Shameless aired its first season in January 2011, and a month later, White sat down with the Los Angeles Times to discuss how he prepared himself for the role.
The 30-year-old recalled attending a few Al-Anon meetings in New York to understand a person's mannerism after getting into alcoholism. Through those sessions, he also realized how it would feel not to have a father's support in life.
Speaking about his character's relationship with his father Frank, he said,
At a really early age, he learned how to compartmentalize his relationship with his father and know what he has to take seriously and know when he has to tell him...off and not even have to think about it.
He also felt his on-screen father was a really interesting character - almost Shakespearean. Due to that, Lip has a hidden admiration for his father despite their differences.
When asked if his character would cry at night, White said it was possible. But he would make sure no one else was in the house while he shed a few tears.
