Emmy Rossum has disclosed how her nude scenes in Shameless affected her dating life during her twenties, appearing on the Pretty Tough podcast to discuss the complications created by men's "preconceived notions" about her sexuality and character. The actress explained that the intimate scenes made forming personal relationships difficult, as potential partners based their impressions of her on her character Fiona Gallagher's nudity rather than her actual personality.

Rossum, who was 24 when Shameless premiered in 2011 and remained with the series for nine years until 2019, recounted a date with an aspiring politician who worried that her exposure in the show would damage his future political prospects. She reflected that growing up and developing as an artist during her twenties whilst simultaneously being perceived through the lens of her televised body created confusion and misunderstanding amongst those she dated.