Emmy Rossum Rejected ‘Life-Changing Money’ On ‘Shameless’

Emmy Rossum has revealed the reason she walked away from the “Shameless” set almost a decade ago.

The actress recently shed light on her decision to leave the series even after being bumped up the pay grade. In the process, she cleared the air on the widely publicized misconceptions surrounding her exit from the Showtime drama series.

While Emmy Rossum moved on to the next chapter of her life, the dynamic for the rest of the cast shifted as they filmed two more seasons without her.

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Rossum disclosed why her decision to leave “Shameless” could not be changed despite being offered “very life-changing money” to continue the show. She revealed that she already had a mental picture for the next chapter of her life and there was “no number” that could persuade her to give up her dreams.

“I really felt like, when they came and asked for the last contract extension, that I couldn’t do it. There was no number that was going to make me want to stray from my goal. I’ve never really been motivated by money,” she explained.

The industry star had been on the Showtime series for nine seasons before saying goodbye to her onscreen family. She explained that she never expected the pilot to be picked up or that the series would become a long-running hit.

Rossum admits that she was “amazed” every time another contract extension came up. After being on the show so long, the actress wanted more for her career, and this forged her decision to leave the show in 2018.

What Was The Actress Looking To Achieve Off The Drama Series?

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During her recent conversation with Alex Cooper on her “Call Her Daddy” podcast, Rossum explained that she felt she had more to achieve in the industry as an executive on projects.

“I really felt that my desire to make something that I had built was very strong,”  she disclosed, adding, “It was very bittersweet when I left, but I really felt galvanized to make things.” 

Before her final episode aired, Rossum had already started aligning her plans for the future with preparations to wrap things up on “Shameless.” She began developing projects through her production company, Composition 8, and had set up a deal at Universal for a limited series.

The Hollywood icon worked on and later starred in the Peacock limited series “Angelyne” as well as being a star and executive producer for Hulu’s crime thriller “Furious” down the line.

Watching Executive producer John Wells and her husband, Sam Esmail, build projects from scratch for years, Rossum knew she was ready to walk that path and take greater ownership of her career.

Emmy Rossum Was In A Years-Long Battle For Equal Pay On The Show

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“Shameless” stars Hollywood veteran William H. Macy as Frank Gallagher while Rossum played his daughter, Fiona, who held the home front down due to Frank’s alcoholism. The actress explained on the podcast that when the show initially began, it made a lot of sense for Macy to earn a lot more money than she did.

However, as time went on, her character became a major on the show, and she became Macy’s co-lead. With time, some fans even argued that Rossum was “Shameless” bona fide lead as her character, Fiona, had more screen time than Frank in many episodes.

The first time the actress advocated to be paid more was for season 3, because her team felt there were enough “receipts” and “fan engagement” on her side, but she was instantly denied. This went on for five more years; Rossum’s team fought for increased pay over five years of filming the show.

Executives only gave in to her requests after news of her pay dispute went public in late 2016. To her utmost surprise, the matter, which had stretched out for years, was resolved within a day. Rossum enjoyed equal pay for her last two seasons on “Shameless.” 

The Actress‘s Presence And Absence Were Felt On Set

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The series was not the same after Rossum’s exit. Just as the viewers felt the change, members of the cast, most of whom grew up on the show, could not shrug off her impact. One of the iconic actresses, Emma Kenney, who plays Rossum’s younger sister, Debbie Gallagher, on the TV show, explained the change they felt after her departure.

Kenney started the show at just nine years old and was in her 20s when they wrapped up. She revealed that she and Rossum had a sisterly relationship off-screen as well. Kenney admitted that when the “Furious” star left, things were “weird at first.”

As reported by The Blast, there was also a switch in the vibe and “the set became more of a positive place.” “I’d go to set some days, and I’d be very anxious having a scene with her because if she had a bad day, she made it a bad day for everybody,” Kenney said of her co-star during a 2021 podcast. 

Emmy Rossum Got Candid About Motherhood

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There were rampant speculations that Rossum left the Showtime drama series to start a family, seemingly due to the overlapping timeline of her exit and welcoming her daughter. The actress has moved to shut down those claims, tagging them as “misconceptions.”

Motherhood became part of Rossum’s life after “Shameless.” She welcomed a daughter in 2021 and a son two years later with her husband, Esmail.

The industry star keeps her kids out of the spotlight and has not even revealed their names publicly; however, she is quite vocal about her journey into motherhood and the challenges of combining a busy career with being a mom.

In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Rossum shared important lessons she is teaching her children. She explained the power of internal dialogue, adding that while she would remain her kids’ best friends, she wants them “to have each other and be their own best friend” when she is not there. 

Keep chasing those dreams, Emmy Rossum!