Emmy Rossum is back in the Hollywood spotlight after her new crime drama became an unexpected hit. However, her return has also brought old criticism about her alleged behavior on the set of Shameless back into the conversation.
Keep reading to learn more.
Rossum stars as FBI agent Alice Black in Hulu’s Furious, while also serving as an executive producer. The series premiered in July 2026 and quickly became a breakout hit, with Hulu already renewing it for a second season.
Now, as viewers celebrate her performance, some are revisiting claims from former colleagues who described Rossum as difficult to work with.
One X user summed up the renewed debate bluntly, “She’s a nasty woman, but she’s also too talented to not be booked.”
Co-star previously said she felt anxious when working with Rossum
Rossum spent nine seasons playing Fiona Gallagher on Shameless, a role that helped make her a household name.
But former co-star Emma Kenney has previously spoken about a complicated dynamic between the two actresses.
During an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Kenney recalled feeling anxious on days when she knew she would have scenes with Rossum.
“I’d go to set some days, and I’d be very anxious having a scene with her because if she had a bad day, she made it a bad day for everybody,” Kenney said.
She also recalled being much younger than Rossum at the time and struggling to understand why she felt there was tension between them.
“I was nine, and she was over 10 years older than me, so I’m like, ‘Why is there a weird competition here when I’m not trying to compete?’” Kenney recalled.
Still, Kenney emphasized that she didn’t necessarily know where the tension came from.
“Maybe she was struggling with her own inner problems and taking it out on other people,” she suggested.
And despite everything, Kenney made clear that she still had affection for her former co-star.
“I have a lot of love for Emmy,” she said.
An alleged former crew member also described Rossum as difficult to work with
The discussion resurfaced again after an anonymous Reddit user claiming to have worked on Shameless shared their own alleged experience in 2023.
The person claimed they had been yelled at by Rossum repeatedly during long days on set and said the experience eventually took a toll on their mental health.
“My ears would ring after a 12-hour day with her,” the anonymous poster alleged.
They claimed they eventually asked producers whether their interactions with Rossum could be limited and later moved to a different position on the production.
According to the poster, the change turned out to be “ultimately a great thing.”
The alleged crew member also claimed they had initially been excited about working on the show but eventually began “dreading every second of it.”
“She knew exactly how to make you feel like sh*t,” they alleged.
However, even while making those accusations, the person acknowledged Rossum’s talent.
“I can also recognize that Emmy IS a phenomenal actress,” they wrote.
An old Minnie Driver story has also been pulled back into the conversation
Some fans have even tried to connect Rossum to an older story involving actress Minnie Driver.
Driver once recalled that an unnamed actress on the set of The Phantom of the Opera had complained that Driver was “dreadfully over the top.”
Because Rossum and Driver worked together on the 2004 movie, some people have speculated that Rossum was the actress Driver was referring to. However, Driver never identified Rossum, meaning the connection remains speculation.
Rossum has defended her intense approach to acting
Rossum hasn’t simply ignored the conversation about her reputation.
During a July 2026 appearance on Call Her Daddy, she addressed how her intense commitment to her work has sometimes been interpreted by others.
She explained that she takes her work seriously, arrives prepared, and expects a lot from herself. Rossum also discussed the famous pay-equity dispute she had during her time on Shameless.
Initially, she said she understood why William H. Macy earned more.
“He was much older, much more accomplished, tons more credits, and number one on the call sheet,” she explained.
But as the show continued, Rossum felt her role and contribution had changed significantly.
“By that point, I had been directing a lot on the show, and it very much felt like a two-hander,” she said.
The actress says negotiating for equal pay meant learning to “take up space”
Rossum admitted that asking for more money was intimidating. “It’s always scary asking for what you think you’re worth,” she said.
She also described the importance of being willing to advocate for herself. “To say, I think this is what I’m worth. You have to take up space in the room,” Rossum explained.
The negotiations eventually became public, despite Rossum saying she had expected the matter to remain private. “It’s a private business negotiation, and I never imagined it would become public, not just for the public, but also for the rest of the cast and the crew,” she said.
Rossum has also rejected the idea that she left Shameless because of some dramatic collapse in her relationships with the cast. Instead, she has spoken warmly about the series while explaining that she wanted to move toward projects where she could have greater creative control.
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