SHERIDAN Smith broke down in tears live on This Morning during an emotional interview for her new ITV drama.
The actress, 43, stars in new TV show I Fought the Law, which tells the true story of nurse Ann Ming’s fight for justice.
Sheridan Smith was left in floods of tears live on This Morning[/caption]
She joined Ann Ming who fought for justice for her murdered daughter Julie[/caption]
Sheridan had an emotional moment during the interview[/caption]
The TV star had tears running down her face[/caption]
Ann lost her daughter 22-year-old Julie Hogg in 1989 when she was murdered in County Durham by William ‘Billy’ Dunlop.
The new four-part drama is based on Ann’s 15 year campaign to get the Double Jeopardy Law, overturned, which prevented her daughter’s killer from being retried after being acquitted.
Sheridan and Ann joined hosts Rylan and Sian Welby in the studio on Thursday.
Ann explained that her daughter Julie never would have disappeared by choice and leave her three-year-old child without a mum.
The heartbroken mum said her daughter’s killer was “bragging after his acquittal, saying it’s the perfect murder but because of the Double Jeopardy Law he couldn’t be retried.”
Ann made it her mission to get the law changed and wrote letters to her local MP and the then Home Secretary Jack Straw.
She was told her case was one of the most “compelling in the country” which got the ball rolling for change.
Sheridan was seen tightly holding Ann’s hand while she bravely spoke about her fight.
Ann: “When I was approached by ITV productions about this drama, I was a bit apprehensive, people think I had a team of lawyers behind me backing me, they don’t realise it was a one man band.
“They said it would be Sheridan Smith and I’ve watched everything she’s ever been in, I mean since she’s first came on the scene.
“I thought they couldn’t get anyone better to play me.
“What she doesn’t know, is that I came on set twice and I watched her play me and it was like watching me.”
The special compliment left Sheridan in tears, with the star saying: “I’m very honoured that you say that Ann because that’s all I wanted.”
With tears running down her face, Rylan handed her a tissue.
Sheridan continued: “I’m so grateful that Ann okayed me to play her and I can only imagine what Ann went through.
“Filming for me was only 10 weeks but I really got to know Ann and we became very close.”
She added: “Portraying it for that short time was an emotional rollercoaster, so I can only imagine how Ann felt after that 17 year battle and fighting the law and paved the way for so many other families, I’m in awe of her.
“Luckily I didn’t know Ann was on set otherwise I would have gone to pieces.”
Ann said: “She’s done it proud.
“I don’t think they could have got another actress to do it as well.
“She takes on a role and she becomes that person.”
On November 16 1989, single mum Julie went missing in Billingham, Cleveland, after her late shift at a pizza parlour.
The police classified the case as a missing persons, but three months later Ann found her behind a bath panel in her home.
Despite finding Julie’s keys under William’s floorboards, he was found not guilty.
But then 10 years later, while in prison for another crime, he bragged about how he wouldn’t be punished for the crime that he did because of the double jeopardy law.
It was repealed in 2005 and he was jailed for life the following year.
Sheridan has starred in various TV shows over the years.
Some include: Four Lives, Gavin and Stacey, The Teacher and The Moorside.
The star is “honoured” to take on the new role.
Sheridan said: “I am so honoured to have been asked to play the role of Ann Ming, a mother so determined to fight for justice for her murdered daughter that she spent 15 years campaigning for the Double Jeopardy Law to be changed.
“She is a truly courageous and remarkable woman to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude.”