2004 was great for actress Emmy Rossum. With two feature films debuting, the young star was thrown into Hollywood and has never looked back. Rossum’s career started with her lead roles in the musical movie version of The Phantom of the Opera (opposite Gerard Butler) and the epic disaster movie The Day After Tomorrow (opposite Jake Gyllenhaal). Prior to 2004, she starred in Clint Eastwood’s Mystic River, as Sean Penn’s murdered daughter, Katie.

From there, Rossum joined Kurt Russel in the remake of Poseidon and started her solo music career. In 2011, she joined the original Showtime series Shameless as Fiona. It was this role where she made a home for herself, staying until season nine. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Rossum’s next project lands her in Peacock’s biopic Angelyne, which follows the titular cultural icon in a limited series loosely based on her rise to fame. The miniseries is set to drop in May 2022. Until then, here's a look at Emmy Rossum's seven best performances, ranked.

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7 Before I Disappear

emmy-rossum-before-i-disappear (1)
IFC Films

Richie plans on committing suicide until his attempt is halted by an emergency request from his estranged sister, Maggie. She needs him to watch her daughter Sophia for a few hours. Sophia is a highly intelligent 11-year-old who is the polar opposite of her self-destructive uncle. The two take on New York and find they have a lot to learn about each other, and a lot to live for.

Rossum plays Richie's estranged sister and mother of Sophia. While her role in Before I Disappear was small, it earns a spot on this list as her performance, for the little time she was onscreen, was brilliant. The film is based on the 2012 Academy Award-winning short film Curfew, which was written and directed by Shawn Christensen, who stars as Richie.

6 Beautiful Creatures

Emmy Rossum in Beautiful Creatures (2013)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Summit Entertainment 

Ethan Wate can't wait for the day when he can leave his small southern hometown, that is, until he meets the mysterious new girl, Lena Duchannes. When he learns of her supernatural powers, he knew they were brought together for a reason. Together he helps her make sure that on her 16th birthday, she can get claimed by the light, not the dark.

In Beautiful Creatures, Rossum plays Lena's cousin Ridley who was claimed by the dark. She uses her signature lollipop as a way to get men to do whatever it is she wants. After seeing Rossum in more "innocent" character roles, it was nice to see her dark side.

5 The Day After Tomorrow

emmy-rossum-the-day-after-tomorrow (1)
20th Century Studios

With a new Ice Age imminent, paleoclimatologist Jack Hall tries to warn the Vice President to no avail. Sooner than expected, the weather takes a turn for the worse and Hall urges everyone to move south until the weather warms up. Unfortunately, his son Sam is on a trip with his school to New York when the storm kicks in. Along with his two friends, Hall has to trek from Washington, D.C. to New York to save his son from the impenetrable blanket of ice.

In The Day After Tomorrow, Rossum plays Laura, a classmate of Sam's. Her character is the love interest and the damsel of distress in this film. She plays both parts well. When she gets sick, it pushes Sam, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, to stop at nothing to save her. The film had mixed reviews, but it's arguably one of the better doomsday films of late.

Related: These Are Jake Gyllenhaal's Best Performances, Ranked

4 You’re Not You

emmy-rossum-youre-not-you
Entertainment One

Bec is a brash, wannabe-rocker who becomes a caregiver to a classical pianist diagnosed with ALS. The two couldn't be more opposite to each other, but as they spend more time together, they learn to rely on and depend on one another.

In You're Not You, Rossum plays the chaotic Bec, a character trait that Rossum has become increasingly familiar with over the years. Kate, played by Hillary Swank, learns to live a little thanks to Bec, and Bec learns to grow up. The pair work well together and help to balance one another. The film itself is both funny and touching and will definitely bring a tear to even the most uptight viewer.

3 Comet

emmy-rossum-comet
Fubar Films

In this indie-style film, Rossum and Justin Long plays a complicated couple in a parallel universe. Comet was written and directed by Rossum's husband Sam Esmail. It's a visually stunning film that deserves to be recognized within the rom-com genre. Rossum and Long's banter as the couple is believable and shows their chemistry even when the characters are fighting. Comet is definitely an underrated movie that should be added to everyone's watch list if not for the memorable dialogue, then for the subtle mix of sci-fi with rom-coms.

2 The Phantom of the Opera

emmy-rossum-the-phantom-of-the-opera
Universal Pictures

A young soprano becomes the newest obsession for the Opera House ghost called The Phantom. The Phantom is both murderous and disfigured and commands respect and honor from those who run the playhouse. When new owners take over, The Phantom emerges to ensure his demands are met, which includes Christine starring in his self-written opera.

Rossum rightfully won a Best Young Actress Saturn Award and Critic's ChoiceAward for her performance as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera. This film showcased Rossum's musical abilities and catapulted her way into Hollywood. She exudes innocence and beauty, which is exactly how Christine is. Her chemistry with Raul, played by Patrick Wilson, and The Phantom, played by Gerard Butler, certainly helped the film as well.

1 Shameless

emmy-rossum-shameless
Showtime

From 2011 to 2019, Rossum played the eldest Gallagher child Fiona in Shameless. As the oldest, she takes responsibility for her five brothers and sisters as their only real parental figure is their alcoholic father, Frank. While being a mother figure, Fiona also tries to balance her own needs with those of her younger siblings. Each episode outlines a new crazy thing one member of the family has gotten into.

When Rossum left the show in 2019, two years before the show ended altogether, fans were sad to see Fiona go. She definitely added to the show in a positive way. While Rossum was never nominated for a Primetime Emmy for her portrayal, she certainly deserved one. The show, which is both comedy and drama, is a great mix of both genres, showing a fun but serious side to life.