20 Best Shameless Characters (#1 Might Surprise You)

The best Shameless characters are unique and flawed in their own way. Many characters came and went in the 11-season Showtime series, but no matter who they were, Shameless didn't hide the uglier parts of what made them truly human: making mistakes, dealing with disappointment, and facing harsh realities. As such, the characters of this series are some of the most intriguing to grace the small screen because of their relatable imperfections. The Shameless cast all deserved awards for their ability to scratch beneath the flawed surface of the Gallagher family and co., showing their likability and empathy. In addition to being compelling individuals, the Gallagher clan all have a compelling group dynamic that makes them one of TV's most entertaining family units. Whether it was Emmy Rossum's put-upon Fiona Gallagher, who sadly departed the show, or Jeremy Allen White's brilliant but troubled Lip, it's hard to choose a favorite among all these fan-favorite South Side characters. 20 Mike Pratt Played By Jake McDorman Mike Pratt was a kind and caring character when he first showed up, which made it clear that he did not stand a chance in Shameless. He was introduced as Fiona's new corporate boss, and when their relationship turned romantic, it felt like trouble was right around the corner. However, Mike proved to be one of Fiona's best love interests. He was supportive and stable, allowing her to experience a real relationship not ruled by chaos. Seeing the kind of relationships Fiona had been in before, it was hard not to like Mike. The only frustrating thing about his storyline was the way Fiona chose to destroy their relationship. Despite the better life that he might have offered, Fiona simply found him to be too ordinary, and she seemed to crave destroying something that was working so well. This led to her being unfaithful, which included sleeping with Mike's brother, who was struggling with addiction. Mike is a character who deserved better, but he did give Fiona some brief happiness. 19 Sierra Morton Played By Ruby Modine Like Mike for Fiona, Sierra was Lip's love interest who seemed to set him on a better track, only for his own destructive nature to ruin it. Sierra was a new waitress working with Fiona who quickly struck up a connection with Lip. They had strong chemistry from the beginning, but it was Sierra who wanted to keep things casual, as she had a young son whom she was raising with her drug-addicted ex. When Sierra began to want something more serious, it became clear that Lip was still in a dark place following his failed attempt at college. However, Sierra continued to have a positive impact on him, making him a better person and planting the seeds for his future of starting a family. While it initially seemed like she could be the one for Lip, he ultimately encouraged her to get back with her ex, whom he helped get sober. It all demonstrated some major growth in Lip, courtesy of Sierra's positive influence. 18 Monica Gallagher Played By Chloe Webb Despite being an important character for the overall series, Monica Gallagher ranks low among the Gallagher family members thanks to being mostly an absentee mother. Monica didn't have a lot of screen time, but her presence is one of the most impactful, which is a testament to both Chloe Webb's performance and Shameless' writing. She was loud, energetic, and desperate to feel loved. She wanted to be a good mother, but she also wanted to lead the life she believed was best for her. Most of the Gallagher kids end up resenting her or pretending she doesn't exist. Fiona gave up on both of her parents and preferred that Monica stay out of their lives. However, after her death, Fiona mourned her mom and read one of her books to get to know who she was. Every time Monica reappeared, it would be like a hurricane — one of her episodes was aptly titled "Hurricane Monica." Regardless of her limited screen time, the impact Monica had on various characters is seen throughout the series. 17 Jimmy Lishman Played By Justin Chatwin Jimmy's time on Shameless was marked by secrets, lies, and, of course, drama. Jimmy was wildly interesting from his first appearance in the pilot episode, and he had enough secrets, schemes, and charisma to be a part of the Gallagher family himself. Although Jimmy wasn't always honest with Fiona about his life, he loved her and her family very much and would have done anything for them. Fiona and Jimmy's romance was sweet to watch, and there were times when it seemed as though he was her best chance at being happy. At the end of the day, though, Jimmy had the best intentions but bad follow-through. His repeated dips into less-than-legal work and shady behavior made him a complicated and thrilling character, but not a very reliable partner, causing Fiona to cut ties with him for good. He was ultimately one of Fiona's worst lovers, but Shameless wouldn't have been the same without the revolving door that was Jimmy/Steve's presence. 16 Sandy Milkovich Played By Elise Eberle Mickey's cousin and Debbie's girlfriend, Sandy, was introduced in the show's final season, but quickly became one of the show's most important characters. Sandy was one of the most loyal and understanding of the bunch, repeatedly supporting Debbie in the Gallagher house while still being unafraid to be brutally honest with her when she was truly in the wrong. Sandy made Debbie better by accurately pointing out some of her bad behavior and forcing her to confront it. Audiences' hearts broke for Sandy when she revealed the secret that she had been hiding: a child from an unhealthy relationship she rushed into as a young teen. Although her attitude about her son may not be understandable to some, she was obviously in a very difficult and complicated situation, and she did a lot to turn her life around. The character's exit from Shameless had a big impact on Debbie's arc, changing her for the worse. 15 Franny Gallagher Played By Paris Newton Debbie's child, Franny, was one of the youngest characters on Shameless, but the show still did a lot with their plotline, as they often saw the wrong end of Debbie's problematic moments. Franny routinely stuck up for themself and was very vocal about their identity from a young age. They expressed distaste for princess dresses and stereotypically girly things and didn't want to participate in the pageant that Debbie pushed them into. Franny was a benchmark in inclusivity for the show, as they shared with Frank that they didn't feel like a girl on the inside, but didn't truly identify with being a boy either. They were still young and had a lot of exploring and understanding to do, but this level of self-expression and identity was impressive for someone so young. It made for an endearing journey for this young character even if the show wasn't focused on them as much as the other Gallaghers. 14 Svetlana Yevgenivna Played By Isidora Goreshter One of Shameless' most complex side characters, Svetlana offered a fresh change of perspective from the show's other South Side natives. She came from a different background, and she showed everyone the knowledge and adaptability she'd acquired from her tough upbringing. Svetlana was full of surprises, always revealing more layers to her character and her troubled past. When she was with Mickey, Svetlana was often objectified and not particularly valued. Some of her storylines, including her manipulation of Mickey, risked fans turning on her, but her desire to stay far from the life she used to live was always sympathetic. It was a welcome surprise when she was appreciated as a business-savvy and ambitious character when she moved into Kevin and V's lives. However, Svetlana's abrupt departure from Shameless left a lot of potential for the character on the table. 13 Tami Tamietti Played By Kate Miner Tami's entrance into the show was an erratic relationship with Lip, but when they discovered that she was pregnant with their child, Fred, she mellowed out significantly and took her role as a mother very seriously, becoming one of Lip's greatest lovers on Shameless. Tami and Lip are a true team as parents, and they do their best to provide a good life for Fred. Tami double-tasked as a mother and hairstylist and even battled with contracting COVID-19 in the final season of the show. Sometimes it was tough to watch the ways in which Lip hurt her, including sleeping with her sister, but her desire to stay with him showed the strength of their bond. She was fiercely loyal and rolled with the punches, even helping Lip when he and other ex-employees stole the supplies from the auto shop. In the end, the fact that she was the one who helped give Lip the life he wanted makes her a standout Shameless character. 12 Frank Gallagher Played By William H. Macy The Gallagher family patriarch adopted many different personas throughout his time on the show — Frank, Daddy Frank, Francis, and even Saint Francis, just to name a few. Though he was a terrible person, he's a great example of a realistic and complex character. As he said in the pilot, there's a piece of him in every one of his children, reflecting his and their many layers. Even if he was drunk or high most of the time, Frank often had a lot of interesting things to say. He was an educated and opinionated person, and his many spiels at the Alibi demonstrated the detail that went into creating his character. Between his ridiculous schemes and the sticky situations he found himself in, Frank was one of the most entertaining characters to watch, and that's what television is all about. It cannot be ignored how much William H. Macy's performance helped elevate the character. Macy was the biggest name in the cast when the show started, and his performance earned him several awards, including six Emmy nominations and two SAG Award wins. 11 Sheila Jackson Played By Allison Janney & Joan Cusack Sheila Jackson was one of the best Shameless characters, despite her somewhat limited screen time. Sheila faced an incredible arc throughout Shameless seasons 1–5, at first suffering from debilitating agoraphobia, then eventually fulfilling her dream of traveling the world. While introduced as the "neighborhood weirdo," it was soon discovered that Sheila was trapped in a toxic marriage and battling to rein in her wayward daughter, all while dealing with her mental health condition. Sheila was finally able to leave the toxicity of her life behind to go and search for her happiness because if anyone deserved it, it was Sheila. At first portrayed by Allison Janney, before being recast by Joan Cusack, Sheila's parenting tendencies immediately endeared her to the Gallagher family. Sheila got a lot of flak for her idiosyncrasies from the rest of the Shameless characters, but she had a good heart. Joan Cusack's performance is one of the highlights of the show, and she was the only cast member to earn an Emmy for the show.