The actress, 46, plays McKinley High's tough yet tender football coach Shannon Beiste, who's also a formidable foe to resident bully Sue Sylvester
DOES YOUR SIZE INTIMIDATE PEOPLE?
Our society is so jacked up to think if somebody's big and tough-looking, they're obviously mean. I was 6'4". Now I'm 6'3" because I've had 11 knee surgeries. In college, I was walking out of a store [into the sun], squinting. I guess I was scowling. This woman walking by me pulled her daughter away and said, "That's the meanest woman I've ever seen!" And then I got sad, like, "She doesn't even know me!"
DID YOU PLAY SPORTS?
At Fresno State I was a five-time all-American in track and field. I won my first arm-wrestling world title at 19. When I won my 15th title, I went on the Tonight Show! But I'm retired now.
WHAT'S YOUR DREAM ROLE?
I'd love to do action movies. I can't run, so give me a motorcycle and a gun. Me and Angelina Jolie-she can do all the running!
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