Sheridan Smith opens up about her public ‘meltdown’ eight years ago

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Sheridan Smith has spoken out about her very public breakdown which occurred during her time in the West End production of Funny Girl back in 2016.

During Smith's tenure, she was struggling with her own personal problems and mental health issues after hearing that her father had cancer. The media's attention revolved around her missed appearances on stage, the dissatisfaction of the audience, and gossip about Smith's drinking habits. Eventually, Smith had to take some time off from work due to overwhelming stress and exhaustion.

During a recent interview, Smith mentioned that she remembered experiencing a moment where she felt like everything was suddenly cut off from her.

The winner of the Olivier award is set to appear in a new stage version of the 1977 film "Opening Night" in London's West End. The plot revolves around Myrtle, a Broadway actress played by Smith, as she experiences a series of misfortunes leading up to the debut of her latest play. This causes her to spiral out of control and lose stability.

According to Smith, getting the script for Opening Night felt like a meaningful occurrence because she observed some commonalities in the character Myrtle's life events with her own.

She expressed to The Guardian that she had to perform in the play to regain power over her experience. During that period, she felt incredibly embarrassed, and it became necessary to demonstrate that she's not the same person anymore. It's been an extremely therapeutic process.

"I have faced a crisis where everything was abruptly stopped," she commented.

The performer from The Royle Family expressed concern that some aspects of Myrtle's tale may cause a negative reaction but reassured that there are mental health professionals available to assist in the Opening Night ensemble that she can turn to.

In 2016, Smith attended the Baftas.

She remembers how dissimilar it is from the time when she encountered a meltdown 8 years back. She received no assistance back then and was merely instructed to go up on the stage.

"Now, I am in a more powerful position. We discover the reality of a situation, and then let it go before leaving."

Smith took a break from Funny Girl and during the Baftas, host Graham Norton made a humorous comment about her absence.

Smith remembered that Graham Norton was the one who hosted the show and made a wisecrack that put her in a bad light, insinuating that she was an alcoholic. This was shared in a documentary about the challenges of being a mother and dealing with mental health issues that aired on ITV in 2020.

She went on to express her deep shame. She was surrounded by her colleagues and associates, people she either wanted to collaborate with or had already worked with. The events of that evening were like the tipping point for her, causing her mental state to fall apart completely.

After a presentation of Funny Girl was stopped in the middle, the theater administration claimed that "technical difficulties" were the reason for the cancellation.

Smith mentioned that she has the opportunity to connect with therapists while focusing on her latest production called 'Opening Night'.

Rewrite: The given picture depicts Stuart C. Wilson who belongs to Getty Images.

During his speech at the Baftas, Norton made mention of this.

"We're all looking forward to enjoying a few beverages tonight. Or, as those in the theater world call it, indulging in a few glasses of technical difficulties," he stated with enthusiasm.

Afterward, she remembered saying, "I was in an unbelievable amount of pain, and everyone in the room who worked in the same field as me thought it was funny."

The premiere of the show will take place at the Gielgud theatre in London and it will run from March 6th until July 27th.