This Is Us star Eris Baker opens up on her character’s sexuality

Eris Baker as Tess in an episode of NBC hit show This Is Us.

Young actor Eris Baker has opened up on her character’s sexuality on the NBC hit show This Is Us.

The popular drama, starring Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore among others, tells the story of the different generations of the Pearson family.

13-year-old Baker portrays Tess Pearson, a present-day teenager struggling with her sexuality.

In the Thanksgiving episode of season three last year, Tess came out to her aunt Kate, played by Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Chrissy Metz.

‘Pretty soon, you’re going to have your first kiss and your first boyfriend,’ Kate tells her niece.

‘Or girlfriend,’ Tess replied to her aunt.

Later this season, the girl tells her parents Randall (Emmy and Golden Globe winner Sterling K. Brown) and Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) she might be gay.

The response has been ‘amazing’

In a video interview with BuzzFeed, Baker explained the response to her character’s coming out journey has been ‘amazing’.

‘It’s been so lovely because I know that we live in a world of hatred and the response and the love that I was getting, the feedback I was getting, was beautiful,’ she said.

She also pointed out the importance of having an LGBTI character on a beloved show such as This Is Us, boasting a huge fandom.

‘It’s all about embracing love,’ she said.

Baker further revealed she researched thoroughly to play the role realistically.

‘I was doing my research, because I have no idea what it’s like to portray a role like that,’ she admitted.

‘I saw that there’s not lots of young girls who are coming out to their parents on national television so I definitely took it to heart.’

She further discussed this season of the show, where her fictional parents’ marriage seems to be going through a hard time.

Baker then said she hopes Randall and Beth will stay together as they’re ‘couple goals’.

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