Exclusive: The Shocking Truth Behind Mandy Milkovich's Surprising Recasting in Shameless Season 2

Summary

Following the first season of Shameless, Mandy Milkovich's character underwent a recasting process, resulting in Emma Greenwell assuming the role previously held by Jane Levy. However, the circumstances leading to the departure of the original actress still remain undisclosed.

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The former Mandy actress, Jane Levy, made the decision to leave Shameless in pursuit of other acting opportunities. She subsequently scored the lead role in the ABC sitcom Suburgatory, a pivotal moment that significantly propelled her career forward, opening doors to further success in both television and film.

Despite the departure of Levy, the recasting of Mandy in Shameless proved to be rather seamless. With Emma Greenwell taking over the role, both actresses brought their own unique interpretations to the character, thereby ensuring the show's continued success. Greenwell's portrayal offered a darker lens through which Mandy's story unfolded, injecting a captivating and intriguing direction into her character arc. Meanwhile, Levy's departure led her to secure roles in horror films and the NBC musical series Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist.

Shameless had a large cast that remained throughout the series, but what happened to the original actress who played Mandy in Shameless, and why was she replaced? Mandy Milkovich, a bold figure in the South Side, played a significant role in the early seasons of Shameless. However, after season 1, the role was recast and Emma Greenwell took over from the original actress, Jane Levy. The critically acclaimed Showtime comedy-drama continued for another decade after Jane Levy's departure, but the reason behind the exit of the original Mandy Shameless actress still puzzles the viewers.

In Shameless season 1, Ian Gallagher found himself in a complicated situation as he carried on a secret relationship with Mickey while dealing with the advances of Mandy Milkovich. Jane Levy played Mandy during this particular storyline, which became one of the earliest memorable plots. Throughout its run, the Showtime series saw various cast members leaving, including Emmy Rossum who played Fiona Gallagher in Shameless. However, the departure of Jane Levy, the actress who portrayed Mandy in season 1, was one of the notable early exits. This is particularly intriguing since the character continued to appear regularly until the end of season 5.

Why Jane Levy Stopped Playing Mandy Milkovich On Shameless

The actor who played Mandy Shameless eventually left the role to pursue better opportunities, landing the starring role of Tessa Altman in the ABC sitcom Suburgatory. In a 2012 interview with Backstage, Shameless actress Jane Levy expressed her excitement and eagerness to be a part of Suburgatory, stating that it was the first role she auditioned for and that she was thrilled when she found out she got the part.

Although Suburgatory only lasted for three seasons, it served as a major launching pad for Jane Levy's career in both TV and movies. She went on to star in horror films such as Evil Dead and Don't Breathe, and later secured the titular role in the musical NBC series Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist. Despite the show's cancellation after two seasons, it was revived as a two-hour film by The Roku Channel.

What Happened To Mandy Milkovich After Shameless Season 1?

After the original actor playing Mandy Shameless left the show, Emma Greenwell took over the role for the next four seasons, with a brief return in season 6. Mandy's initial infatuation with Ian, upon discovering his homosexuality, transformed into a close friendship. She then had a passionate relationship with Lip, the eldest Gallagher sibling, which ended messily due to a love triangle and a hit-and-run incident.

Following suit with the season 1 actress of Mandy Milkovich, Greenwell also departed from Shameless to pursue other acting opportunities. She landed a regular role in the Hulu series The Path. Mandy's storyline in Shameless concluded with her working as an escort and killing a client in self-defense. With Ian's help, she disposed of the body and briefly crossed paths with Lip, although they did not exchange words. Mandy's whereabouts in Shameless after these events remain unknown, and she did not attend Mickey and Ian's wedding in season 10.

Mandy Was Jane Levy's First Role

The role of Mandy Milkovitch in season 1 marked Jane Levy's debut as an actress. This pivotal part propelled Levy's blossoming career, leading her to leave the series and star in Suburgatory. Despite the show's short duration, it solidified Levy's reputation as a talented performer in the eyes of studios. Her subsequent role as the lead in The Evil Dead reboot further established her presence in both film and television. Additionally, Levy has taken on various roles, including a 10-episode arc on Castle Rock as Jackie Torrance.

However, the Mandy Milkovitch actress didn't stop there. Following her appearance on What/If, she secured the lead role in the Peacock series Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist. This achievement was followed by a movie spinoff titled Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas in 2021. Although Shameless marked Levy's starting point, it is evident that her career has been on a steady upward trajectory ever since.

Mandy Wasn't The Only Shameless Recast

Shameless didn't often have issues with recasts, except for the actor playing Mandy. Throughout the show's 11-season run, there were a total of five other recasts. The first recast occurred in season 1 with Sheila Jackson, originally played by Allison Janney, but later replaced by Joan Cusack. Derek Delgado, Debbie's boyfriend and father of her child Fanny, was initially portrayed by Luca Oriel in seasons 5 and 6, but was then recast with Damien Diaz in season 8.

One character that caused confusion was Charlie Peters, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan. After the season 4 finale, Charlie Peters was replaced by Dermot Mulroney and renamed Sean Peirce, Fiona's love interest in seasons 5 and 6. Xan, the girl Lip takes care of in season 8, was originally played by Scarlet Spencer, but then recast with Amirah Johnson in season 9. Lastly, Liam, the youngest Gallagher child, had a total of five different actors, with Christian Isiah taking on the role for the final four seasons.

Jane Levy Vs. Emma Greenwell: Which Shameless Actress Played Mandy Best?

The first actor to portray Mandy Shameless, Jane Levy, and Greenwell had distinct interpretations of the character that are difficult to compare. The scenario of Mandy Milkovich's replacement has occurred with other TV characters in the past, and a recasting can either make or break a show – as seen in Shameless, where Joan Cusack took over for Allison Janney after the pilot episode. However, the recasting of Mandy did not have a negative impact on the character.

Determining which actress played Mandy better is challenging, but Greenwell's portrayal offered a darker perspective that propelled Mandy's storyline in an intriguing direction throughout the remaining seasons. Ultimately, the recasting of Mandy in Shameless does not harm the show at all, and it demonstrates the excellent decision-making involved, considering the similarities in appearance between Levy and Greenwell and the intended direction of the character.

What Jane Levy & Emma Greenwell Have Done Since Shameless

After Jane Levy left the series to pursue bigger roles, the actor from Shameless, Mandy, achieved exactly that. In addition to her role in Suburgatory, Levy quickly became a leading movie actor by playing Mia Allen in the 2013 horror film Evil Dead. This was a significant achievement as the film is part of a renowned franchise and Mia effectively replaced the iconic Evil Dead hero, Ash Williams. Levy developed a strong working relationship with the director of Evil Dead, Fede Álvarez, who also directed her in the terrifying horror film Don't Breathe. Consequently, Levy has become known as a scream queen, alongside Jamie Lee Curtis and Jenna Ortega.

On the other hand, Emma Greenwell did not transition into starring in movies as smoothly after her time on Shameless. However, Greenwell did have roles in two very different period films in 2016. The first was Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, followed by Love and Friendship. Additionally, Greenwell starred in the 2019 Netflix thriller Rattlesnake. Notably, Greenwell appeared in all three seasons of The Path, a drama series with a large cast including Aaron Paul and Michelle Monaghan. The series revolves around the members of a fictional religion called Meyerism.