Her battle with stress and exhaustion, as well as struggling to deal with the tragic death of her father last year, forced her to temporarily pull out of her role in Funny Girl.
And Sheridan Smith looked happy and healthy as she returned to TV work, filming new ITV drama Clean Break in Richmond, London on Friday.
The 36-year-old actress appeared in great spirits as she donned a pastel green t-shirt and skinny jeans, paired with a puffa jacket for her role as cleaner Sam in the TV series.
Back to work: Sheridan Smith looked happy and healthy as she returned to TV work, filming new ITV drama Clean Break in Richmond, London on Friday
Showing she was getting into character, Sheridan took a break from her usual glamorous looks as she swept her blonde hair into an messy bun and slipped on silver trainers for filming.
Beginning filming in a pink puffa jacket and rose-embellished t-shirt, the actress was seen slipping into another casual ensemble as she left a house in the leafy Richmond area the drama is based around.
Sheridan, who bravely opened up about her battle with anxiety last week, plays a cleaner and working mum in the series.
Acclaimed actress: The 36-year-old actress appeared in great spirits as she donned a grey t-shirt and skinny jeans, paired with a pink puffa jacket for her role as cleaner Sam in the TV series
However she soon gets involved with the darker side of insider trading, making for a dramatic twist in the plot.
Sheridan was seen between takes chatting happily to director Lewis Arnold, as she took a break between takes.
Meanwhile Sheridan poured her heart out about her anxiety battle, in a recent interview with The Sunday Times’ Culture magazine.
The actress revealed the condition left her in pieces and unable to complete her run in the West End production of Funny Girl.
Reflecting on the past, the actress recalled how her late dad’s cancer diagnosis had acted as a trigger.
Cigarette break: Sheridan took a break from her usual glamorous looks as she swept her blonde hair into an messy bun and slipped on silver trainers for filming
Relaxed: Donning a pink puffa jacket and rose-embellished t-shirt, the actress was seen slipping into another casual ensemble as she left a house in the leafy Richmond area the drama is based around
She told the publication: ‘I was totally terrified that I was going to come unstuck, that I couldn’t hold these feelings of insecurity in much longer without it coming to a head.
‘Which it did last year. My dad getting cancer triggered it, but it had been a long time coming.
‘Things have been weird for years’, she admitted.
Talent: Sheridan, who bravely opened up about her battle with anxiety last week, plays a cleaner and working mum in the series
Gritty: Sheridan, who bravely opened up about her battle with anxiety last week, plays a cleaner and working mum in the series
Good spirits: Sheridan was seen between takes chatting happily to director Lewis Arnold, as she took a break between takes
And speaking about the events that led to her taking a career break, Sheridan reflected: ‘My life was falling apart and I didn’t tell anyone. So you think, ‘That’s it, this is me. I’m unlovable, I’m inauthentic.’
‘You’re constantly worrying you’re not going to be as good as people think you should be.
‘When you have that degree of anxiety, you can’t just pull yourself together and you can’t explain it. It just snowballs until it’s out of control.’
Open: Sheridan poured her heart out about her anxiety battle, in a recent interview with The Sunday Times’ Culture magazine
Raw: Reflecting on the past, the actress recalled how her late dad’s cancer diagnosis had acted as a trigger