Sheridan Smith recalls traumatic childhood memory that helped her through ‘the hardest job she’s ever done’ and reveals how this time her sobriety is for real

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In simpler terms, Sheridan Smith shared a difficult childhood experience that played a role in preparing for her latest real-life drama. Furthermore, she talked publicly about staying sober.

In a recent interview, the actress, aged 44, shared insights about her experience playing the challenging role in “I Fought the Law,” which she characterized as her most demanding project yet. She confessed to often breaking down in tears during filming and also revealed that she is now committed to maintaining sobriety in her personal life.

The four-part documentary chronicles the genuine struggle of Ann Ming, who fought tirelessly for 15 years to bring her daughter Julie Hogg’s killer to court. Her persistence led to the repeal of the UK’s ancient ‘double jeopardy’ law after the murder of her daughter.

In a straightforward manner, Sheridan confessed that taking on the character of Ann makes her job effortless when she’s portraying someone else’s suffering, and for challenging scenes, she often dips into her personal experiences.

She shared with The Guardian: “I recall vividly the night my brother passed away and my mother’s anguished cries. In similar situations, I would draw from those emotions. As a mother myself now, I find myself contemplating what it would be like if something were to happen to your child.

At the age of eight, Sheridan lost her 18-year-old brother Julian due to cancer.

Sheridan acknowledged that the encounter with “I Fought the Law” left her drained, a lesson she will carry when considering future job opportunities.

She shared that she constantly needs to keep in mind that the real-life characters experienced this, but she believes there’s a small piece of each character that remains within her.

In 2016, during her role in the West End’s Funny Girl, the actress experienced a high-profile personal crisis that received much media attention.

The combined pressures of stress, fatigue, and her father’s cancer diagnosis significantly worsened her mental health problems, leading her to temporarily step away from the show.

In the previous year, during a performance of the play “Opening Night” at London’s West End, which she referred to as ‘almost intensely personal’, Sheridan portrayed an intoxicated actor grappling with his role on stage.

It brought attention to the similarities she found in her personal challenges and the experiences of her character, who was a successful yet struggling actress dealing with alcoholism amidst mounting stress.

Sheridan, who shares a five-year-old son with his ex-partner Jamie Horn, has promised to approach challenging roles with greater caution in the future.

She expressed that she had often fluctuated between periods of drinking and abstinence. However, this time, she feels it’s a permanent change.

In the rawest, most unbridled passion, I cannot help but be consumed by the gripping tale that unfurls in “I Fought the Law.” This riveting narrative revolves around Ann Ming, a mother whose world was shattered when her beloved daughter, Julie, met an untimely and brutal end at the hands of William ‘Billy’ Dunlop. The tragedy, however, did not cease to unfold, as justice seemed to evade us all in this harrowing tale. Despite the jury’s failure to find Billy guilty – not once, but twice – Ann’s unwavering spirit and determination for truth continued to burn brightly, driving her to seek justice for Julie’s stolen life.

At the time, since Billy had already confessed, it was against the existing law to put him through another trial.

After nearly 17 years of advocacy alongside her late husband Charles, Ann successfully managed to revise the law. Currently, Billy is serving a life imprisonment term as a result.

Julie, who was a mother to three-year-old, Kevin, and a wife to Andrew, was only 22 when she died.

Sadly, it was in January 1990, 80 days later, that Ann discovered Julie’s body stashed away in the bathroom of their terraced house, a grim discovery made by Billy.

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In a heartbreaking turn of events, Ann found Julie’s body hidden in the bathroom of their terraced house in January 1990, 80 days after it had been secreted there by Billy.

Despite thorough investigations of the premises by police forensic units following her disappearance, they were unable to locate her remains.

The individual who took Julie’s life strangulated her and subsequently disfigured her body through sexual violence. Afterward, he concealed her remains beneath the bathtub within their shared home.

In her 70s now, Ann played an advisory role during the entire making of I Fought The Law.

In simpler terms, she stated that her daughter’s actual killer was incorrectly found not guilty years ago, but later admitted to the murder. However, because of an ancient law called Double Jeopardy, which is about 800 years old, he could only be charged with perjury, not the original murder.

I determinedly refused to let this obstacle hinder my pursuit of justice for Julie. I’m absolutely astounded that Sheridan Smith will portray me.

‘Having such an iconic and talented actress portray me is truly wonderful.’

In response to discussing his role, Sheridan stated, “I feel incredibly privileged to portray Ann Ming, a mother whose unwavering resolve to seek justice for her slain daughter led her to advocate tirelessly for 15 years in order to alter the Double Jeopardy Law.

She added: ‘She is a truly courageous and remarkable woman to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude.’

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2025-08-16 14:48