Sheridan Smith

Sheridan Smith plays palliative care nurse, Charlotte, who looks after the dying mother of the Cartwright brothers, Stephen (Robert Sheehan) and Dom (Josh Bolt) and is a source of solace for their bereaved father, Peter (John Bishop). But is she as saintly as she seems?

One thing that is certain is that Sheridan Smith’s star is ascending and it’s clear to everyone why this true all-rounder, who can turn her hand to television, film and stage performance, is scooping prestigious awards for her considerable talents. Moreover, her bonhomie and lack of pretention make it is easy to see why she has countless fans and some 250,000 followers on twitter.

From popular television roles in Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps, The Royle Family, and Gavin And Stacey, Sheridan went on take London’s stage by storm as the all-singing, all-dancing Californian rich girl, Elle, who has everything including a Chihuahua in her handbag, in Legally Blonde.

Last year Elle won Sheridan the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award for best actress in a musical. This was followed by her poignant portrayal of Doris in Terence Rattigan’s wartime drama, Flare Path, which won her a further clutch of awards including the coveted London Evening Standard Best Actress and best performance in a supporting role at the 2012 Olivier Awards.

So what attracted her back to television and an episode touching on mental health issues written by of Danny Brocklehurst and Jimmy McGovern?

“I was so excited when I heard about the auditions. I can’t tell you how keen I was to be involved. I think Jimmy McGovern is an absolute genius.

“When I read the script I was on tenterhooks. It keeps you guessing the whole time about what is really happening. The plotting is really intricate and pulls you in and keeps twisting and turning. You’re never quite sure what will happen next.

“I have never taken on a role like Charlotte and the chance to do something really different was a thrill.

“I couldn’t believe it when I got the part. I really wanted the challenge of playing her.

“Charlotte falls in between the age of the boys – both teenagers - and their father, whom she very quickly befriends. Which could mean something or nothing,” continues Sheridan, mindful not to give away anything.

“It’s a clever set up. There’s this 30-year-old woman who has more experience of death than most of us because of her job. It gives her a maturity and authority that belies her age,” says Sheridan.

“Charlotte enters the Cartwright’s home in their hour of need and quietly takes control in a very dispassionate and professional way.

“But there’s always nagging doubt about her motivations,” continues Sheridan.

“Is Charlotte really what she seems? Is she the person you’d want at your side when someone you love dies? Is she that altruistic?

“It’s clear that Stephen doesn’t think so. And throughout the drama you’re never sure whether he is projecting ulterior motives on to her because his state of mind is disintegrating and he’s suffering from paranoid delusions.

“It makes playing a part like this so interesting. I loved working with Robert, he’s a brilliant actor.

“We worked really hard to play our parts as truthfully and heart-felt as possible, so that the audience are pulled between Charlotte and Stephen – not knowing who is for real and who isn’t.

“Hopefully, if we’ve done our jobs right there will be moments when you think Charlotte’s dodgy. And, there’ll be other times when you think his pain and grief have made him lose his grip on reality.

“On the other hand,” says Sheridan, “Charlotte’s someone whose actions seem oddly rational all the time. She’s always controlled, which is good character trait for me to show - I’ve often played women with a big open heart, but with Charlotte you should never know whether you like her or not.”

Despite freezing weather and cramped conditions and intense filming days Sheridan insists she thoroughly enjoyed herself.

“We shot up in Stalybridge, Lancashire, in a house on top of a hill. Some days it was just freezing and some days it was freezing and sleeting!” she laughs.

“But we were belly laughing in our downtime. John is just an incredible man and hysterical to be around, and Robert and Josh were terrific fun to be with.

Then, confides Sheridan, a known dog lover, the real tour de force was, “a Jack Russell called Dodger, who played the Cartwright’s dog Jenks.

“I’ve never known a dog like Dodger. He was so obedient and well-behaved. We all fell for him big time. In between takes his amazing trainer, Sonia Turner, would get him to do tricks and he could do so many. One of my favourites was he could hide his eyes on cue! I had to share the moment and put his picture on twitter.”

Sheridan’s fans will have plenty more opportunities to see her on screen. This autumn on ITV she plays the title role in a five-part series, Mrs Biggs, and also stars opposite Matthew Rhys in The Scapegoat, an adaptation of a novel by Daphne Du Maurier.

On the big screen Sheridan will be seen in Quartet, directed by Dustin Hoffman and starring Maggie Smith and Michael Gambon; and on stage Sheridan stars as Hedda Gabler at The Old Vic.