Sheridan Smith admits ‘it’s hard to let anyone in’ as she signs up to dating apps three

Sheridan Smith has admitted ‘it’s hard to let anyone into her world’ as she opened up about her dating life.  

The actress, 42, welcomed her son Billy in 2020, with her ex-fiancé Jamie Horn, whom she split from in 2021. 

Sheridan has now revealed she has been trying out dating apps but has had no success in finding the one. 

She admitted she is ‘still figuring out’ her love life but is more than ‘happy’ with spending her time with her son. 

When asked whether its easier to date someone in the public eye, the singer told The Sunday Times: ‘I don’t know. I’ve tried both. I’m still figuring it out. I don’t know what I was thinking being on those apps, to be honest. 

‘It’s hard to let anyone into that world, and for anyone to want to be part of that world as well, so who knows what the future holds, but I’m happy.’

Sheridan went on to say she believes she is good at being single however, her friends would disagree.  

She added: ‘Of course, I’d love to get older with somebody, but if I don’t I’ve got my boy and I live for him. It’s me and him against the world. Everything is for him, so I don’t feel the need now to be dating like I always used to. Hopefully one day someone will love me for me.’

It comes after Sheridan insisted she has ‘no regrets’ about taking the lead role in her West End flop Opening Night.

The actress’ West End comeback has been fraught with difficulties including poor reviews and bad turnouts and as a result, the musical as been cancelled and will end two months earlier than originally planned.

Speaking to The Times, Sheridan got emotional as she explained she was ‘heartbroken’ for the cast and crew who have worked on the play but said she would do it all over again ‘in a heartbeat’.

‘I feel bad for the team and all the work they put in, but I’m at that age now where I want to be challenged,’ the acclaimed actress explained.

‘I want to do new things, I don’t want to do that same old boring stuff. I would do it again in a heartbeat, so I have no regrets.’

Opening Night tells the story of functioning alcoholic actress Myrtle Gordon (Sheridan) who gets a second chance – it is based on the 1977 drama film starring Gena Rowlands. 

Sheridan has admitted the part forced her to confront her own issues after she suffered a highly publicised breakdown while performing in Funny Girl in the West End in 2016.

She said she was ‘very ashamed of that time of her life’ and took on the role to ‘prove she could do it’.  

The actress added that she is ‘so much stronger now’ after going off ‘the rails and dating all the wrong people’ during the breakdown. 

Opening Night will now end its run at the Gielgud Theatre in London on May 18, instead of July 27 – and producers blamed a ‘challenging financial landscape’ for the decision.

Announcing the news in April, 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’.

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 immensely proud of the risk we took and of this extraordinary production.

‘Our world class cast delivers a brilliant show night after night, and there are still five weeks left to see Sheridan Smith in the role of a lifetime. What is sure-fire and safe has its place.

‘But Wessex Grove exists to produce great artists in the West End and to provide the space for original, artist-led productions in the commercial sector, productions exactly like Opening Night. 

We’re grateful for all of the support everyone has given us as we made this show, and look forward to celebrating the rest of the run.’

Next up for Sheridan is the leading role in a gritty new drama.

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.

Speaking about 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.’