Showtime's colossal hit show Shameless is about to enter its tenth season of making viewers stay glued to the edge of their seats in anticipation of plenty more Gallagher family antics! For nearly a decade, Shameless has become one of the must-see and most-discussed television shows on the air in decades; the show has broken countless barriers often daring to go where few shows have ventured before plotwise, thus cultivating one of the strongest casts in TV history!
Much like Shameless' often controversial storylines, occasional less-than-perfect moments have happened on set. The Shameless cast members have been photographed hanging out once the cameras stop rolling, but even the closest of cast members can't avoid the occasional tense situation behind the scenes. From failed romances to salary disputes, the Shameless cast has weathered many storms since their debut season. Read on to find out more about the Shameless actors!
16 Sweetheart: Emmy Rossum
As if we couldn't get enough of Fiona, her real-life counterpart Emmy Rossum unsurprisingly has the ability to wow Shameless fans as well!
Rossum delivered so much during her nine seasons on Shameless; not only did she dazzle us with her well-rounded acting ability, she was a total sweetheart to her fellow cast members when she directed a number of episodes.
15 William H. Macy May Be Too Famous
When a cast of a hit television show contains an extremely well-known actor, there will inevitably be moments on set when the most well-known name on the bill will receive greater attention from the public and behind-the-scenes personnel.
"Big star syndrome" may have been the case with William H. Macey during a period where the Shameless cast actively campaigned for equal pay among the cast!
14 Sweetheart: Shanola Hampton
We know Veronica has the right to be anything but a sweetheart considering everything she's gone through, but Shanola Hampton is consistently a sweetheart no matter what!
The actress grew up in an environment that could often be strict. Her father was extremely involved in their background of faith. Shanola's storylines on the show could understandably make him uncomfortable, but this is fortunately not so!
13 Not Cute, Justin Chatwin!
Shameless superfans know Fiona's heart always remained with her "one true pairing," Jimmy "Steve" Lishman, despite their continuous string of wild relationship escapades!
Emmy Rossum and Justin Chatwin had to frequently film intimate scenes which could make any actor feel uncomfortable. Justin loved to amplify this feeling by pranking his often-unsuspecting on-screen love. He would do everything in his power to make kissing scenes disgusting!
12 Sweetheart: Steve Howey
When actors portray husband and wife on television, a genuine relationship behind-the-scenes where they truly enjoy one another's company makes the fans unable to get enough!
Steve Howey, who you may know better as Kevin, has been plenty vocal of his support for his on-screen wife, Shanola Hampton! Steve once called Shanola "the pillar of Shameless." How sweet and supportive!
11 'Carl' Once Believed Acting Was Uncool
We know Carl Gallagher wouldn't be a contender for "perfect student of the year" by any means, but his real-life counterpart Ethan Cutkosky, absolutely challenged this notion when the actor chose to prioritize his schooling over acting.
While choosing books over hanging out in Hollywood may be a no-brainer for a young actor, having Ethan's availability on set reduced must've been difficult for the crew.
10 Sweetheart: Isidora Goreshter
Getting a glimpse of Isadora Goreshter's IRL personality via her social media activity is bound to make any longtime Shameless stan drop their phones in shock!
Goreshter may be better known for playing the tough-as-nails Svetlana on screen, but one peek into her personal photo collection posted all over her socials lets us all into the real-life Isadora: the total sweetheart!
9 John Wells 'Directs' The Cast To Know Their Lines
Do you ever find yourself needing to remember something important?
If this sounds like you, perhaps taking a role on Shameless may not be the best idea. One extremely important rule the actors must follow with the potential to cause some strife is showrunner John Wells' insistence scripts not be within reach on set!
The director has made it clear he's not a script "stan."
8 Sweetheart: Emma Kenney
While her character may have undergone a radical personality transformation, Emma Kenney is consistently a sweetheart to work with on set IRL!
Emma's love for her co-stars is evident in social media photos from Shameless' set. She has even posted some sweet snapshots of snuggle time with her on-screen daughter, baby Franny!
If these photos are any indication, baby Franny seems very happy on set.
7 Paul Abbot Believed The Original Show Shouldn't Exist
An uncomfortable moment in Shameless history happened before the cameras even began rolling!
Imagine never being exposed to the weekly gasp-inducing situations from Frank and his family; the reality of living in a world without the Gallagher's was almost reality.
The mastermind behind the original Shameless series has spoken about his concerns about the original series and also believed elements from the adaptation shouldn't exist.
6 Sweetheart: Jeremy Allen White
Jeremy Allen White's character Lip may have a lot of grievances with countless members of his inner-circle on Shameless, but one look at White's social media photos is a great indicator Jeremy does not have that in common with his IRL castmates!
His feed displays photos taken with his co-star, Emmy Rossum, looking to be in much better moods than typical Lip and Fiona encounters.
5 An 'Original' Shelia Was Shielded From The Screen
Recasting roles in Hollywood can cause lots of uncertainty when time is of the essence on set!
Shameless superfans are likely aware Sheila (played by Joan Cusak), was originally played by Alison Janney. The highly esteemed actress' performance didn't make it on screen, because of a reason many directors would cringe to find out; Janney was already committed to star in another series.
4 The Mandy Milkovitch Recasting Ruckus
Mandy is such an iconic character in the Shameless canon! Her presence in the show seems irreplaceable, right?
Well, not exactly. Those with a keen eye for detail might have noticed Mandy was played by another actress during the first season called Jane Levy before being replaced by Emma Greenwell.
No director wants to work with an actress who is double-booked on multiple series!
3 Liam Wasn't Always So Lovable
One situation bound to drive a crew member crazy with paranoia? Having to recast a beloved character.
Even though Shameless isn't necessarily a 'stranger' to recasting, the extremely understandable reason of having to recast the smallest member of the Gallagher family, bringing Liam's story to full fruition couldn't have been easy for the crew! As a show's timeline continues and kiddos age, recasts happen!
2 Mickey's Disappearance Caused Some Discomfort
Arguably, Shameless wouldn't be as memorable of a memorable show without one of the show's most heart-stopping romances: Ian and Mickey's!
Ian and Mickey have come full circle on the show from former foes to flames. Their story was briefly put on "pause" when Noel Fischer left the show for a bit, a move fans were extremely angry about, according to crew members!
1 Lip And Mandy Had To Work Together After Splitting Up For Real
Historically, Mandy and Lip's relationship on Shameless has been anything but healthy, (remember what Mandy did to Karen?), so if you were surprised to learn Emma Greenwell and Jeremy Allen White dated for quite some time, it makes sense!
While no official split statement came from the couple, the timeline between their split and Jeremy's current relationship shows they split while still working together. Cringe!
Sources: People, Factinate, YouTube, Chicago Tribune, Hidden Remote, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Heightline, The Ringer, Cosmopolitan