Emmy Rossum Became Infatuated With Filmmaking While Directing Shameless – Looper

After her first stint in the director’s seat for “Shameless,” Emmy Rossum shed some light on the way the experience affected her, both personally and professionally. “I became infatuated with the whole process,” Rossum said in a 2016 interview with Variety. She went on to add, “Getting to see the real struggles and the day to day happen and the setbacks and going through casting tapes … It really put it all in perspective for me.” 

Rossum was also engaged to Sam Esmail at the time, the director best-known for being the mastermind behind “Mr. Robot.” When asked about whether she received any tips from him, she replied, “The best advice he gave me was [to] be prepared that everything will go wrong. And just to not freak out.” As it turned out, Esmail’s advice was on point, as many things didn’t go Rossum’s way during the directing process. In the end, though, her directorial debut on Season 7, Episode 4 of “Shameless” turned out just fine. 

Rossum directed another episode of the Showtime dramedy in Season 8, and hopefully those two entries in her directing portfolio will open up new opportunities in the future. The actress has certainly kept busy since “Shameless.” Most recently, she took up the leading role in Peacock’s “Angelyne.”