Emmy Rossum Wants Fair Pay for 'Shameless' Role, Halts Production to Get It

Emmy Rossum's contract negotiations have disrupted production on Showtime's Shameless, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The actress says that she just wants fair compensation for her role in the series, and she's not going to work until she gets it.

Rossum reportedly was offered compensation equal to that earned by co-star William H. Macy, but THR claims she wants more, given that her role in the series is bigger than Macy's and that she's been paid less than the actor in previous seasons.

Arguments for Macy's out-sized paycheck point out that he came to the series with more experience and award nominations than Rossum. During their tenure on Shameless, however, the difference in performance between the two actors has flip-flopped. Macy has been nominated once for an Emmy for his role in the series, but he did not win. Rossum has been nominated for two Critics' Choice Awards for her role, and Macy has been nominated for only one. And over the past several seasons, Rossum's role on the series has become much more central than Macy's.

The negotiations cast some doubt on the future of the series, which is due to premiere its eighth season next fall. Should Rossum walk away, Showtime could opt to move ahead without the series' central character, or it could cancel Shameless altogether.