Emma Kenney Reaches Out to Shameless’ Steve Howey After Landing Role in Happy’s Place
After landing the role of Reba McEntire‘s daughter on Happy’s Place, Emma Kenney received invaluable support and advice from her Shameless co-star Steve Howey.
“I was thrilled to be part of Happy’s Place and to work with Reba. I had been working with Steve Howey for a long time, and he has a long history with Reba too. So I reached out to him beforehand,” Kenney, 25, shared exclusively with Us Weekly. “He only had wonderful things to say about her, and he was absolutely right.”
Kenney enjoyed “a fantastic experience” working with McEntire, 69, who previously starred with Howey, 47, on the sitcom Reba. “Reba has such a kind, generous, and welcoming spirit, which is incredibly special when you’re joining an established cast. I felt very fortunate to have that,” Kenney remarked.
After appearing alongside McEntire, Howey went on to star with Kenney in Showtime’s acclaimed series Shameless. Earlier this season, he returned to his roots with a guest appearance on Happy’s Place, paving the way for a possible reunion on screen with Kenney.
“I’d love to get back on set with Steve. He’s one of my favorite people and the funniest,” the actress expressed to Us. “He’s like an uncle to me, and working alongside him and Reba would truly be a blast.”
At present, Kenney is reveling in the opportunity to act opposite McEntire after portraying Gracie in the episode that aired on Friday, January 10, of NBC’s new sitcom.
“I definitely felt a strong sense of responsibility stepping into this role as Reba’s daughter. She’s such a legend and a seasoned performer,” Kenney reflected. “The show had already premiered a few episodes when I began shooting, so I made sure to watch what I could and prepare myself accordingly. I truly aimed to honor her character’s daughter.”
Kenney’s preparation involved crafting her own interpretation of Gracie.
“She’s tough and very no-nonsense, with a lot of resilience and determination,” she explained. “But I wanted to infuse her with heart, allowing the audience to understand the reasons behind her tough exterior.”
Kenney continued: “I always perform a character analysis that I document. Occasionally, I’ll assign a zodiac sign to the character—it might sound odd, but it helps shape my perspective. I decided on [Gracie] being a Capricorn as it felt fitting.”
While Kenney would love to reprise her role as Gracie, she also yearns for the opportunity to reunite with her former co-stars, including her Shameless family.
“I miss working with all of them. It’s always a bittersweet and nostalgic feeling when a show you’ve dedicated years to comes to an end because it’s unlikely the cast will ever be the same again. However, my experience on The Conners [on ABC] gave me some hope,” she said. “They brought back their entire crew from the original show from the ‘80s and ‘90s. I’ve been really lucky to work with amazing people with whom I’ve built strong connections. I’d love to work with any of them again.”
Happy’s Place airs on NBC Fridays at 8 p.m. ET.
