Emmy Rossum wants a well-deserved raise. The “Shameless” star “is locked in a pay standoff that is holding up a possible eighth season of the popular Showtime dramedy,” The Hollywood Reporter writes. Rossum is renegotiating her contract, and is “not only is seeking salary parity with co-star William H. Macy” but also “taking the position she should be paid more per-episode than Macy makes after years of earning much less” than him.
After recently renegotiating his deal with producer Warner Bros. Television “for the yet-to-be announced eighth season” of “Shameless” Macy “scored a raise that sources say puts his salary in the upper echelon of cable dramas,” THR reports. “Now Rossum is seeking a similar deal — and to make more than Macy.” Again, the reason that Rossum is asking for more than Macy is because she made so much less in the past — consider it back pay.
Both actors have received accolades for their performances on the show. Rossum is a two-time Critics Choice nominee for her role as Fiona, and Macy has snagged three Emmy nominations, a Critics Choice nod, a Golden Globe nomination, and two SAG nominations and one win for his performance as Frank.
Macy has “always has been paid more than the rest of the cast,” THR writes. The Oscar nominee did, after all, begin the series with a resume spanning many decades. Rossum’s pre-“Shameless” credits include “The Phantom of the Opera” and “The Day After Tomorrow.” She recently made her directorial debut on the series.
Is William H. Macy a better known star than Emmy Rossum? Yes, he’s also worked a lot longer. But Rossum’s Fiona is a fan favorite, and her character is often cited by critics as the most interesting aspect of “Shameless.” Her performance is considered a highlight of the series, which THR notes is “a top five cable drama among total viewers, adults 18–49 as well as adults 18–34.” Plus, as THR writes, “Rossum’s Fiona often has been the focal point of the [show].”
It’s unclear just how much more Macy has been making than Rossum, but it seems as though the discrepancy is significant.
“Sources say if Rossum closes her deal, producer WBTV then will renegotiate with the remainder of the cast, including Jeremy Allen White (Lip), Cameron Monaghan (Ian) and Steve Howey (Kevin),” THR reports. “If she can’t close a deal, Showtime could choose to renew the show without her or cancel it.”
Robin Wright has revealed that she negotiated a pay raise for her Golden Globe-winning performance as Claire Underwood on Netflix’s “House of Cards.” “I was like, ‘I want to be paid the same as Kevin [Spacey],” Wright recalled while speaking at an event. “The Princess Bride” star explained, “Claire Underwood’s character was more popular than [Spacey’s Frank] for a period of time. So I capitalized on it. I was like, ‘You better pay me or I’m going to go public.’ And they did.”
We’ll have to wait to see how the situation plays out, but kudos to Rossum for seeking equal compensation for her work. She risks being labelled as “difficult” and potentially even losing the gig, but is paving the way for fair pay by speaking up and demanding more.
