Sheridan Smith has opened up about a deeply embarrassing moment from her past, revealing she was once banned from boarding a flight because she was deemed 'too drunk' to travel. The 44-year-old actress, who now stars in BBC One's The Cage, described the experience as a 'nightmare' during a candid interview on Alan Carr's Life's a Beach podcast.
Flight Incident in Florida
When asked by Carr if she had ever missed a flight, Smith admitted to the incident, which occurred when she was travelling to Florida to watch a friend's boxing match. In a hushed tone, she confessed, 'I was too drunk.' A visibly stunned Carr responded, 'Why? Too drunk. Oh God.' Smith elaborated, 'I was too drunk. But I don't drink now, so I can say it now and I can look back and laugh. But at the time it was a nightmare because everyone else got on the flight. Oh my God, I was left there.'
Past Struggles with Alcohol
Smith has been open about her years-long battle with alcohol, which she eventually overcame in 2019. She previously acknowledged that she was 'struggling with drink' alongside mental health difficulties. After giving up alcohol, she noted that 'the bloat in my face had gone.' Her decision to quit drinking came after a period of heavy drinking and dependence on anti-anxiety medication, which she said was triggered by her father Colin's terminal cancer diagnosis in 2016. At the time, she told The Times that she felt 'very ashamed' of her behaviour, adding, 'That's another thing I felt ashamed of - going off the rails when it was my dad who was suffering.'
Current Role in The Cage
Smith currently stars in BBC One's The Cage, playing Leanne, a casino employee who, along with her colleague Matty (Michael Socha), finds herself in desperate need of money. After discovering each other stealing from their boss, the pair become entangled with dangerous criminals and law enforcement. The series was filmed in Liverpool, a city Smith considers her 'adopted' home since starring in the 2016 drama Cilla. She praised the city's residents, saying, 'I just love the city, I'm just obsessed with the people, they're so friendly. They've kind of taken me under their wing.'
