Sheridan Smith – who is she and what shows has she been in?

From Gavin and Stacey to her roles in the West End, here's your NTK

Sheridan Smith

by Yasmin-May Harisha |
Updated on

She's our favourite girl-next-door, actress Sheridan Smith from Epworth in Lincolnshire and was born 25 June 1981 to mother Marilyn and father Colin Smith who she has always had a tight bond with.

What did Sheridan Smith do before she got famous?

Sheridan's parents performed a Country and Western duo called ‘The Daltons’ which is where Sheridan started her career in performing arts. From the age of four they became a performing family as she started to dance. From there once developing more confidence Sheridan started singing from the age of seven.

Sheridan Smith's Early Career

Her first professional step on to stage was at the age of 14 playing the lead role in the production Annie. From here, her career set off in theatre by performing in big stage roles like Pendragon and Dorothy, The Wizard Of Oz, Little Red Riding Hood in the 1998 Donmar Warehouse production of Into The Woods and Talullah in National Youth Theatre's production of Bugsy Malone.

Sheridan Smith

Sheridan then made her TV debut by appearing on Oliver Awards, Blue Peter, Children in Need, Newsround, and the National Youth Music Theatre of which she was a member.

What TV shows has Sheridan Smith been on?

Her big break on TV came from The Royle Family where she was best known as Emma (Anthony Royle’s girlfriend).

She went on to star in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps where she played Janet Keogh.

Sheridan Smith on Gavin and Stacey
Sheridan Smith on Gavin and Stacey

During this time, she featured in the popular comedy Gavin and Stacey which attracted almost seven million viewers. Here she starred regularly as Smithy’s sister Rudi and had a reputation as a bit of a ladette.

In 2014 she starred as legendary Liverpudlian crooner Cilla Black the ITV drama series of the same name, to critical acclaim.

Drama Performance  - Sheridan Smith in Cilla
Cilla

From the television sitcoms, Sheridan went on to make her debut in musical theatre starring in lead roles in the West End; from Legally Blonde to Hedda Gabler, and Funny Girl.

Sheridan Smith's Personal Life

Sheridan once dated her Gavin & Stacey co-star James Corden who played her brother Smithy in the show.

Sheridan Smith and James Corden
Sheridan and James Corden

But lets not get too carried away with who she once said, “I have lots of gay mates, and every time I go out with one of them, it’s in the papers, ‘Ooh, Sheridan’s new mystery man!’

"It makes me scream laughing, their gaydar is so broken!”

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Sheridan and Prince William

In 2015, Sheridan was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen's New Year's Honours List.

She said at the time, “I don't feel as worthy as so many of the recipients, but thank you so much, it's a huge honour.

"[Prince William] said he'd seen some of my work, which is amazing, and was a fan of Gavin and Stacey.”

And after all of these achievements, Sheridan is still as humble as ever.

She says, "You see these formally trained actors with scripts covered in writing, whereas mine will be covered in coffee stains and fag burns.

"I spend most of the time feeling like I'm totally blagging it."

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