Sheridan Smith 'set to star in true crime drama' after it was announced her ... trends now
Sheridan Smith is reportedly set to play the leading role in a gritty new drama after it was announced the play she made her West End comeback in has been axed two months early.
The actress, 42, will portray Ann Ming, the mother who battled to change the law after her daughter Julie Hogg was murdered by her ex-partner in 1989.
The new ITV drama, scheduled to begin later this year, will be based on Ann's book, For The Love Of Julie.
After fighting for 15 years, Ann succeeded in changing the 800-year-old 'double jeopardy' law, which meant people couldn't be tried twice for the same crime.
A source told The Sun: 'Ann campaigned tirelessly to change the 800-year-old double jeopardy law and saw Julie's killer, Billy Dunlop, eventually jailed for life.
Sheridan Smith is reportedly set to play the leading role in a gritty new drama after it was announced the play she made her West End comeback in has been axed two months early
The actress, 42, will portray Ann Ming, the mother who battled to change the law after her daughter Julie Hogg was murdered by her ex-partner in 1989
'She will work with Sheridan and ITV on the four-part drama which will follow Ann's fight for justice for Julie. It is an incredibly emotional story and Sheridan has promised Ann she will do her, and Julie, proud.'
MailOnline has contacted Sheridan's representative's for comment.
It comes after it was revealed that Sheridan is reportedly earning £21,000 per week despite her recent theatre show being cut from theatre two months early.
Sheridan, banked £1.1million last year after a very successful 12 months working in TV, according to the Mirror.
She is currently starring in West End musical Opening Night but poor reviews and ticket sales have led to the production ending two months early on May 18.
And despite her role being cut short, Sheridan, who was nominated for the Best Actress award at the Olivier Awards for her role in Shirley Valentine, is still set to receive a big payout for all her hard work this year.
According to the publication, her most recent annual accounts, sent to Companies House by her TV management company Barking Mad Productions this week, showed that she paid around £222,445 in Corporation Tax for 2023.
The tax burden is reportedly based on her earnings of £1.1m over that period—or the equivalent of around £ 21,000 a week.
Her books also reportedly showed she had £239,538 in cash at the time of filing.
Sheridan's problem-plagued West End musical, Opening Night, was cancelled two months early after it was blasted by critics and audience members.
The show will now end its run at the Gielgud Theatre in London on Saturday May 18, two months earlier than originally planned on July 27 - as producers blamed a 'challenging financial landscape' for the shock decision.
Announcing the news earlier this month, the production team said that the play 'may not have had the life we had hoped for'.
Sheridan recently implored people to come and see the show after it was slammed by theatregoers who claimed it was 'boring' and walked out half way through.
However, it seems her plea wasn't enough to mobilise audiences for the poorly reviewed play - directed by Ivo Van Hove and with music by Rufus Wainwright - which producers have now admitted was 'always a risk'.
Sheridan was seen smiling, dressed down in a sweater and jogging bottoms, as she came away from the theatre after last night's performance.
She was given moral support by her friend Charley Webb who had attended the show, as well as words of wisdom and encouragement from fans who had gathered at the stage door.
Charley popped to a nearby shop to buy cigarettes and biscuits before the pair set off in the same car.
Announcing the early end of the run, producers Wessex Grove said: 'It is an honour to produce this beautiful new musical in the West End, and everyone at Wessex Grove is proud to have delivered the artistic vision of Ivo Van Hove and Rufus Wainwright and their incredible team, led by the exquisite Sheridan Smith.
'In a challenging financial landscape, Opening Night was always a risk and, while the production may not have had the life we had hoped for, we feel
