Emmy Rossum Sets Record Straight on 'Shameless' Exit: Not About Kids

Emmy Rossum clears Up 'Shameless' exit rumours, says she didn't leave to have children

Washington DC, July 9

Appearing on the July 8 episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, Rossum, who played Fiona Gallagher, dismissed the widely held belief that she left the Showtime drama to have children.

"A common misconception is that I left to go have babies. That could not be further from the truth," Rossum said, as quoted by the E! News.

The actress, who now shares two children with filmmaker Sam Esmail, explained that she chose to leave the show after producers approached her about extending her contract through an 11-season run because she wanted to focus on producing new projects.

"I had already set up my production company. I had set up my first show and I was greenlit, getting ready to make it," she said, according to E! News.

Rossum said she enjoyed working on Shameless and only felt it was the right time to move on after the long-running series had crossed 110 episodes.

"I wanted to stay in the job. I loved the job. I loved the job until it felt like there wasn't enough juice to squeeze out of the lemon. We had made 110 episodes," she said.

The actress also credited series creator John Wells for encouraging her to direct episodes of the show and praised her co-stars for supporting her behind the camera.

"I felt very, very nurtured and shepherded by John Wells, who encouraged me to direct on the show... My cast also was very championing of me to do that," Rossum said, according to E! News.

Reflecting on her departure, Rossum described leaving the show as an emotional experience.

"I left with a lot of grief and sorrow and I would miss all those people and I couldn't believe they were going to go on a journey without me. But I was also really excited. I felt like I was launching," she said, according to E! News.

— ANI