Shameless to be Emmy-less now

Emmy Rossum, who plays Fiona Gallagher on the popular show, will exit it after season nine, she announced in a social media post

Actor Emmy Rossum will be exiting Shameless after season nine of the popular series. The 31year-old, who plays the central character of Fiona Gallagher (as seen in the inset) in the show, shared the news with an emotional post on Facebook.

“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,” she wrote in the post.

Rossum also shared her experience of portraying a “layered and dynamic” character on the show. “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,” Rossum wrote.

In December 2016, it was reported that the actor had successfully lobbied for a higher salary per episode than her Emmy-nominated co-star William H Macy. She contended that she had more screen time, and thus longer hours on set, and was even supported by Macy in her campaign.

Creator and showrunner John Wells confimed the exit. “Emmy Rossum will forever be part of the Shameless family. She has been integral to the show’s success, from her wonderful portrayal of Fiona to her leadership role on set, as well as directing multiple episodes of the series. We are hard at work now creating a season nine finale for Shameless which we hope will provide a Gallagher-worthy sendoff for Fiona that honours the great work Emmy has done,” he said in a statement to the Variety magazine.

“It is always bittersweet when an ensemble member decides to move out of the proverbial house, but our door will always remain open for Fiona to return home for a visit, or to move back in. I look forward to continuing the stories of this wildly unpredictable family and all of us on Shameless will miss Emmy and her wonderful Fiona,” he added. The show’s ninth season will premiere in September.

PHOTO: ELISABETTA VILLA/GETTY IMAGES Emmy Rossum has also directed episodes when required, revealed showrunner John Wells