The Shameless Cast's Stunning Transformation

The "Shameless" cast charmed American audiences from 2011 to 2021. A remake of the original British hit, the show focuses on the Gallaghers, a working class family living on Chicago's South Side, and the (often illegal) shenanigans they get into. The show received critical acclaim, racking up more than a dozen Emmy nominations.

"Shameless" was Showtime's longest running series for a good reason. Both comedic and heartwarming, "Shameless" shows people in all of their flawed glory, making it relatable to its legions of fans. While things got more than a little crazy for the family ("Shameless" doesn't flinch away from shocking moments), that was all part of the show's charm. 

Over the years, the "Shameless" cast has transformed in front of our eyes, as many of the actors even grew up on the show. Here's a closer look at how the Gallagher family and their friends have changed over the years.

Acting veteran William H. Macy was no less captivating as the Gallagher patriarch in the "Shameless" cast in its final season than he was when the show first aired in 2011. "I take great pride in being the worst father on television," he told Parade in 2019. "At the end of the day, Frank is an optimist. ... He thinks things are going to get better. He's got a wicked sense of humor. He sees the irony in life."

In his personal life, Macy faced a shameless moment of his own in 2019 when his wife, fellow actress Felicity Huffman, was implicated in a college admissions scandal in which it was revealed that several well-off parents had committed crimes in order to get their children into top colleges. While Macy himself wasn't charged, he and Huffman were said to have allegedly met with William Singer, the key figure in the scandal, in order to explore options to ensure their daughter received a high SAT score. The couple reportedly made a $15,000 donation to a fake charity set up by Singer to ensure his assistance.

Emmy Rossum was one of the biggest names in the "Shameless" cast when it debuted in 2011. The actress told Entertainment Weekly that she knew "that this character and world was special" after reading the script and that she "wanted the part so bad." Rossum's character, Fiona, remained one the most compelling characters on "Shameless" through its ninth season. The actress made headlines in 2016 when she demanded to be paid as much as male co-star William H. Macy, something she's still "extremely proud" of. 

Rossum finally made the decision to leave the show in 2019. "I made 110 episodes playing the character of Fiona, and it's been an incredible journey," she told Shape. "I've learned a lot about myself as a person and as an actor. I want to leave the show while I still love it, and I know the door is open to come back if that feels right."

Rossum explained she left the show in order to explore other roles. "I couldn't be more thrilled to spend time writing, directing, and seeing what other characters I want to play," she said. "It's both scary and wonderful." In 2021, Rossum took on the role of mother when she gave birth in May, as noted by People.

Jeremy Allen White auditioned for both Phillip "Lip" Gallagher and Ian Gallagher, eventually joining the "Shameless" cast as Lip. Only 19 when the first season aired (via the Los Angeles Times), White went from teenager to young adult on the show. He also branched out from his "Shameless" role with parts on shows like "Homecoming" and "Made in Hollywood," but White's biggest transformation took place behind the scenes.

The actor became a father in October 2018, and, the following April, he proposed to the mother of his child, actress Addison Timlin (via Us Weekly). As he was adjusting to fatherhood in real life, he was also becoming a parent on the show — a plot element he told the Chicago Tribune was deliberately inserted by creator John Wells who he says likes to "sprinkle" things in the show that reflect the actors' lives. "I have mixed feelings about it," he said. "Sometimes I think it runs the risk of being a little exploitative. And other times I want to dive in completely because I'd love to find out something about myself while playing a character."

White and Timlin welcomed their second child in 2020 (via E! News).

When "Shameless" debuted in 2011, Cameron Monaghan already had quite a few acting roles under his belt, including parts on "Fringe," "The Mentalist," and "Monk," but "Shameless" really gave him a chance to show off his skills as an actor. In 2011, the then-17-year-old actor told the Los Angeles Times what he thought of his character, Ian. "He goes up against the negative stereotypes typical of gay characters out on TV right now. He's smart and he's tough and he's brave and he's really caring and responsible — and I think that's not always shown in one character."

Monaghan went on to star on "Gotham" while continuing to play Ian. "It's a show that I deeply enjoy working on, not only because of my co-workers but also because of the challenge of the material itself, which combines this level of comedy and drama and absurdity but also this real-world commentary on what it means to be a person," he told the Chicago Tribune of "Shameless" in 2019.

While Ethan Cutkosky's "Shameless" character, Carl Gallagher, saw quite a transformation, so has Cutkosky himself. "I was 10 years old, living in Chicago," Cutkosky told Entertainment Weekly about his life before joining the "Shameless" cast. "My mom and I flew out, not expecting much. By the second audition, we got a contract."

Cutkosky pretty much grew up on the "Shameless" set, and he was eventually ready to branch out. "I'm 18 now, so growing up on the show and going back in forth through high school and then turning 18 and realizing there's a career to be done if I want to, but also, I'm not necessarily somebody that lives and breathes acting," he told Live for Live Music in 2018. "Like that's not the only thing that I can see myself doing. I love it, I'd love to keep acting, but there's other stuff I'm going to do." 

Notably, Cutkosky started his own clothing line called Khaotic Collective.

"Shameless" cast member Emma Kenney plays the second youngest of the Gallagher clan, Debbie. The precocious pre-teen was 11 years old when the first season of "Shameless" aired. "I got to grow and learn everything I know on this set, and continue to do so," she told Michigan Avenue. In addition to playing Debbie, Kenney also joined the cast of the 2018 "Roseanne" revival and its spin-off, "The Conners."

Now a young woman, Kenney has plans to see how far acting can take her, and she has expressed interest in film work. For Kenney, it's all about expanding her horizons. "I tend to get bored easily, so I'm always looking for something new and exciting," she said. 

In 2018, Kenney revealed that the life of a child star had taken its toll on her. She said that she had fallen into a bad crowd and began experimenting with illegal things, but that she was seeking help. "I'm going to be seeking treatment for my battles," she told In Touch. "I'm going to work through it. I'm going to get help and make better choices."

It might seem like Christian Isaiah has changed a lot since he joined the "Shameless" cast, but that's actually because Isaiah is the fifth person to play Liam Gallagher. Twins Blake and Brennan Johnson played Liam as a baby, and twins Brenden and Brandon Sims played him from Season 3 to Season 7. "I am bringing the character to life my way," Isaiah told Vulture after he debuted on the show in Season 8. 

Isaiah quickly transformed the character of Liam, and he counts the role as one of his favorites as well as one that has challenged him as an actor. "This role has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone, and say and do things I normally wouldn't say or do," he told YAYOMG! in 2018. "Also, I don't know what the writers will have me saying or doing from one episode to the next!"

Playing the lovable bartender Kevin Ball is Steve Howey. Playing Kev was a challenge for Ball, and it's one that he thinks has helped him grow as an actor over the years. While many of Kev's comedic moments rely on his naiveté, Ball wants you to know that he's different from his character in real life. "The rhythm of naiveté is fun to play," he told the Chicago Tribune. "There's more humor in that for me. I'm not as naïve as Kev. He's an uneducated fellow — dyslexic, illiterate, borderline bipolar, grew up without parents — but his heart is there..."

In order to maintain his physique (and his status as the resident beefcake in the "Shameless" cast) Ball spent much of his spare time working out. "I like to run outside in general [hills] for a workout," he told The Manual. "That's definitely a hard one. For a more extreme activity, I definitely love snowboarding. Then, I like playing baseball with friends and my son."

Shanola Hampton has come a long way since she landed her big break joining the "Shameless" cast, playing one half of one of the show's most enduring couples: Kevin and Veronica. She was part of some of the show's wildest storylines (how about that thrupple, or the time her character really, really wanted a baby?) and was given plenty of room to show how versatile she is as an actress. 

With several seasons of "Shameless" under her belt, it's safe to call Hampton a seasoned actress these days, but her most important role is as a mother. She gave birth to her son and daughter over the course of the show and is focused on raising them. "I always tell people that being a parent plays to all of my strengths: I'm a control freak, and I like things to be organized," she told Issue. "I can tell them what to do, make a schedule for them and try, God willing, to create good, responsible, loving human beings. I just hope they listen. If you don't listen to Mom, you're dumb."

When she auditioned for Svetlana, Isidora Goreshter was convinced she wouldn't get the part. "It was one of the worst auditions of my life," she told Entertainment Weekly. She was then hesitant when she actually did get the part because the role was small and involved a lot of nudity. Her manager convinced her to stick it out, and the character eventually grew into one of the show's most unforgettable. Goreshter said the show was "life changing." The "Shameless" cast member added, "Knowing that I've been able to be a part of just a minor breadcrumb of the whole loaf is just really special and something that I'll never forget for the rest of my life."

Goreshter proved to be as hardworking as her character, filming a sex scene just nine days after giving birth. "It was one of the most ridiculous moments of my life," she later told Gotham. "I was just like, 'This is what my life is going to be like now. As a working mom.'" 

Goreshter left the show after Season 8 and landed roles in projects like "The Petal Pushers" and "Condor."

Fans of "Shameless" could never get enough of "Gallavich," the name given to the now-iconic coupling of Ian Gallagher and Mickey Milkovich. Theirs is a love story for the ages, albeit one that unfolded slowly over the course of the show. The gay couple resonated with audiences, but the character who played Mickey, Noel Fisher, said there's more to Gallavich than their sexuality. "As happy as I am that the gay community has really embraced this storyline, to me, it is much bigger than that, and that's why it's very relatable," he told BuzzFeed. "I think anyone can find a way into this story and understand obstacles that a couple faces as they try to make things work, whether that's their own beliefs about themselves or bipolar disorder or what have you. Everyone faces obstacles in relationships, and we root for both these guys for different reasons — and we root for them to be together."

Besides "Shameless," Fisher has appeared on other TV shows, including "Castle Rock" and "The Red Line."

First he was Steve. Then he was Jimmy. The con man portrayed by Justin Chatwin on "Shameless" might not have been the most ethical of Fiona's suitors, but fans weren't able to deny the chemistry the couple had. Chatwin left the show after Season 5, but it wasn't the first time he had been written off. Chatwin thought that he was done after Season 4, but then came back the next season. "Their relationship evolved into something different than it was before," he said of his character's relationship with Emmy Rossum's Fiona. "It had to because he hasn't changed and she has."

After leaving the show, Chatwin built up a list of TV credits, appearing on "Orphan Black," "American Gothic," "Doctor Who," and "Another Life." He also racked up several film credits, including "The Assassin's Code" and "Summer Night."

Emma Greenwell's "Shameless" character, Mandy Milkovich, was one of those characters who grew on you. While she seemed like a terrible person at the start of the show, audiences gradually got to see that Mandy had a good (albeit very flawed) heart. Greenwell left the "Shameless" cast after Season 6, something that the actress was happy about. She loved her time on the show but was more than ready to move on. "I would love to be killed," she had told Interview in 2016. "I'm like, 'Come on, kill me. Are you killing me?' They're like, 'Maybe next season.'"

Greenwell made the most of her time off the show. She followed up her run as Mandy Milkovich with a leading role on "The Path," which was followed by a role on "The Rook" and the film "Rattlesnake."

The early seasons of "Shameless" featured a delightfully neurotic Joan Cusack as the agoraphobic Sheila Jackson who had a relationship with Frank Gallagher. In 2011, Cusack told GoldDerby that playing Sheila was "outside my comfort zone if I'm going to be honest," but that didn't mean she didn't enjoy the challenge. "I'm just going to accept everything and no judgments," she said. "It's a great feeling, and I highly recommend it." Of working with William H. Macy, she said, "It's great to work with someone who's so competent and generous and is a good person."

Cusack left the "Shameless" cast at the beginning of Season 5, and she added a slew of impressive credits to her already outstanding resume. Among the many roles she took on were parts on "A Series of Unfortunate Events," "The Stinky & Dirty Show," "Let It Snow," and "Homecoming." She also reprised her role as Jessie in "Toy Story 4."

Elliot Fletcher's time as part of the "Shameless" cast as Ian's love interest, Trevor, wasn't a long one but it was certainly memorable. Not only was he a good match for Ian, but Trevor also provided some much-needed representation for trans people on television. "I want my characters to give a little insight into the transmasculine experience or the trans male experience," he told Screen Crush of his "Shameless" character in 2017.

Fletcher departed the show after Season 8 with some pretty big dreams about what his future career would hold. "I want trans people to be cast in more than just trans roles," he said. "I would love to play a cis[gender] character. I would love to play a Jedi, a supervillain, a superhero. That would be so, so fun."

While he hasn't played a superhero (yet), Fletcher did appear on the TV show "Tell Me Your Secrets" in 2019.