Sheridan Smith on how motherhood saved her life
She opens up about her mental health in new documentary
Seeing Sheridan Smith onstage and on TV, you would be quick to think she oozes self-possession and swagger, but the actress herself admits that’s far from the case – and that she has suffered from anxiety and mental ill health for years. “People say, ‘But you’re so confident,’” the 39 year old says in a new documentary. “They just see the characters that you play, but actually, me on my own at home, I’m a very anxious person. It’s something people don’t really expect of me, I think.”
In the film, Sheridan Smith: Becoming Mum, we follow the Lincolnshire-born singer and actress through her recent pregnancy journey, as well as her struggles with mental ill health. Sheridan – who has been with fiancé Jamie Horn since 2018 – gave birth to a baby boy, Billy, in
May this year. She reveals she wanted the documentary to be educational, but also to speak about her own personal experience. “In fact, I speak about things I have never spoken about before, and I’d never spoken to my family and loved ones about,” she reveals
Sheridan struggled for years with alcohol issues, as well as depression and anxiety. She reveals it all came to a head when her beloved father was diagnosed with cancer, sadly passing away in 2016. “[When] my dad died, I think maybe things that I hadn’t dealt with caused the big explosion, mentally... It was like a bomb went off in my head,” she says. She goes on to add that having her son “feels like I’ve got a second chance at life”.
But above everything, Sheridan credits her recovery to her fiancé
‘I feel like I’ve got a second chance at life’
Jamie, who she first met on the dating app Tinder. “Jamie has been just amazing,” the actress says. “He’s been my rock through everything. It’s really since I met Jamie that I started on my road to recovery. And it’s also been hard for him, because if you don’t have experience of it, you have to learn quickly. He’s been reading up on mental health and knowing how to deal with someone who’s had those issues in the past. He knows me better than I know myself now. He knows if I’m getting anxious. He can read me so well.”
In the documentary, Jamie recalls his first date with Sheridan, going on to praise her for the journey she has been on. “People don’t understand how far she’s come,” the 30-year-old insurance broker says. “Honestly, it makes me so, so happy. It’s like I’ve got my best mate back.”
And while the couple seem to be blissfully enjoying parenthood, with Sheridan telling fans on Instagram that she and Jamie are “overwhelmed with love”, she admits it is tough. “I take my hat off to single mums out there,” she says. “I don’t know how I could have done it. I’m very lucky. Also, I’m back working at the moment, and he’s doing daddy day care while I’m on set filming. Which is great, so that I won’t miss out… I’m in a great place, thank goodness. I feel like I’ve come out the other side and been given a great opportunity. And having Billy – I can’t explain the feeling of contentment in myself that I’ve never felt before.”
The new mum hopes that the film will inspire others to get the help they need. “You don’t need to feel ashamed or guilty or all these horrible feelings I have felt, too, like you think you’re not good enough. It’s OK to need help.
“I just hope this documentary will show that. And if it helps just one person then, my god, I’m so glad I’ve done it.” n