Debbie Shameless UK: Where Is She Now?
It’s time to travel back to the early noughties where you may remember Debbie Gallagher (Shameless UK).
Hit comedy drama series Shameless (created by Paul Abbott) was so popular that an American remake was also commissioned (which is still going today!)
Starring David Threlfall and Maxine Peake, Shameless follows the adventures and mishaps of the Gallagher family consisting of alcoholic father Frank Gallagher and his six children:
- Fiona Gallagher (Anne-Marie Duff)
- Lip Gallagher (Jody Latham)
- Ian Gallagher (Gerard Kearns)
- Debbie Gallagher (Rebecca Ryan)
- Carl Gallagher (Luke and Elliott Tittensor)
- Liam Gallagher (Joseph Furnace).
James McAvoy also played the character of Steve McBride – Fiona’s boyfriend. The wayward bunch live on a deprived council estate in Greater Manchester.
Image source/ Pinterest
Alongside the Gallaghers was the outrageous Karen Maguire (Rebecca Atkinson) who ended up bedding both Lip and his father Frank and appears throughout all eleven seasons. She is the only female character to have remained in the show from start to finish.
In real life, she ended up getting together with actor Ben Batt who played Joe Pritchard. Next up, there was Lip’s eventual other love interest Mandy played by Samantha Siddall.
Debbie, the daughter of Frank and Monica Gallagher, was one of the youngest kids but was mature beyond her years; often being the only one to keep the dysfunctional family above water!
After playing the role of Debbie Gallagher for five years, actress Rebecca Ryan has transformed from awkward school kid to glamorous young woman. Time to see what she’s been getting up to since her time on the estate…
Want to find out what the rest of the Shameless cast are up to? Check out the Shameless UK Cast: Then And Now, and you may also be interested in The Real Life Partners of The Gavin and Stacey Cast and The Worst Places to Live in England.
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_qw1q”]
Aged 10 – Rebecca At School
Rebecca Ryan was born on 27th April 1991 and studied at St Monica’s High School in Prestwich, Greater Manchester.
Image Source: /instagram @rebecca.ryan91
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_ZIkz”]
Aged 11 – She Won The Role Of Debbie Gallagher On Shameless
At the age of 11 years old and with no official acting training under her belt, Rebecca won the role of Debbie Gallagher, Frank Gallagher’s fifth child.
Rebecca left the series in 2009 after it was announced that Debbie had joined the army and gone to Afghanistan.
Image Source: /Fanpop
She credits the show for giving her useful acting lessons and experience. She said:
‘I was 11 when I started Shameless. I did Shameless all the way until I was 18. It was just normal to me. I would go into school as normal on my days off. I would go into filming.
‘That was kind of it and it was normal. It was the best time of my life, it was such an experience.’
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_qQCt”]
Image Source: /KiwiReport
She added that:
‘Just sitting there and watching them all used to be amazing — James McAvoy, Anne-Marie Duff, Maxine Peake, David Threlfall. It was just a masterclass for me, to sit there and watch all these incredible people.
‘I learnt so much from them and made some great friends.
‘I think it was obviously very gritty and hard-hitting but at the same time it was so funny and real and you watched it and would know someone like that.’
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_iquJ”]
Aged 12 – Ranked 3rd In The Irish Dancing World Championship
Having taken Irish dancing lessons since the age of three years old, Rebecca went on to compete in national competitions and took third place in the Irish Dancing Championships at 12!
Image Source: /instagram @rebecca.ryan91
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_wiHk”]
Aged 16 – Stage Debut
Shortly before leaving the Shameless cast for good, Rebecca made her stage debut in 2008 at London’s Royal Court Theatre, performing in Fiona Evans’ production of Scarborough.
Image Source: /Daily Mail
Aged 18 – She starred on Waterloo Road
From 2009 to 2011, Rebecca took on the role of school pupil Vicki MacDonald in BBC drama series Waterloo Road.
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_DdY1″]
Image Source: /instagram @rebecca.ryan91
She also appeared on BBC medical drama series Casualty multiple times playing different characters. She went on to have a brief stint in Holby City before appearing on several episodes of Doctors.
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_ZoXg”]
Aged 21 – She attends V Festival With Friends
In a throwback post, Rebecca shows she likes to enjoy a good festival with pals.
Image Source: /instagram @rebecca.ryan91
Aged 22 – *Insert Taylor Swift Lyrics Here*
The star appears to be enjoying her twenties as she knocks back a bottle of voddy!
Image Source: /instagram @rebecca.ryan91
Looking very glam, it’s crazy to see little Debbie all grown up!
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_hW7Y”]
Image Source: /instagram @rebecca.ryan91
The actress makes sure she has time to hang out with beau Daniel.
Image Source: /instagram @rebecca.ryan91
Aged 23 – Famous Faces All Round
Rebecca poses for a photo with Mike Joyce from the Smiths and fellow actor Nico Mirallegro best known for his roles as Finn Nelson in My Mad Fat Diary and Joe Middleton in The Village.
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_0mO0″]
Image Source: /instagram @rebecca.ryan91
Aged 25 – Dressed To The Nines
Rebecca attends the annual Diary Party at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester. The event is usually full of celebs and is sponsored by clothing company Boohoo.
Image Source: /instagram @rebecca.ryan91
Aged 26
Debbie is that you?! Rebecca is practically unrecognisable in this stunning selfie.
Image Source: /instagram @rebecca.ryan91
Aged 27 – She Gets Engaged
After over a decade since she left Shameless, Rebecca got engaged to her long term boyfriend Daniel Acraman. Awww!
Image Source: /instagram @rebecca.ryan91
[dx_custom_adunit mobile_id=”RTK_QejT]
Aged 27 – She Joins The Cast Of Casualty (As A Regular This Time!)
After appearing on the medical drama in the past, Rebecca came back in 2017 to play hospital porter Gemma Dean, a role which she still holds today.
Image Source: /instagram @rebecca.ryan91
Aged 27 – Rebecca Attends The NTA Awards 2019
In 2019, Rebecca got glammed up to attend The National Television Awards.
Image Source: /instagram @rebecca.ryan91
Aged 28 – Rebecca Today!
Image Source: /instagram @rebecca.ryan91
