United Kingdom, July 1 -- 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 ...