Sheridan Smith has admitted that she is amazed she gets so many roles in top TV dramas given her humble beginnings in rural Lincolnshire with no fancy education
Sheridan Smith is amazed she gets so many roles in top dramas.
The actress came from humble beginnings in Epworth, Lincolnshire so she didn’t get to go to a fancy stage school like many aspiring wannabes.
That meant she thought she had no chance of being taken seriously by the acting industry.
Opening up about her career, Sheridan admitted: “I never went to drama school. I haven’t been trained as an actor… I’m just so grateful for every job.”
Sheridan got her first big TV role in the late 90s on classic comedy The Royle Family.
After that she appeared on hits including Fat Friends, Gavin & Stacey and Benidorm.
But it was when she starred in Mrs Biggs in 2012 that her career really took off.
Millions watched her play the wife of criminal Ronnie Biggs and she was so good she won a best actress gong at the BAFTAs.
Sheridan said: “I remember when Mrs Biggs came along, I so wanted to play this woman that goes on such a journey, but I thought there was no way I’d get the role.
“I was really detemined, but lots of actresses went up for it. I couldn’t believe it when I got it, but then something just happened where I started to get more real-life stories and I loved it so much.”
Sheridan’s latest big role is playing Ann Ming in I Fought The Law.
It tells the story of how the campaigner got the double jeopardy law changed after her daughter was murdered.
Sheridan feels privileged and thrilled she was trusted with such an important part.
She said: “I loved doing The Royle Family, Two Pints, Benidorm and Gavin & Stacey… I loved them all.
“But I never thought I would have the opportunity to play women like Ann.
“I’m very honoured, privileged and grateful to play these kinds of roles, but it wasn’t something I ever planned. I didn’t ever think I’d be doing roles like this on telly.”
Despite having a string of big roles under her belt now, Sheridan still gets nervous when she tackles a new one.
She said: “There’s such a responsibility that comes with playing a real person and I connect with that so much, it’s an honour to tell these stories.
“You have to choose them carefully because they stay with you, and there’s a part of all those people that I have played with me even now.”
At 44, Sheridan is thrilled about where her career is going.
She added: “I’m just grateful to still be acting after all these years and that people still trust me to play roles like Ann Ming, giving me opportunities to tell people’s stories and get them out there for their families.”
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