Sheridan Smith has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of playing Ann Ming in the upcoming ITV drama I Fought the Law, revealing she was 'bawling her eyes out' during a particularly gruelling murder scene. The four-part series tells the true story of Ming's 17-year campaign to overturn the double jeopardy rule after her daughter Julie Hogg was murdered in 1989.
In a behind-the-scenes interview, Smith described the intense pressure of portraying a real-life bereaved mother, especially while filming a scene set in a community hall near Hartlepool. The actor struggled to contain her emotions, breaking down repeatedly as she recreated the moment Ming learned of her daughter's death. 'I was a shaking mess,' Smith admitted, adding that the role may be the hardest of her career.
The drama focuses on Ming's fight for justice after Billy Dunlop was acquitted of Julie's murder due to a hung jury, then later confessed but could not be retried under the ancient double jeopardy law. Ming's campaign led to the abolition of the rule in 2006, allowing Dunlop to be convicted. Smith said she felt a deep responsibility to honour Ming's story, spending hours studying her mannerisms and speech patterns.
Ann Ming, now in her 70s, appeared on set as a consultant and even took a cameo role as a line dancer. She praised Smith's performance, noting the actor captured her essence without overtly copying her. 'I gelled to her straight away,' Ming said, describing Smith's portrayal as uncannily accurate. The series is adapted from Ming's book For the Love of Julie.
Smith, who has faced her own personal struggles in recent years, said the role pushed her to emotional limits she had not experienced before. 'I don't think I could do a role like this again,' she confessed, citing the raw grief and injustice at the heart of the story. I Fought the Law airs on ITV later this year.
