Life looks very different for Sheridan Smith these days.
After years of intense pressure, public scrutiny, and personal loss, the actress says she’s finally found peace — and it didn’t happen in London’s bright lights.
Instead, happiness arrived when she packed up and returned home, choosing family, familiarity, and a slower pace over the chaos that once overwhelmed her.
When West End Pressure Reached Breaking Point
Back in 2016, Sheridan was starring as Fanny Brice in the West End revival of Funny Girl, a role that demanded everything she had.
Behind the scenes, her mental health was rapidly deteriorating.
Things came to a head when a performance was halted midway after claims she appeared unsteady and was slurring her words on stage.
Almost immediately, rumours swirled that she had been drinking heavily — accusations that followed her relentlessly.
The Joke That Pushed Everything Over the Edge
The situation escalated further during the TV BAFTAs, where Graham Norton, hosting the ceremony, made a light-hearted comment that referenced theatrical “technical difficulties,” a remark widely interpreted as a dig at Sheridan’s alleged drinking.
While meant as humour, the joke landed painfully.
Soon after, Sheridan missed three consecutive shows and stepped away from the production entirely, marking what she later described as her public “meltdown.”
Grief, Loss, and a Hidden Battle With Medication
At the same time, Sheridan was dealing with devastating personal circumstances.
Her father had been diagnosed with cancer — the same illness that claimed the life of her younger brother Julian when she was just eight years old.
Her father would pass away later that same year, leaving Sheridan grieving deeply on two fronts.
She later revealed that she had become dependent on anti-anxiety medication and had abruptly stopped taking it around the time of the BAFTAs.
The result was severe seizures that led to her being hospitalised.
Looking back, she described the period as “double grief,” a collision of unresolved loss and emotional exhaustion.
Looking Back With Compassion, Not Blame
Reflecting on her encounter with Norton, Sheridan has been careful not to point fingers.
She admits she was already struggling and says the moment might not have unfolded the same way today, noting that public conversations around mental health feel far more compassionate now than they did then.
Trading London for the Comfort of Home
Nearly a decade later, Sheridan has made a life-changing decision — leaving London behind and moving back to her hometown of Epworth.
The shift has brought her closer to family and a sense of belonging she says she deeply missed.
From knowing everyone in the village to doing the school run in her pyjamas, she describes the move as freeing.
Above all, she says motherhood has become her greatest joy.
Back on Stage With a Darkly Comic Twist
Despite stepping away from London life, Sheridan hasn’t stepped away from acting.
She’s now back in the West End starring in Alan Ayckbourn’s dark comedy Woman in Mind, currently playing at the Duke of York’s Theatre.
The production runs until the end of February before heading on tour to Sunderland and Glasgow.
She plays Susan, a troubled housewife whose unhappy reality fractures after a head injury.
As she imagines a perfect version of her family, the boundary between fantasy and reality begins to dissolve — with unsettling consequences.
Romesh Ranganathan Joins the Cast — and Takes a Breather
Adding another layer of excitement to the production, comedian Romesh Ranganathan is making his West End debut as Susan’s psychiatrist, Doctor Bill Windsor.
His appearance comes at a time when he’s deliberately slowing down his famously busy career.
Romesh recently explained that he’s stepping back from non-stop work to spend more time at home.
Speaking on Desert Island Discs, he shared that there’s no grand strategy — just a desire to do what feels right.
So, What’s Next?
For Sheridan Smith, the future appears grounded, calmer, and far more balanced than the chapter she’s left behind.
With a fulfilling home life, renewed confidence on stage, and lessons hard-earned, she’s proving that healing doesn’t mean stepping away — it means stepping forward on your own terms.
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