Sheridan Smith on playing late cancer patient Lisa Lynch: 'This role has changed my life'

SHERIDAN SMITH reveals the emotional trauma of playing her late friend, cancer patient Lisa Lynch, in BBC1’s The C-Word

Sheridan Smith, death, cancer, patient, Lisa Lynch, BBC, drama, The C-Word, Kirsty NutkinsPH

Sheridan Smith refuses to be stereotyped and her latest role may by her most challenging yet

Here’s a little-known fact about Sheridan Smith: she never went to drama school. In fact, the award-winning star has never had an acting lesson in her life. 

Yet, at just 33 years old, Sheridan is fast becoming one of the most talented and versatile actors of her generation. Her stellar CV includes turns on the stage, in the musical Legally Blonde and in the critically acclaimed revival of Terence Rattigan’s Flare Path – winning Olivier Awards for both roles along the way. 

Most recently, she received a BAFTA for her portrayal of Charmian Biggs, wife of Great Train Robber Ronnie in Mrs Biggs, and won rave reviews for her role in last year’s Cilla Black biopic on ITV. 

While many actors have found a comfortable niche, Sheridan continually refuses to be stereotyped.

I was inspired by Lisa's courage

Sheridan Smith

Her latest role may well be her most challenging to date, as she portrays young breast cancer sufferer and blogger Lisa Lynch, in the BBC one-off drama The C-Word.

The film documents journalist Lisa’s battle with cancer in 2008 – just 18 months into her marriage to husband Peter (played by Paul Nicholls). She began a blog called Alright Tit, about her battle with the disease, which was eventually turned into a best-selling book.

“Lisa got in touch with me via Twitter and said that she’d written a book that had been made into a script by the BBC – and she said she wanted me to play her,” says Sheridan. 

“I read the book and was lost for words. I thought she was incredible and funny and amazing and strong – everything that I’m not. 

“I was moved and inspired by her courage and bravery, and she was the kind of person that you just couldn’t help loving. That’s why I wanted to tell her story.”

Sheridan SmithBBC

Sheridan as Lisa Lynch and Paul Nicholls as her husband, Pete

Lisa died in 2013, at 33, sadly before the film had been finished. Sheridan, who had formed a close relationship with Lisa and her family while working on the project, says that she still finds it very hard to watch the film back – particularly as the original script had finished on a happy note.

“When the script was first written it had a different ending. It ended with Lisa writing and publishing the book. At this stage, she’d been in remission for five years. When Lisa died, the ending was rewritten. It was obviously very bittersweet for all of us involved.”

The C-Word struck a particular chord for Sheridan, who lost her brother Julian to cancer when he was just 18 years old.

“I’d rather not talk about my brother, but one thing I remember about that time is my mum and dad carrying him up and down the stairs, and out of the bath.

“This is something we felt was important to show in the film. It was hard, because it’s so graphic and Lisa was funny and brilliant and upbeat. But if you’re going to show cancer, you have to show it for real. This is the real side of cancer and this is what people have to go through,” says Sheridan.

The actress admits that she didn’t want to do things by halves, and in order to do justice to the part she decided to shave her head and endure the pain of plucking her eyebrows – something she’s fairly philosophical about.

“It’s just hair – it grows back, doesn’t it?” she shrugs. “The eyebrows were a little tricky, though. You can’t shave them or thread them, because they can grow back in strange directions, so I had to pluck them individually. That was pretty painful. But it was the least I could do for Lisa.”

The actress says that making the film was an emotional roller coaster, and many of the scenes were difficult to get through. Lisa’s story had a profound effect on her, and she hopes that everyone will learn something from it.

“My favourite line from the film is: ‘We’re British – we don’t talk about things like this.’ It gets me every time. 

“Cancer affects one in three of us and every single one of us either knows someone who has been affected by it or has experienced it first-hand. And yet it’s treated as a taboo subject. It’s never on telly. We should talk about it. It’s a hideous disease and we need to try to fight it.”

More than anything, Sheridan hopes that The C-Word will act as a fitting tribute to her late friend.

“Lisa was one of the people who cut through the bull and said it how it is, 

God love her. It was such a huge honour to play her and it has completely changed my life. She was an inspirational woman. It’s great to keep her spirit alive through this film.”

The C-Word, Sunday, 8.30PM, BBC1

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