Mandy Moore has always been comfortable talking about women's health. For example, growing up, birth control was never a taboo topic. "But I understand that not everybody finds themselves in that situation," she tells Cosmopolitan.com. This is why Mandy recently teamed up with Merck for the Her Life Her Adventures campaign, which encourages women to start having conversations about birth control and family planning. "I think there should be more transparency around this conversation," she says. "Anything that champions and supports women's causes, I'm a big proponent of being able to use my platform and help inspire this dialogue."
This might also explain why Mandy chose to respond to accusations that she had used Photoshop on Instagram earlier this week. (Accompanying a series of photos from her visit to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Mandy wrote, "I am 5'10 and a size 6. I have NEVER photoshopped pictures. That's not what I'm about.") "I guess I shouldn't have said anything, but I didn't Photoshop!" she tells me two days later. "I'm not some teeny tiny person and I don't pride myself. Look, I like to take care of myself and I try to eat healthy and I work out, but I'm a tall girl with a real body. I don't know, I've never been accused of that before. I felt like I had to jump in and say something because we don't need to be talking about people's bodies. Not on my Instagram, at least. If that's the conversation that needs to be had elsewhere, go for it. Maybe it's best not to [comment] but my fans were hurt and I also just wanted to be truthful."
Here, Mandy opens up about Her Life Her Adventures, Kate and Rebecca's relationship on This Is Us season two, and her favorite version of Rebecca.
What advice would you give to some of the younger This Is Us fans on how to approach a sensitive topic like birth control?
It is sensitive and I understand it's a very personal decision when it comes to figuring out your family planning goals and what your birth control options are. To me, the most important takeaway is to encourage women to talk to their own health provider and doctor. I'm not a doctor, so I'm not going to sit here and review all the different options. But I think that it's most important for girls to have that conversation with their doctor. That will illuminate everything.
On the show, we've already seen Jack and Rebecca give a sex talk to Kevin (briefly, in "Jack Pearson's Son"). Will we see something similar with teen Kate?
Absolutely. There's nothing that we've shot as of yet that relates to that, but hopefully we'll be around for a long time so we'll have plenty of time to explore those kinds of issues. I definitely think that will factor in somewhere along the way.
What's the biggest lesson you've taken from playing Rebecca in all the different time periods?
I love that no matter what it's always family first. As a woman who's newly-engaged and looking forward to that next chapter of my life, I think she's inspiring in that regard. She's doing her level best and maybe not everyone always agrees with some of the more unpopular choices she's made in her life but I think she's doing alright. She's loyal to the bone and I think she's a pretty terrific mother, wife, and friend. I've learned a lot about what it means to be truly patient as well when it comes to parenting.
Do you have a favorite version of of her?
I like the late-'80s the most, when the kids are 9. I think Milo [Ventimiglia] and I both agree. For the most part, it's a happier time in the marriage. We have kids and are busy, we have a lot going on in our lives. I always love working with the 9-year-olds. It's the least amount of hair and makeup for us. Any other time, I'm in a wig or age makeup, or another wig or long extensions. Same with Milo, he just has his mustache. He's growing his mustache back out right now. We have the best connection with that time period.
How has playing Rebecca affected your relationships with the women in your life?
It's made me appreciate my mom all the more. And the other mothers in my orbit, in my life, friends of mine. I don't know how people do it. It's the ultimate sacrifice in every regard. I definitely see echoes of my relationship with my mom and Rebecca and Kate's relationship. Chrissy [Metz] and I were just talking about this yesterday. It's funny how people can take different sides of that particular argument or disagreement. I can see both sides too. As a daughter, I recognize that I treat my mom like that sometimes, I feel terrible. But I can also understand her side of it. She did nothing wrong! It's like, no one's right and no one's wrong. I love that, even though it's a television show, there's no resolution at the end of that second episode ["A Manny-Splendored Thing"] because that's an ongoing relationship. In real life, it's the way you talk to one another. You don't leave saying, "I'm sorry, we're good," and you move on with life. It's not always black-and-white. There's a lot of gray area. I'm really excited to explore more of that particular relationship because it has real weight and consequence for both of them, moving forward in their life.
The show has taken a huge risk with handling something as serious as Jack's alcoholism. How does the subject resonate with you?
I have had personal relationships with [people with] addiction in my own life. I'm really compelled by the fact that the show is starting to tackle that particular issue. I really applaud that. Again, even in the sense of what we're trying to do with this campaign, if we can get some of the stigma and taboo out of talking about addiction and alcoholism is important. And showing the ramifications and consequences that it takes on someone's personal relationships and family life, and the toll it takes on all of that, I think it's really important to highlight as well. And how obviously there's no right or wrong answer. There's no one way to push forward and work through that and work on oneself when they're tackling those issues. I'm interested to see how this carries forward in this man's life and the life of his family. I think it's important.
It seems like there hasn't really been a show that's explored alcoholism like this – how it affects a family. What do you think the hold up has been?
I think maybe there's been hesitance to do it before, with a lot of preachy-er after school specials. I think the trick with this show is, on the multitude of different issues, whether it's that or obesity or adoption, I think it speaks to the level of writing. [Show creator] Dan Fogelman really wears his heart on his sleeve but nothing ever ventures into schmaltzy territory. I think that's what allows us to explore these issues on a ground level without making it feel, again, that it's preachy.
I'm not ready to shed more tears this season.
Oh get ready. Buckle up!
This Is Us airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC.
This has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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