Emmy Rossum revealed that playing Fiona Gallagher on Showtime’s Shameless for nine years significantly complicated her dating life in her twenties due to the nudity required for the role. Speaking on a recent episode of Maria Sharapova’s Pretty Tough podcast, the actress explained how prospective romantic partners often held preconceived notions about her sexuality and personal character based on her on-screen art.
Dating Challenges and Preconceived Notions
Rossum was 24 years old when Shameless premiered in 2011, portraying the eldest sibling and de facto matriarch of the impoverished, chaotic Gallagher family on Chicago’s South Side. Throughout her nine seasons on the critically acclaimed comedy-drama, the character’s storylines frequently involved nudity. According to Rossum, those artistic choices created unexpected hurdles in her personal life.
“It got quite tricky because of the nudity on the show,” Rossum said during the podcast appearance. “All of the guys that I would go out with had preconceived notions of who I was or how I was sexually. It was totally bizarre.” She noted that spending her twenties involved figuring out her identity as both an artist and a young adult, while simultaneously managing outside assumptions tied directly to her physical performances.
An Encounter with a Political Hopeful
To illustrate the extent of these misconceptions, Rossum recounted a specific date with a man who held ambitions of entering politics. Rather than focusing on a mutual connection, the suitor expressed hesitation about dating an actress who had performed nude on television.
“He was like, ‘I really want to be president someday,’” Rossum recalled. “And I was like, ‘Wow, that’s a great goal.’ He’s like, ‘But I feel like running for office dating someone who’s been exposed in the way that you have — do you think that would be tricky for me?’ And I was like, ‘This is an insane conversation to have.’”
Rossum emphasized that because an actor’s physical form often serves as their medium, observers frequently confuse the performer with the character they portray. “Your body is your art, right? And people can get confused,” she said.
Background on Shameless and Subsequent Career
Alongside Rossum, the ensemble cast featured William H. Macy, Jeremy Allen White, Ethan Cutkosky, Steve Howey, Shanola Hampton, Emma Kenney, and Cameron Monaghan.