Emma Kenney

Biography

Emma Rose Kenney is an American actress, best known for her portrayal of Debbie Gallagher on Shameless, a role she has held since 2011. Kenney played Harris Conner-Healy in the revival of the ’80s/’90s family sitcom Roseanne.

Kenney’s most notable role to date is that of Debbie Gallagher, the on-air daughter of William H. Macy in the comedic drama Shameless. Kenney won the role at just 12 years old, whilst a seventh-grade student at Park Middle School in Scotch Plains, New Jersey.

Outside of Shameless, Kenney made several appearances in short films and made-for-television films and, in 2009, at just 9 years old, she was the youngest filmmaker to be a finalist at the New Jersey International Film Festival at Rutgers University.