Why Mandy Moore Says This Is Us Inspired Her Return to Music

Mandy Moore (Rebecca) may have just wrapped filming the sixth and final season of This Is Us, but she's not slowing down any time soon. The actress' latest album, In Real Life, drops on May 13. She'll then set out on a U.S. summer tour, which kicks off in Atlanta on June 10. 

During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Moore revealed that her role on This Is Us inspired her return to music. The actress' last release, 2020's Silver Landings, marked her first album after more than a decade.

"Unbeknownst to me, when I got cast, [show creator] Dan Fogelman decided to make my character's backstory music-related," she said, referring to Rebecca's dreams of becoming a singer. "And it kind of sent me into the studio very early on in the first season...I hadn't made a record in five, six, seven years at that point. And it activated something in me that pushed me to start writing and get in the studio and make a record."

This Is Us fans will be happy to know the star also spilled minor details about what's to come in the last two episodes of the show. She even explained why the penultimate episode (now famously) made her throw up. 

"Maybe that's just because it's really close to the bone for me," Moore said. "This has been my life for the past six years, and it's like I simultaneously have to say goodbye to the character, to my family and friends on set, and this character is also coincidentally saying goodbye, as well. But I still think that you might need a day off from work. The finale is a bit more of a hug. There's a little bit more levity. The second to last destroyed me, I have a feeling it might destroy people, too." 

This Is Us airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. Catch up now on NBC.com.