Sheridan Smith has transformed to play a campaigning mum in her new ITV drama.
The actress is taking on the role of Ann Ming – who fought to bring her daughter’s killer to justice – in four-part series I Fought The Law. The new programme has started filming in Hartlepool, County Durham and snaps show Sheridan looking completely different.
In the images of her shooting scenes, Sheridan is wearing a nurse’s uniform with a long raincoat over the top. Her long blonde waves have been replaced by short, close cropped curls.
READ MORE: Want more showbiz? Daily Star has just the thing for you!
READ MORE: Want more TV? Daily Star has just the thing for you!
I Fought The Law tells the story of Ann, whose daughter Julie Hogg was murdered in 1989 at the age of 22. William ‘Billy’ Dunlop was tried twice for her murder but jurors twice failed to reach a verdict, and he boasted of getting away with the crime.
(Image: CLICK NEWS AND MEDIA)
Ann campaigned tirelessly to have double jeopardy laws that were 800 years old overturned. Her determination paid off and in 2006, Dunlop was jailed for life.
Sheridan said when the series was announced: “I am so honoured to have been asked to play the role of Ann Ming, a mother so determined to fight for justice for her murdered daughter that she spent 15 years campaigning for the Double Jeopardy Law to be changed. She is a truly courageous and remarkable woman to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude.”
(Image: CLICK NEWS AND MEDIA)
The script for the upcoming series is based on Ann’s book For The Love Of Julie. It tells how she and her family coped when Julie, who was mum to a three-year-old son, vanished in November 1989 after she had worked her late shift at a local pizza restaurant. The grieving mum will also be a consultant throughout the production process on the TV show.
(Image: CLICK NEWS AND MEDIA)
She said: “My daughter’s killer was wrongfully acquitted, and a number of years later confessed to her murder, for which he could only be prosecuted for perjury due to the 800-year-old Double Jeopardy Law. I wasn’t going to let this stand in my way of getting justice for Julie.
“I’m overwhelmed that Sheridan Smith will be playing me. Having such an iconic and talented actress portray me is truly wonderful.”
For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
