Emma Kenney Remains Optimistic About a Possible Shameless Revival
Emma Kenney is feeling optimistic about a possible Shameless revival.
“I miss working with everyone. Wrapping up a show you’ve been part of for years always brings a sense of sadness and nostalgia because it’s unlikely to have the same cast and crew again,” Kenney, 25, shared exclusively with Us Weekly while promoting her guest appearance on Happy’s Place.
Her perspective shifted after she was cast in the Roseanne spinoff, The Conners, stating, “Participating in The Conners [on ABC] sparked some hope for me,” she mentioned. “They successfully brought back the complete crew from the original show from the ’80s and ’90s.”
The strong connections with her Shameless co-stars also fill Kenney with enthusiasm about potential opportunities. “I’ve been incredibly lucky to work alongside such amazing individuals, and I’ve built genuinely strong relationships. I’d love the chance to work with any of them again,” she added.
Kenney gained fame for her role as Debbie Gallagher on the critically acclaimed Showtime series. The show, which aired for 11 seasons, chronicled the lives of the Gallagher family as they faced challenges related to poverty, relationships, crime, and various schemes while living in Chicago’s South Side. Shameless featured a talented cast, including William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum, Jeremy Allen White, Shanola Hampton, Steve Howey, Cameron Monaghan, Noel Fisher, and others.
Following her tenure on Shameless, Kenney has remained a familiar face on television as Harris in The Conners and now as Gracie in Happy’s Place.
When discussing the potential for a Shameless revival, Kenney expressed her desire to reunite with co-star Howey, 47. (Howey portrayed Kevin in Shameless after first gaining fame as Van on Reba.)
“I would absolutely love to return to a set with Steve. He’s one of my favorite people and incredibly funny,” she revealed to Us regarding Howey, who had a guest appearance on Happy’s Place. “He’s definitely like an uncle to me, and I’d be thrilled to share scenes with him and Reba [McEntire]. It would genuinely be a blast.”
Moreover, Howey provided Kenney with guidance after she was cast as McEntire’s fictional daughter.
“I was really excited to be a part of Happy’s Place and to work with Reba. I’ve known Steve Howey for quite a while, and he’s worked with Reba extensively too. So before starting, I called him,” she disclosed. “He had nothing but fantastic things to say about her, and he was right.”
Kenney added, “She has such a warm, kind, and welcoming presence, which is incredibly special when you’re stepping into a well-established cast. I truly felt fortunate to experience that.”
Happy’s Place airs on NBC Fridays at 8 p.m. ET.
