How Schitt's Creek Changed Emily Hampshire's Life

Schitt's Creek has become a beloved show for many of its viewers. The series follows the lives of Johnny Rose, played by Eugene Levy, and his very wealthy family that loses all of their money (via IMDb). The entire family is forced to relocate to a town that is a little less fancy than what they're used to. And by that we mean it's a completely hilarious fish-out-of-water type of situation. However, they ultimately come to love the area and the very kind townspeople who live there. Throughout the episodes, they also start to realize that there's a lot more to life than just the material things you own. 

This premise was a huge hit with fans, currently ranking at a staggering 94 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The success of the show changed the lives of the actors in the series, particularly, Emily Hampshire's. She played the extremely sarcastic Stevie Budd, who owned the hotel the Rose family stayed at. Hampshire told Popsugar before landing the role on Schitt's Creek, she only had $800 in the bank and was thinking about moving into her friend's closet.

The actress told Popsugar that prior to the show, she had also been recently dropped by her agent and was going through a difficult divorce. "My pre-Schitt's life was sh*t — like, spelled correctly," she said. "I think it's ironic that a show called Schitt's Creek is the show that really changed my life for the better."

Hampshire explained she knew the show was a success, when she started getting recognized in public places. "I came back to L.A. and I went into Bed Bath & Beyond and it was a whole different experience for me," she told the Advocate. "It was like a musical because every aisle I passed there was some employee, there was somebody who was like, 'Oh, my God. Oh, my God, Stevie!'"

The actress also revealed how having the show's creator, Dan Levy, as a friend has been a blessing. "Dan changed my life in so many ways," she said. "I feel that he's changed my life in a very similar way to the way he's changed the lives of the people who watch the show." Hampshire explained that she believes the series has been such a cult hit with fans because of the warmth and acceptance the series is known for. Hampshire said she will be forever grateful to be part of such an inclusive series.