# Sheridan Smith

Sheridan Caroline Sian Smith OBE, (born 25 June 1981) is an English actress and singer. She came to prominence after playing a variety of characters in sitcoms, including The Royle Family (1999–2000), Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps (2001–2009), Gavin & Stacey (2008–2010, 2024), and Benidorm (2009). She co-starred as Joey Ross in the drama series Jonathan Creek (2009–2013) and went on to receive acclaim for starring in a succession of television dramas, such as Mrs Biggs (2012), Cilla (2014), The C Word (2015), Black Work (2015), The Moorside (2017), Cleaning Up (2019), and Four Lives (2022). Her film credits include Tower Block (2012), Quartet (2012), The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016), and The Railway Children Return (2022).
Smith has appeared in the West End musicals Little Shop of Horrors (2007), Legally Blonde (2010), Funny Girl (2016), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (2019), Shirley Valentine (2023), and Opening Night (2024). In 2017, she released her debut studio album, Sheridan, which debuted at number nine on the UK Albums Chart. Her second studio album, A Northern Soul, was released the following year.
Smith is the recipient of two Olivier Awards, a British Academy Television Award, and a National Television Award, as well as two International Emmy Award nominations. She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to drama.

## Early life and education

Sheridan Caroline Sian Smith was born on 25 June 1981 in Epworth, Lincolnshire, the only daughter of Marylin Smith and the late Colin Smith (1936–2016). Sheridan had a brother Julian, who died from cancer at the age of 18. Her grandfather was a banjo player in Yorkshire and later played as a trio with his daughters. Smith studied dance at the Joyce Mason School of Dancing from an early age. She later attended South Axholme Comprehensive School; she was a member of the National Youth Music Theatre from 1995 to 2001, performing a number of understudy roles in productions such as Bugsy Malone, Pendragon, and Into the Woods. She completed her further education at John Leggott College in Scunthorpe.

## Career
### Film and television

From 1999 to 2000, Smith played Emma in The Royle Family. She played Janet Keogh in the long-running series Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps from 2001 until 2009.
In 2000 Smith played the role of Lyn Marsh in the Heartbeat episode "A Shot in the Dark". In 2000 she also played a wayward teenager in "Where the Heart is". This was followed in February 2003, when she appeared in Heartbeat's sister programme The Royal, where she played the part of Francesca Wheeler, a teenage girl who was suffering from leukaemia in the episode "Immediate Care."
In 2004, she made a one-episode appearance in Mile High as Suzy, an airport cleaner who impersonates a flight attendant in an attempt to become cabin crew. She also featured in The Comic Strip's 2005 episode "Sex Actually" as Angie.
Smith played Cleo Martin in Love Soup (2005) and starred as Michelle, a hypocritical nutritionist, in three series of the sitcom Grownups (2006–2009). She has also appeared on The Lenny Henry Show as M.E. Westmocott, a role spoofing the various medical examiners on CSI. In the 2009 Two Pints of Lager Comic Relief special, which crossed over with Grownups, she played her characters from both series.
Smith has also appeared in a number of other shows including the BBC's Eyes Down, in which she played Sandy, and smaller parts in shows such as The Bill and Fat Friends. She featured as Rudi, Smithy's little sister, in the second and third series of the BBC Three sitcom Gavin & Stacey. She guest starred in the Christmas 2008 episode of Lark Rise to Candleford. Since 2009, she has played Joey Ross in special seasonal episodes of Jonathan Creek, namely "The Grinning Man" (2009), "The Judas Tree" (2010), and "The Clue of the Savant's Thumb" (2013). She played Brandy in the third series of Benidorm
During 2010, Smith acted as a mentor to the contestants of the BBC show Over the Rainbow. Sky Arts' Chekhov Comedy Shorts also featured Smith in 2010 when she starred as Natasha in The Proposal. She appeared in the 2011 film Hysteria, about the invention of the vibrator. For the factual hospital series Bizarre ER, she took over narration duties from Freema Agyeman. She appeared in the 2012 ITV film adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's novel The Scapegoat.
In September 2012 Smith played the title role in Mrs Biggs, a five-part series on ITV. In 2013, she appeared in the Channel 4 series Dates. In January 2014, she starred in the two-part BBC drama The 7.39. In March 2014, she appeared in the ITV crime drama The Widower as the first wife of serial killer Malcolm Webster. Later that year, she featured in the series Who Do You Think You Are? and played Cilla Black in the three-part ITV drama series Cilla.
In 2015 she starred as cancer patient Lisa Lynch in the one-off BBC drama The C Word and as policewoman Jo Gillespie in the three-part ITV drama Black Work, which was nominated for a National Television Award in 2016.
Smith narrated the reality series Bear Grylls: Mission Survive from 2015. The show was nominated for a National Television Award in 2016 but was cancelled after two series. In February 2017, she starred in The Moorside, a BBC drama based on the kidnapping of Shannon Matthews in 2008.
She appeared in her own ITV music special in November 2017. Titled Sheridan, the one-off special presented by Alexander Armstrong saw her performing some of the songs from her album, and talking about her life.
In December 2017, Smith starred as evil step-mum Sheila in the television adaptation of David Walliams' children's book, Ratburger. It was broadcast on Sky One. In January 2019, she appeared as Sam in ITV drama series Cleaning Up.
In January 2021, Smith appeared as a guest judge in the second series of the BBC drag competition series, RuPaul's Drag Race UK. Later in 2021, she presented the BBC dog-grooming competition Pooch Perfect.
In January 2022, Smith starred as Jenna in The Teacher, a drama series about a drinking, smoking, hard-living teacher who is accused of sleeping with one of her students. Critics generally were positive of Smith, with one reviewer for The Independent praising her performance as "so much flair and vulnerability" and rating the show 4/5 stars. In June 2022, Smith narrated all episodes of Channel 5 docusoap The Cruise. In 2023, Smith began filming The Castaways for Paramount+.

### Theatre

Smith's theatre credits include the musical Into the Woods at London's Donmar Warehouse, and Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park. She also played Audrey in the stage production of Little Shop of Horrors at the Menier Chocolate Factory, London, from November 2006, with the production then transferring to the Duke of York's Theatre in March 2007. Following a successful run the production moved again at the end of June 2007 to the New Ambassadors Theatre, where its played until September 2007. Smith was nominated for the 2008 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for her performance in the show.
Smith appeared as Vanessa in Tinderbox: a Revenge Comedy by Lucy Kirkwood at the Bush Theatre, Shepherd's Bush, in April 2008. Smith originated the role of Elle Woods in the musical version of Legally Blonde in its transfer from Broadway to London's West End in December 2009. Ex-Blue boyband member Duncan James played opposite Smith until June 2010, when he was replaced by Richard Fleeshman. Other cast members Smith has performed alongside include Aoife Mulholland as Brooke, Denise Van Outen as Paulette, Peter Davison as Professor Callahan and Alex Gaumond as Emmett Forrest. Her performance was well received, The Daily Telegraph describing her as: "blessed with vitality, warmth, great comic timing and sudden moments of touching vulnerability. She is infinitely more likeable than Reese Witherspoon in the film."
Smith's run in Legally Blonde was due to finish on 23 October 2010, but her run was extended to 8 January 2011. For her role in Legally Blonde, Smith won the WhatsOnStage.com Theatregoers' Choice Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She was also nominated for the Evening Standard Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress and was the winner of the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical.
Between March and June 2011, she appeared in Trevor Nunn's production of Flare Path at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket as Doris, a former barmaid married to a Polish count in the RAF. The production was part of the playwright Terence Rattigan's centenary year celebrations and also starred Sienna Miller and James Purefoy. For this role she won the 2012 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role, the 2011 Evening Standard Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress and the BroadwayWorld UK Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.
As well as her role in Legally Blonde, Smith also performed the title role in the workshop productions of a new musical adaptation of Bridget Jones' Diary. On 5 April 2012, it was announced that Smith had decided to pull out of the musical, delaying the production of the show.
From September to November 2012, Smith played the title role in Hedda Gabler at the Old Vic, winning the 2013 Theatregoers' Choice Award for "Best Actress in a Leading Role" in a Play. Shortly before collecting her award at the ceremony on 17 February 2013, Smith performed the original song "Stagey and Proud", which was written by Chris Passey and Amy Carroll. From September to November 2013, she starred alongside David Walliams in a West End production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, as part of Michael Grandage's season of plays at the Noël Coward Theatre.
Smith starred in a new London production of the musical Funny Girl. It previewed at the Menier Chocolate Factory from 20 November 2015, opened on 2 December and ran until 6 March 2016. The show then transferred to the Savoy Theatre in the West End for a 12-week run, but extended through 8 October 2016. Sheridan Smith states in The Stage that she is married to the job. Smith continued with the role throughout its UK Tour.
Smith played the Narrator in Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium over the 2019 summer season with Jason Donovan as The Pharaoh and Jac Yarrow as Joseph. From March 2024, she starred as Myrtle in Opening Night at the Gielgud Theatre in the West End. The show's music and lyrics were written by Rufus Wainwright.

### Radio

Smith played companion Lucie Miller alongside Paul McGann's Eighth Doctor in a radio series of Doctor Who, produced by Big Finish and transmitted on BBC 7 from New Year's Eve 2006; the plays returned in a second series released on CD and scheduled for BBC 7 broadcast. A third series of adventures for Lucie and the Doctor aired in March 2009, as weekly half-hour downloads followed by a Christmas Special. Lucie Miller made her final appearances in the fourth series, ending in 2011. She also narrated two Big Finish Short Trips stories, "The Curse of the Fugue" and "Flashpoint." Smith has reprised her role as Lucie Miller opposite McGann's Eighth Doctor in The Further Adventures of Lucie Miller, released in July 2019. Smith also appeared as Ruby Ruggles in the 2008 radio serial The Way We Live Right Now, and took over the role of Tamsin Trelawny in series 2 of Elephants to Catch Eels on BBC Radio 4.

## Personal life

Smith has spoken about her anxiety, panic attacks, and difficulties with alcohol and tattoos. In December 2023, she spoke of her tattoo regrets and her intention not to add any further ink to her skin.
Smith was in a relationship with James Corden from 2007 until 2009. She was in a relationship with Jamie Horn, an insurance broker, between 2018 and 2021. Together they have a son, born in May 2020.

## Discography
### Albums

| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
| Title | Details | UK | SCO | Certifications |
| Sheridan | Released: 3 November 2017 Label: East West Formats: Digital download, CD | 9 | 11 | BPI: Gold |
| A Northern Soul | Released: 2 November 2018 Label: Warner Bros. Formats: Digital download, CD | 15 | 16 | |

### Singles

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | UK | Album |
| "My Man" | 2017 | - | Sheridan |
| "Anyone Who Had a Heart | 2017 | 80 | Sheridan |
| "Crazy" | 2017 | - | Sheridan |
| "Priceless | 2018 | - | A Northern Soul |
| "I Know Him So Well" (with Amanda Holden) | 2020 | - | Songs from My Heart |
| "How Christmas Is Supposed To Be" (with Gary Barlow) | 2021 | - | The Dream of Christmas |

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2000 | Peaches | Tracey | |
| 2011 | Hysteria | Molly the Lolly | |
| 2011 | How to Stop Being a Loser | Lisa | |
| 2012 | Tower Block | Becky | |
| 2012 | Quartet | Dr Lucy Cogan | |
| 2013 | Powder Room | Sam | |
| 2013 | The Harry Hill Movie | Michelle | |
| 2016 | The Huntsman: Winter's War | Mrs Bromwyn | |
| 2018 | The More You Ignore Me | Gina | |
| 2019 | The Queen's Corgi | Wanda | Voice |
| 2022 | The Railway Children Return | Annie | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1999 | Wives and Daughters | Housemaid | Episode No. 1.1 |
| 1999 | Dark Ages | Matilda | 5 episodes |
| 1999–2000 | The Royle Family | Emma Kavanagh | Recurring role, 3 episodes |
| 2000, 2004 | Doctors | Claire Mitchell / Jackie Leavis | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Heartbeat | Lyn | Episode: "A Shot in the Dark" |
| 2000 | Where the Heart Is | Vicky | Episode: "Modern Love" |
| 2000 | Anchor Me | Young Jackie | Television film |
| 2001 | Holby City | Miranda Locke | 6 episodes |
| 2001 | Always and Everyone | Nurse | Episode No. 3.12 |
| 2001 | Hawkins | Jez | Television film |
| 2001–2009 | Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps | Janet Keogh (née Smith) | 73 episodes (series 1–8) |
| 2002 | Fat Friends | Sharon Wormersley | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | Blood Strangers | Jas Dyson / Claire | Television film |
| 2003 | The Royal | Francesca Smith | Series 1 Episode 5 |
| 2003–2004 | Eyes Down | Sandy Beech | Main role, all 15 episodes |
| 2004 | Mile High | Susie | Episode No. 2.10 |
| 2005 | The Bill | Janey Giles | Episode #315 |
| 2005 | The Lenny Henry Show | Various Characters | 8 episodes |
| 2005 | The Comic Strip | Angie | Episode: "Sex Actually" |
| 2005–2008 | Love Soup | Cleo Martin | Main role, 15 episodes |
| 2006–2009 | Grownups | Michelle Booth | Main role, all 22 episodes |
| 2008 | Lark Rise to Candleford | Cinderella Doe | Episode: No. 2.1 |
| 2008–2010, 2024 | Gavin & Stacey | Ruth "Rudi" Smith | Supporting role, 7 episodes (series 2–3) & 2024 Finale |
| 2009 | Benidorm | Brandy | Main role, 4 episodes (series 3) |
| 2009 | The Friday Night Club | Miranda | Unaired pilot |
| 2009–2013 | Jonathan Creek | Joey Ross | Series 3, Series 4, Series 5 |
| 2010 | Chekhov Comedy Shorts | Natasha | Episode: "The Proposal" |
| 2011 | Little Crackers | Marilyn Smith | Episode: "The Daltons" |
| 2012 | Accused | Charlotte | Episode: "Stephen's Story" |
| 2012 | Mrs Biggs | Charmian Biggs | 5 episodes |
| 2012 | Panto! | Tamsin Taylor | |
| 2012 | The Scapegoat | Nina | Television film |
| 2012 | Mr Stink | Caroline Crumb | Television film |
| 2013 | Dates | Jenny | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | The 7.39 | Sally Thorn | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | The Widower | Claire Webster | Mini-series |
| 2014 | Cilla | Cilla Black | Mini-series |
| 2015 | Inside No. 9 | Christine | Anthology series, episode:"The 12 Days of Christine" |
| 2015 | The C Word | Lisa Lynch | Drama |
| 2015 | Black Work | Jo Gillespie | Three-part thriller |
| 2016 | Galavant | Princess Jubilee | Episode: No. 2.5 |
| 2016 | Walliams and Friend | Various | Episode: "Sheridan Smith" |
| 2017 | The Moorside | Julie Bushby | BBC drama based on the Kidnapping of Shannon Matthews |
| 2017 | Ratburger | Sheila | Television film |
| 2018 | Care | Jenny | Television film |
| 2019 | Cleaning Up | Sam | Main role |
| 2020 | Thunderbirds Are Go | Scraps (voice) | Episode: "Buried Treasure" |
| 2020 | Isolation Stories | Mel | 1 episode |
| 2020 | Jack and the Beanstalk: After Ever After | The Woman with No Name | Television film |
| 2021 | Hansel & Gretel: After Ever After | Witch | Television Film |
| 2022 | Four Lives | Sarah Sak | BBC drama |
| 2022 | The Teacher | Jenna Garvey | 4 episodes |
| 2022 | No Return | Kathy Powell | ITV Drama |
| 2022 | Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything | Rosie Molloy | Sky One comedy |
| 2022 | The Cruise | Narrator | Channel 5 docusoap |
| 2022 | Gangsta Granny Strikes Again! | Linda | Television film |
| 2023 | The Castaways | Lori Holme | 5 episodes |
| TBA | I Fought the Law | Ann Ming | Filming |

### Non-acting television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2014 | Who Do You Think You Are? | Herself | 1 episode |
| 2015 | Bear Grylls: Mission Survive | Narrator | First series |
| 2017 | Sheridan | Herself | One-off special |
| 2018 | Sheridan Smith: Coming Home | Herself | One-off documentary directed by Tim Pope |
| 2018 | Take That: We've Come a Long Way | Narrator | Special documentary to mark Take That's 30th anniversary |
| 2020 | Becoming Mum | Herself | 1 episode |
| 2021 | Pooch Perfect | Presenter | Eight-part series |
| 2021 | RuPaul's Drag Race UK | Herself | Guest judge Series 2, Episode 2: "Rats: The Rusical" |
| 2022 | Starstruck | Herself | Judge |

### Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
| 1998–1999 | Into the Woods | Little Red Ridinghood | Donmar Warehouse |
| 2006–2007 | Little Shop of Horrors | Audrey | Menier Chocolate Factory |
| 2007 | Little Shop of Horrors | Audrey | Duke of York's Theatre Ambassadors Theatre |
| 2008 | Tinderbox: A Revenge Comedy | Vanessa | Bush Theatre |
| 2009–2011 | Legally Blonde | Elle Woods | Savoy Theatre |
| 2011 | Flare Path | Doris | Theatre Royal Haymarket |
| 2012 | Hedda Gabler | Hedda Gabler | The Old Vic |
| 2013 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Titania | Noël Coward Theatre |
| 2015–2016 | Funny Girl | Fanny Brice | Menier Chocolate Factory |
| 2016 | Funny Girl | Fanny Brice | Savoy Theatre |
| 2017 | Funny Girl | Fanny Brice | UK tour |
| 2019 | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | The Narrator | London Palladium |
| 2023 | Shirley Valentine | Shirley Valentine | Duke of York's Theatre |
| 2024 | Opening Night | Myrtle | Gielgud Theatre |

## Awards and nominations
### Music
#### Classic BRIT Awards

| Year | Category | Work | Result |
| 2018 | Female Artist of the Year | Sheridan | Nominated |
| 2018 | Classic FM Album of the Year | Sheridan | Nominated |

### Theatre
#### BroadwayWorld UK Awards

| Year | Category | Work | Result |
| 2011 | Best Featured Actress in a Play | Flare Path | Won |

#### Evening Standard Awards

| Year | Category | Work | Result |
| 2010 | Best Actress | Legally Blonde | Nominated |
| 2011 | Best Actress | Flare Path | Won |
| 2016 | Best Actress | Funny Girl | Nominated |

#### Laurence Olivier Awards

| Year | Category | Work | Result |
| 2009 | Best Actress in a Musical | Little Shop of Horrors | Nominated |
| 2011 | Best Actress in a Musical | Legally Blonde | Won |
| 2012 | Best Performance in a Supporting Role | Flare Path | Won |
| 2017 | Best Actress in a Musical | Funny Girl | Nominated |
| 2024 | Best Actress | Shirley Valentine | Nominated |

#### Manchester Theatre Awards

| Year | Category | Work | Result |
| 2018 | Best Actress in a Visiting Production | Funny Girl (UK Tour) | Won |

#### Whatsonstage.com Audience Awards

| Year | Category | Work | Result |
| 2011 | Best Actress in a Musical | Legally Blonde | Won |
| 2013 | Best Actress in a Play | Hedda Gabler | Won |
| 2017 | Best Actress in a Musical | Funny Girl | Nominated |

### Television
#### AACTA Awards

| Year | Category | Work | Result |
| 2014 | Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama | Mrs Biggs | Nominated |

#### BAFTA TV Awards

| Year | Category | Work | Result |
| 2013 | Best Actress | Mrs Biggs | Won |
| 2015 | Best Actress | Cilla | Nominated |
| 2016 | Best Actress | The C Word | Nominated |

#### Emmy Awards

| Year | Category | Work | Result |
| 2013 | International Emmy Award for Best Actress | Mrs Biggs | Nominated |
| 2015 | International Emmy Award for Best Actress | Cilla | Nominated |

#### National Television Awards

| Year | Category | Work | Result |
| 2013 | Outstanding Drama Performance (Female) | Mrs Biggs | Nominated |
| 2015 | Best Drama Performance | Cilla | Won |
| 2016 | Best Drama Performance | Black Work | Nominated |
| 2018 | Best Drama Performance | The Moorside | Nominated |

#### Royal Television Society Awards

| Year | Category | Work | Result |
| 2013 | Best Actress | Mrs Biggs | Nominated |
| 2015 | Best Actress | Cilla | Nominated |

#### TV Choice Award

| Year | Category | Work | Result |
| 2013 | Best Actress | Mrs Biggs | Nominated |
| 2015 | Best Actress | Cilla | Won |

#### Women in Film & Television Awards

| Year | Category | Work | Result |
| 2013 | Best Performance | Mrs Biggs | Won |