Sheridan Smith has spoken candidly about her struggle with alcohol and mental health, describing a period when she 'just fell apart' and 'lost her mind'. The Olivier and Bafta-winning actor, now 37, revealed the extent of her difficulties during a recent interview, reflecting on a very public breakdown in 2016 that saw her miss curtain calls and post regrettable tweets.
Smith recalled an appearance on the genealogy show 'Who Do You Think You Are?' where she discovered her great-grandfather was an alcoholic who attempted suicide. 'I'm sat there on TV saying, 'Oh! Really! That's so interesting...' But you can see the tears start rolling down my face,' she said. 'In my head I'm thinking, my God, the parallels. Is this all something that's… genetic?'
The actor, who has a new ITV drama 'Cleaning Up' about a cleaner with a gambling addiction, said she is now in a better place thanks to proper treatment, a stable relationship, and rewarding work. She admitted she was 'not being honest with anyone about how much I was struggling, with drink, with my mental health' during her rise to fame.
Smith, who also has a new album of original songs, said she feels freer talking about her difficulties now. 'Back when I started on TV, they sent me on a course to teach me how to behave in interviews,' she said. 'I'm sat with this guy, I'm in my early 20s. He said, 'No, you see, you're answering my questions honestly.' And I said, 'But you asked.''
