On December 18th, the Showtime series Shameless ended its seventh season. William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum costar on the critically acclaimed dramedy about a family of six resourceful and spirited kids (the Gallaghers) and their addict troublemaker dad (Macy) who are constantly in survival mode. Rossum plays Fiona, the oldest of the Gallagher children and family matriarch who is trying to keep everyone in check.
Although the series is highly rated, news that Shameless would absolutely return for an eighth season was not officially announced until December 19th. Throughout this month, The Hollywood Reporter published stories about Rossum having a pay standoff. Based on the reports, she asked for salary parity with Macy, plus more, to make up for the years when she wasn’t earning as much as him.
While we don’t know the terms of Rossum’s new contract or if she will be paid more than Macy, it has been reported that a new contract with Rossum has been reached. Production for the eighth season will begin in May. A few days before the official announcement of the show’s return Rossum Tweeted: “Playing Fiona Gallagher has been one of the great privileges of my life. I'm so happy to continue w my SHAMELESS family!Back to work in May!”
Was Rossum right to demand equal pay as her male co-star? Emmy winning writer/producer Gigi McCreery, who is currently showrunner of the hit Netflix show Haters Back Off says the actress was completely justified. “Emmy Rossum did exactly what she had to do,” says McCreery whose credits also include Wizards of Waverly Place and Friends. “She had leverage and she used it.”
McCreery estimates that when Shameless first began, Rossum didn't have as many credits, star power, and/or as high a quote as Macy. However, she soon became integral to the show's success. “She deserves to earn what they are willing to pay her,” says McCreery. “But first you've gotta' find out how much that is. By asking for more than Macy, she could have potentially raised the boat for everyone. Or she was simply trying to make up for the disparity in the past. In any case, where's the harm in asking? In success everyone should win but you can't win if you don't play the game.”
Actress Jenica Bergere has a recurring role on Shameless playing the Gallagher’s neighbor Lisa. From what she has observed, both Rossum and Macy are incredibly professional and exceptionally dedicated to their work. “They are both committed to the world of their characters and put the same energy, effort, love and heart into what they are doing which makes their characters so real and vivid for all of us,” says Bergere. “Fiona and Frank are equally shameless.”
For the past twenty years, Bergere has steadily worked on a number of television series. But the more pressing issue for Bergere and a majority of actresses who work in television is how series are cast. This is especially paramount for actresses who are no longer in their twenties. “As I get older, it seems I lose jobs to people who have more twitter followers. If you don’t brand yourself in the world, you’re less of a commodity,” says Bergere. “Getting work used to be about relationships between artists and actors. If the writer or director liked an actor and wanted to work with them. But that is not the case anymore.” And now to make things even more challenging, “even where the female is the central character, they cast the male first,” she adds.
Tired of waiting to get hired, Bergere got empowered to find her own branding. Using the format of a road trip comedy film, she longed to tell her story about having a mother suffering from dementia and Bergere shouldering most of the responsibility. However, she had a $10,000 budget (considered paltry even for indie films.), was nine months pregnant, taking care of her actual deteriorating mother, and never directed a film before. With her skilled producers Mary Vernieu, Keith Kjarval, and James Portolese Bergere wrote, directed and starred in her film, Come Simi, distributed by The Orchard.
Jenica Bergere (Photo courtesy Jenica Bergere)
Come Simi has won several awards at film festivals, including Best Screenplay and Best Feature at the LA Film Review. The movie also received Honorable Mention at the First Time Fest, which was judged by Martin Scorsese and Harvey Weinstein. The film is now available on iTunes and Amazon,
While Emmy Rossum was courageous to fight for equal pay, those of us who don’t have that clout can still take action to get what they desire. “There’s something to be said about taking charge and doing your own thing,” says Bergere. “My advice is, when you go for it and make it yourself, that is the great equalizer.”
