Emmy Rossum is reflecting on her highly publicized fight for equal pay during her time on the hit series Shameless, nearly a decade after the contract dispute made headlines.
The actress, who played Fiona Gallagher on the popular Showtime drama, revealed that she was surprised when details of her 2016 salary negotiations became public. Rossum said she never intended for her personal contract battle to affect other cast members or the production team.
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Speaking on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Rossum explained that she initially understood why co-star William H. Macy earned more when the show began, citing his longer career and greater number of acting credits.
However, as the series progressed, Rossum said she and her legal team believed her growing contribution to the show justified a salary increase. By the third season, she felt the storylines and audience connection showed that her role had become equally important.
Rossum revealed that negotiations became more serious before Shameless season 8, when she pushed again for better compensation. She admitted that asking for what she believed she deserved was a difficult and stressful experience.
The actress said she was shocked when she discovered reports about the negotiations online while attending a writer’s retreat. She described the situation as unexpected because she viewed the talks as a private business matter.
Rossum also expressed concern that the public discussion could impact her fellow cast members, who were negotiating their own contracts at the time.
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Following the media attention, Rossum said public support grew, with many questioning why she was not already receiving equal pay. The dispute was resolved shortly afterward, leaving her surprised by how quickly the situation changed.