Emmy Rossum Gets Real About Her Final 2 Episodes of ‘Shameless’

Emmy Rossum is opening up about what’s to come for her character, Fiona Gallagher, when she leaves Shameless at the end of season nine.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, the 32-year-old actress discussed her final two episodes of the popular series and revealed that her departure couldn’t come at a better time.

“It’s been a long, wonderful journey and I’m so close to my Gallagher family that to walkaway is quite bittersweet, but it did feel like it was time for the character to spread her wings and that there was less need for her,” she said. “I never want something to just feel like a job, and so I’m leaving while I still love it.”

Season nine of Shameless hasn’t been easy for Rossum’s character, considering she hit rock bottom and, as a result, started attending AA meetings.

Nevertheless, the actress sees her departure as an opportunity for Fiona to get closure, adding, “She goes to start to make her life elsewhere, and the way in which she says goodbye is quite moving. I think the final moment between her and Frank [William H. Macy] is actually quite telling about really how much he loves his kids but just really can’t be a parent and there’s an understanding there.”

As for the future, Rossum revealed that she’s exploring multiple avenues. “I’d love to do theater, I want to do more directing, I’ve written a feature that I’d like to make, we’re developing Angelyne as a limited series and it’s pretty awesome, the scripts are really good so I’m excited about that,” she continued. “I’m pretty psyched about the opportunities that I see.”

Season nine of Shameless airs on Sundays at 9 p.m. on Showtime.