I Couldn't Live Without My Animals

Sheridan Smith chats about her latest role in a gripping new ITV drama and why four-legged friends are the best.

- Alison James

You immediately warm to Sheridan Smith. There’s something touchingly vulnerable about her that makes you want to hug her. This goes some way to explaining why she’s such a brilliant actress and her portrayals of real-life characters such as Cilla and Mrs Biggs are so compelling and convincing. She’s also refreshingly down-to-earth and not in the least luvvie-like. We’re supposed to be talking about her latest role in Cleaning Up but she keeps going offtopic and enthusing about her small menagerie of animals instead.

“I’ve just adopted four rescue donkeys,” she reveals. “I also have two pigs and two sheep. I’ve moved to the countryside and have a small farm – just like I always wanted. I’m surrounded by animals and it’s really exciting. In addition to the donkeys, pigs and goats, I also have seven dogs. I’m like the crazy dog lady! They’re just the best thing. They love you unconditionally and when I go home they all jump on me. So now my life is going to work for a bit then coming back to be with the animals.”

Talking of work, Cleaning Up is a bit of a departure for Sheridan. She’s known for playing real people, such as the aforementioned Cilla Black and Charmian Biggs. But her character Sam in Cleaning Up is fictional.

“Playing a fictional character as opposed to a real one is very different, but I’ve enjoyed the challenge. Sam is more like me, I guess, which I’ve actually found quite hard. It’s quite close to me, my emotions and feelings so it’s hard to switch off. I relate to Sam a lot. It felt raw and more real, which is a good thing.”

So who exactly is Sam and what is her story?