A CLASS ACT - ‘I GET TWITCHY ABOUT NOT WORKING'

ACTRESS SHERIDAN SMITH ON FEELING MORE FOCUSED WHEN SHE’S BUSY DEALING WITH MUM GUILT AND BEING A DWEEB AT SCHOOL

- CHLOE ALEXANDROU

She’s one of Britain’s busiest stars so we may not be surprised to see Sheridan Smith back on our screens, but that doesn’t mean we’re any less excited. Her latest project, The Teacher, sees her take on the role of flawed staff member Jenna. She’s popular with the kids, but as her chaotic private life begins to catch up with her, Jenna’s accused of sleeping with a pupil.

Sheridan, 40, is no stranger to dealing with big subject matters having played plenty of real people throughout her career, including Shannon Matthews campaigner Julie Bushby (The Moorside), the wife of Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs (Mrs Biggs) and earlier this month, the mum of a victim of serial killer Anthony Walgate in Four Lives. Nevertheless, the mum admits that she often finds herself getting pulled too deeply into the emotions of her characters.

“I put my heart and soul into them, which isn’t a good thing sometimes because you’ve got to be able to switch off,” she explains. However, Sheridan reveals that she’s “not as bad” since having her son Billy.

“I’m able to come home and say, ‘OK the day is done, I’m going back to my baby.’”

Sheridan worked up until she was “about to pop” before giving birth to Billy in May 2020. She was then engaged to insurance broker Jamie Horn, but the pair have since separated.

Here, Sheridan explains how she manages her busy work schedule, opens up about feelings of mum guilt and looks back on what she was like in school…