy Metz arrives at an event hosted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and InStyle to celebrate the 2017 Golden Globe Award Season at Catch LA on Nov. 10, 2016.Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images

But, says the star, she happily signed on the dotted line, knowing it would be "motivation" to slim down.

“That was a win-win for me," she continued. "Because it’s one thing to try to do it on your own. But as human beings, it’s an ego thing: We’re more likely to do something for someone else.”

RELATED: Chrissy Metz of 'This is Us' on being a plus-size woman in Hollywood

TODAY reached out to Metz for further comment, but the actress declined to respond.

Viewers of the critically acclaimed show, which debuted in September, have seen Kate join Overeaters Anonymous and find romance with her fellow OA member Toby (Chris Sullivan). They've watched as the couple experiences triumphs and setbacks on their weight loss journeys.

Metz, who recently talked to TODAY about being a plus-size woman in Hollywood, knows that some fans may feel she's "selling out" by slimming down.

"I just have to be very clear,” she said. “Whether or not I lose weight or stay the same, it’s purely a choice of mine for health. Not because I think that plus size, curvy, voluptuous, big bodies aren’t attractive — because I think they’re awesome and sexy."

“So I’ll just have to make sure that’s known, because I’m not selling out the big girls," she said. “I don’t do that. That’s not me.”