Though the series ended in 2021, Showtime’s 11 seasons ofShamelessremain beloved by their fans. Among the crude humor, unhealthy amount of alcohol, and general chaos of the show’s many seasons, one cherished staple ofShamelessisEmmy Rossum’s Fiona Gallagher. Acting as a mother figure for the troubled Gallagher family, Fiona added a sense of stability and warmth to the show’s vulgar view of the Chicago South Side. Alongside her father, Frank (William H. Macy),Fiona acted as a protagonist for the majority of the series. Though a favorite character to many, Rossum’s character, unfortunately, didn’t seeShamelessthrough to the end,permanently exiting the show at the end of Season 9.
Who is Fiona Gallagher from ‘Shameless’?
Fiona isthe second-eldest child of Frank and the eldest daughter of Monica, but she’s more than just a sibling - she’s the glue holding the chaotic Gallagher family together. From the moment her mother walked out when she was just 16, Fiona immediately steps into her role as a caretaker for her siblings and their dysfunctional, good-for-nothing, alcoholic father. Juggling low-wage jobs, she does everything she can to maintain some sense of financial stability in the household.With a focus on making their home as safe as possible, Fiona runs a tight ship, even if it’s on the verge of capsizing in stormy seas.
As the only sibling with a strong sense of moral compass and a high sense of parental accountability compared to her father, Fiona is the one shouldering the burden of her family’s antics. Whether it’sIan’s (Cameron Monaghan) vanishing act or Debbie’s (Emma Kenney) school troubles, Fiona’s life is one endless cycle of tending to everyone but herself. However, when the nights are free and she has nothing on her plate, Fiona can be found outside dancing until dusk with her best friend Veronica.Resourceful and reliable, Fiona has learned how to make do with her situation and to always find a solution to whatever challenge that comes.Having taken on the responsibility of raising five other people at a young age, she’s become fiercely self-reliant, and, in many ways, wise beyond her years.
Although she’s got a strained relationship with both of her parents due to their neglect, Fionadoesn’t have the heart to truly hate them. However, Fiona has sworn to never become like her parents and to never let them define what she can or cannot achieve. She refuses to be seen as a victim of circumstances and the dysfunction that has haunted her family. Her tragic relationship with her parents is the stuff of tears, but despite her perceived low self-esteem, Fiona doesn’t want pity.At the end of the day, Fiona wants to give her siblings a better life and all of the opportunities they deserve.Fiona never asked to be born into poverty, and so did her siblings. Driven by this belief, Fiona avoids repeating her parents’ mistakes and refuses to let anyone sabotage her family’s future.
Fiona Is the Poster Child of the Eldest-Daughter Syndrome
Fiona embodies the concept of“eldest-daughter syndrome”, a term recently making waves on social media by marriage and family therapistKati Morton. Although it’s not an official mental health diagnosis, the term describes the experience of daughters who often shoulder more domestic responsibilities than their siblings.This broad label captures the reality of eldest daughters who are burdened with tasks that shouldn’t be their responsibility in the first place.Those affected by this syndrome often find themselves dedicating too much energy to a caretaker role within the family. As a result, they unintentionally struggle to set boundaries for themselves because they’re constantly exhausting their energy to please others.
As the eldest daughter and the primary breadwinner, Fiona takes on odd jobs to put food on the table whenher father’s welfare checks fall short— even jobs that compromise her integrity, like working as a cocktail waitress. As the dependable one in the family,Fiona not only steps in for her absent parents but also sacrifices her own future to keep her siblings out of foster care.This means dropping out of high school in her mid-teens and giving up her education to care for her younger siblings.
But there’s only so much the eldest daughter can endure. Fiona is still just a child herself, with a mother who is nowhere to be found.Despite reaching her adult years, Fiona never had the chance the enjoy being a carefree teen who doesn’t have to worry about her siblings going to sleep on an empty stomach.Always putting others before herself, she becomes so overworked and exhausted that she barely has time to sleep or take care of her own needs. As the series progresses and her siblings grow older, Fiona’s tough exterior begins to crack, and her emotional breakdowns become more frequent. By the time her siblings are old enough to start looking after themselves, it’s understandable — and completely justified — that Fiona begins prioritizing her own future andbreaking out of the cycle of poverty, even if it means leaving her family behind.
What Happened to Fiona on ‘Shameless’?
At the start of Season 8 ofShameless, everything is going swimmingly for Fiona. With the Gallagher clan all grown up (sans youngest brother, Liam, played byChristian Isaiah), the family’s pseudo-matriarch finally takes an opportunity to focus on herself. She gets a stable job running Patsy’s Pies, starts a new relationship, and is finding success in the real estate game. She even manages to move out ofthe Gallagher family’sSouth Side home in favor of owning and acting as landlord for an apartment complex on the gentrified side of town. However,just when it seems that Fiona may have finally broken free from the cycle of poverty, everything comes crashing down.
A buyer backs out of Fiona’s newest investment, and without his support, she is unable to purchase the property.
Unfortunately, she’s also unable to get back the money she already invested. Financially back to square one,Fiona realizes she has no choice but to foreclose her apartment building and move back in with her family.Faced with her old reality, Fiona begins drinking heavily, becoming a reflection of the father she despised. She loses her job at Patsy’s, doesn’t pay her share of the bills, and is constantly getting into fights. At one point, she even gets into a chase with the police. How very Frank of her. With everything she worked for down the drain,Fiona’s relationship was next on the chopping block. After tracking her boyfriend’s phone to an unknown house,Fiona is met with a surprising sight: A secret wife and child. Understandably, she’s shocked. This is the last straw for Fiona. Running away in a fit of drunken anger, she wrecks her car — the last shred of her idolized life now destroyed.
After reaching absolute rock bottom, Fiona’s life has nowhere to go but up. With assistance from her brother,Lip (Jeremey Allen White), who is also in recovery, Fiona gets sober and begins going to AA meetings. She gets a job at a local convenience store, reminiscent of the character’s beginnings when she was working any job she could to survive. Soon after settling into her new role,Fiona’s life of luxury makes a reappearance when her old investment partner stops byher place of employment. He informs her that the investor who had pulled out of the real estate deal earlier in the season has decided to purchase the entire property and has agreed to give Fiona her payout – $100,000. With a new outlook on life,Fiona decides it’s time to move on from the South Side and start a new life for herself.With a heartfelt goodbye to all her family, even Frank, Fiona sets off, but not before one last maternal gift to the kids she raised: half of her newfound fortune.
Why Did Emmy Rossum Leave ‘Shameless’?
Ahead of production for the show’s eighth season, outlets reported contractual issues among theShamelesscast.Rossum reported making significantly less money than co-star William H. Macy, despite both contractually receiving equal billing.According toVariety, Rossum requested not only equal pay to Macy but an increased salary to compensate for years of unjust pay. In a now-deleted tweet, Rossum later said, “Playing Fiona Gallagher has been one of the great privileges of my life. I’m so happy to continue with myShamelessfamily! Back to work in May!”confirming her involvement withShamelessSeason 8.
The apparent resolution didn’t last long, though. In 2018, after appearing in Seasons 8 and 9, Rossum announced her departure fromShameless.In a thoughtful Facebook post, Rossum cited her exit as an opportunity to move on to other projects.
“The opportunity to play Fiona has been a gift. There are few characters — female or otherwise — as layered and dynamic. She is a mother lion, fierce, flawed and sexually liberated. She is injured, vulnerable, but will never give up. She is living in an economic depression but refuses to be depressed. She is resourceful. She is loyal. She is brave. I knew it the second I read the pilot script, this was different, this was special.”
In her post,Rossum detailed the profound memories made on theShamelessset before somberly saying goodbyeto the series: “I know you will continue on without me, for now. There is much more Gallagher story to be told. I will always be rooting for my family. Try not to think of me as gone, just think of me as moving down the block.”
What Roles Has Emmy Rossum Played Since ‘Shameless’?
Since her exit fromShameless, Emmy Rossum has continued her career within the entertainment industry while focusing on her personal life. In 2019, Rossum appeared in the filmCold PursuitalongsideLiam Neeson– her only film role to date since her departure. Rossum made a guest appearance in the final season ofMr. Robot, the acclaimed series created byRossum’s husband,Sam Esmail. Rossum has also tried her hand at work behind the scenes, directing an episode of TNT’sAnimal Kingdomin 2017 and an episode of the Amazon Prime seriesModern Lovein 2019. The actress has also made achievements off-camera. In Summer 2021, Rossum and Esmailwelcomed their first child together, a daughter. Then in Spring 2023,the couple welcomed a son to their family.
As of now, Rossum has continued to flex her skills both in front of and behind the camera. She has been credited with directing 2 episodes of her belovedShameless: “I Am A Storm” (Season 7, Episode 4) and “Frank’s Northern Shuttle Express” (Season 8, Episode 8), and has also proven her talents as a producer. The mini-seriesAngelynesees Rossum assume the eponymous starring role, as well as that of the show’s executive producer.Angelyne proves a great contrast to thedark-haired, loud-mouthed Fiona: Angelyne is a blonde bombshell surrounded by fame and admiration, but she makes a point of remaining secretive and elusive. The show gained very high praise from critics and audiences alike, proving that Rossum’s goal to enrich her career since her breakout inShamelessis absolutely coming to fruition.
Rossum also plays a main role in the AppleTV+ series,The Crowded RoomalongsideTom Holland.For those of us who miss the complexity and heart she poured into Fiona, this series offers an opportunity to see her in the rough-around-the-edges character that she has become so well known for.Her role as Candy Sullivan explores the effects of mental health issues and other social struggles.The Crowded Roomalso sees Rossum starring alongside the likes ofAmanda SeyfriedandJason Isaacs.
The 15 Best ‘Shameless’ Episodes, According to IMDb
“Think of all the luck you got.”
Where Are Emmy Rossum’s ‘Shameless’ Cast Mates Now?
Emmy Rossum is not the onlyShamelessactor who has been busy since the show ended.Jeremy Allen White, who played Lip inShameless, currently stars in the critically acclaimedThe Bearas Carmy Berzatto, who takes on the Chicago sandwich restaurant his brother (Jon Bernthal) left to him after his suicide. The show iscurrently working on their third season.White also took to the silver screenagain inThe Iron Claw, alongsideZac EfronandLily James.
William H. Macy has also continued his impressive acting career, playingRichard Fuiszin Hulu’sThe Dropout. He also appeared in the rom-comMaybe I DoalongsideDiane KeatonandRichard Gere, and plays Summerhayes in theJohn CenacomedyRicky Stanicky.Steve Howey, who played Kevin inShameless, went on to star in the CBS dramaTrue Lies. AndShanola Hampton, who played Veronica (one of Fiona’s best friends), went on to lead the crime TV seriesFoundon Peacock. Notably, after finishing her time onShamelessas Debbie,Emma Kenneywent on to star as Harris Conner-Healy, the daughter of Darlene (Sara Gilbert) and David (Johnny Galecki), inThe Connors.Cameron Monaghan, who played Ian Gallagher, has gone on to play several parts including reprising his role asthe voice of Cal Kestis inStar Wars Jedi: Survivorand will appear in the upcomingTron: Ares.
Overall, Emmy Rossum’s reason for departure very much mimics that of her character on the show. Despite many fans and publications searching for a salacious story or angry arguments, none of these appear to be the truth at all.Rossum has been very vocal in her love forShameless, referring to the cast as her “family” on multiple occasions. Just as Fiona has a whole unknown but exciting future career ahead of her, so does Rossum, and we can’t wait to see what she does next.
