'Maybe I do just exist on this show': How Shameless consumed Jeremy Allen White's identity

With a decade of "Shameless" under his belt, actor Jeremy Allen White bravely revealed the emotional toll of playing Philip "Lip" Gallagher for 134 episodes and 11 seasons, confessing to GQ, "There was a period where I stopped feeling like an actor and I started feeling like I was just here to do this show" (as reported by Variety in 2022).

Rising from the Shadow of Shameless

Despite his love for "Shameless" and its cast, the exhaustive span of the show, which aired on Showtime from 2011 to 2021, hurled White into a vortex of self-doubt. He openly admitted, "When it was going to end, I was questioning: maybe I do just exist on this show. What else is there? Am I an actor? I was definitely having a lot of doubt when I was finishing 'Shameless.'"

This feeling of uncertainty entwined with White's identity, blurring the line between actor and character, leading him to question his ability beyond the realm of 'Shameless.'

Trading Lip for Carmy: Embracing the Insecurities

Ironically, this self-doubt acted as a catalyst in attracting White to his latest venture, playing Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto in FX's hit summer series "The Bear," now streaming on Hulu. "We kind of found each other at a similar place," White said, recognizing a mirrored struggle of self-doubt in his character Carmy, a chef inheriting a Chicago restaurant post his brother's death.

He confessed his fear of playing a similar role in another dysfunctional Chicago setting, but boldly stated, "I think I was too concerned with what other people might think... I would hate them forever," highlighting his refusal to let his fears dictate his career choices.

Jeremy Allen White's journey is a gripping testimony to an actor's journey, making us eagerly await the next chapters of his evolving career.

Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.