Shanola Hampton Having A Baby On ‘Shameless,’ And In Real Life Too

Shanola Hampton has a baby girl on the way — on television and in real life.

The Shameless star announced this week that she and husband Daren Dukes are expecting their first child, due in late January.

“We are beyond excited to expand our family and begin this new chapter,” the couple said in a statement to People magazine. “Words can’t describe the joy our hearts feel.”

The 36-year-old Hampton has been married to Dukes for 13 years. They live in Los Angeles, where Dukes serves as producer and creator of The Dallas Cowboy Show.

Shanola joined the cast of Shameless in summer 2010 as a series regular, and has received praise from critics for her portrayal of Veronica Fisher.

Fans can see Shanola again when the fourth season of Shameless premieres January 12 on Showtime. Interestingly enough, Hampton’s character Veronica Fisher is also about to become a mom, with her character’s mother acting as the egg donor and surrogate.

Shaonla Hampton seems to be excited at the prospect of the show returning. This week she shared some pictures from the set with her co-stars and an excited message about its return.

“We’re back!!!!” she wrote alongside the cast picture.

Aside from her work on the hit Showtime series, Hampton has also been seen in a number of television programs, including Reba, Scrubs, Related, and Miami Medical. She’s also appeared in The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green, The Hanged Man, and You Again.

Shanola Hampton has even branched out beyond the world of television and movies, lending her face to the video game Left 4 Dead 2.

“We’re back!!!!” she wrote alongside a cast photo.