Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1981-06-25
- Born Place: Epworth, North Lincolnshire, England, UK
Sheridan Smith
Sheridan Smith, OBE, is a highly celebrated English actress and singer whose career is defined by its remarkable range across comedy, hard-hitting drama, and musical theater. Born on June 25, 1981, in Epworth, Lincolnshire, she was raised in a musical household where her parents, Colin and Marilyn, performed as a country and western duo. Her family history is rooted in entertainment; she discovered on the program Who Do You Think You Are? that her great-great-grandfather was a renowned banjo player. Smith began her journey on the stage as a child, later joining the National Youth Music Theatre, where she honed her skills despite never attending a formal drama school. Her professional television career launched in the late 1990s with roles in The Royle Family, which quickly led to her becoming a household name through long-running sitcoms such as Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps and Gavin & Stacey. Her transition from comedic "blonde sass" roles to serious dramatic powerhouse is often cited as one of the most successful in British industry history. She earned a BAFTA for her portrayal of Charmian Biggs in the 2012 miniseries Mrs Biggs and received immense critical acclaim for her role as Cilla Black in the 2014 biopic Cilla. Her stage career has been equally dominant, as she is the recipient of two Laurence Olivier Awards for her performances in Legally Blonde and Flare Path. On the big screen, she has showcased her versatility in films like the Dustin Hoffman-directed Quartet and the dark fantasy The Huntsman: Winter's War. Throughout her success, she has remained deeply connected to her working-class northern roots, often choosing roles that reflect social realism and the struggles of everyday people. In recent years, Smith has continued to lead major television productions, including the 2024 thriller Nightsleeper and the 2025 drama I Fought the Law, where she portrayed real-life campaigner Ann Ming.
