Emmy Rossum has responded to claims that her strong work ethic may have contributed to a difficult atmosphere behind the scenes of ‘Shameless‘.
Years after comments from a former co-star raised questions about life on set, the actress who played Fiona Gallagher has now shared her own experience, and her memories paint a very different picture.
Emmy Rossum Responds To Claims About Her Work Ethic
During a recent appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Rossum was asked whether she ever felt her work ethic had been unfairly labeled in the press when she was simply showing up and doing her job. She replied, “That wasn’t my experience. I felt very, very nurtured and shepherded by John Wells, who encouraged me to direct on the show, which I got to do many times. My cast also was very championing of me to do that.”
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Rossum also addressed the intense approach she brings to her work. She said, “I certainly come to the set to work, and I bring my all, and I think like many women, we care deeply, and we prepare deeply, and we love what we do.” Rather than describing a troubled workplace, the actress spoke about feeling supported as she grew beyond acting and moved into directing.
She continued, “But I, I mean, I love that job so much, and I felt like I was born on that job, that that’s where I learned to direct. John also was so shepherding of my writing as well, giving notes on the first script that I had written, hiring me to direct on another one of his shows.”
Past Comments Raised Questions About The ‘Shameless’ Set
The discussion comes years after Emma Kenney, who played Debbie Gallagher, opened up about working with Rossum. During a 2021 appearance on Call Her Daddy, Kenney described their relationship as sister-like “in good and bad ways” and spoke about difficult days during their years together on the series.
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Kenney also claimed the atmosphere changed after Rossum left ‘Shameless‘ following Season 9. She said, “It was weird at first for sure but it also … the set became more of a positive place, I’m not gonna lie.” Those comments sparked wider discussion about Rossum’s reputation and whether tension had existed behind the scenes.
Rossum did not directly attack Kenney or criticize her former colleagues in her new interview. Instead, she stressed the support she received and the friendships she still values. She said, “And those were all my buds, like, we’re close. I’m seeing one of them tonight on set, so I’m really grateful for that time, and it has just nothing but happiness in my heart for it.”
Rossum Revisits Her Equal Pay Battle
Rossum also looked back on another major behind-the-scenes story from her time on ‘Shameless‘. During the same podcast appearance, she revisited her highly publicized 2016 equal pay battle with Showtime and admitted she never expected private salary negotiations to become headline news. “I was shook,” she said, recalling how she first learned about the reports while scrolling through social media during a writers’ retreat.
The actress explained that she viewed the talks as a private business matter and worried about how the sudden publicity could affect the cast and crew, especially as others were handling their own contract negotiations. However, the public reaction soon worked in her favor. Many began questioning why Rossum was not already earning the same as her co-star William H. Macy, and according to the actress, the issue was resolved within a day after the story gained widespread attention.
For Rossum, the dispute was not simply about securing a bigger paycheck. She said it was about fairness and equal recognition for equal work. Rossum acknowledged that Macy’s long-established Hollywood career justified his higher salary when ‘Shameless‘ first began. However, as the series became a hit, Fiona Gallagher grew into one of its central characters alongside Frank Gallagher.
Rossum believed her expanding role, fan support, and contribution to the success of ‘Shameless‘ justified equal compensation. She eventually secured equal pay with Macy, adding another major chapter to a show she now says she remembers with gratitude and “nothing but happiness” in her heart.
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