Actress Sheridan Smith wowed in a daring see-through dress as she put drama surrounding her latest West End show Opening Night behind her on the Olivier Awards red carpet
Sheridan Smith put on a daring display in a sheer dress as she brushed off drama surrounded her latest West End show.
The actress, 42, suffered a blow earlier in the week after her show Opening Night was cancelled after a wave of criticism. It premiered on March 6 at London's Gielgud Theatre and was originally planned to stay until July 27. However, the musical with music and lyrics by critically acclaimed musician Rufus Wainwright and with a book by Ivo van Hove - will now close two months earlier than expected.
The show was hit by poor ticket sales and audience walkouts. However, Sheridan put it all behind her as she wowed on the red carpet at Sunday night's Olivier Awards. She headed to London's Albert Hall as she was up for Best Actress at the glitzy bash for her role in Shirley Valentine at Duke of York's Theatre.
Sheridan wowed in an embellished mesh floor-length black gown as she showed off her figure with a black bandeau top and pants. She topped her see-through look off with a pair of black stilettos and a silver clutch in the shape of lips. The TV star kept her dark locks swept up into a bun and wore a smokey eye with a nude lip.
Sheridan attended the Olivier Awards alongside other stars including Nicole Scherzinger, Hannah Waddingham and Cara Delevingne. The puss*cat Dolls star wowed in a back thigh-high slit gown and appeared loved up with her fiancé Thom Evans. Host Hannah stunned in a glittery purple dress while model Cara looked glam in a blue and red sequined number. David Tennant and his wife Georgia walked the red carpet together, while singer Beverley Knight wowed in a dramatic red gown.
She was recently defended by Jenny Eclair after many headlines about the play’s cancellation were focused on the fact that Sheridan is in the lead role - while director Ivo escaped much of the criticism. Comedy star Jenny thinks the director should be held responsible for the show’s failure more than Sheridan. She furiously typed: "Sick of the fact a lead actress is being dumped with the all the press surrounding a show closing early- the director and other creatives are not included in these silly headlines - a production does not stand or fall or one person - unless they have written, directed it too."
Kathy Burkealso came out swinging in defence of Sheridan - writing in response to Jenny's post: "So true. All I’ve heard is that Sheridan and cast are great but let down by poor script and direction." Sheridan had hoped the stage show would help repair her career. The star was left humiliated in 2016 when her peers joked about her being a drunk while she was starring in a production of Funny Girl as show’s were often cancelled at the last minute.
Graham Norton brutally mocked her during the 2016 Baftas when he quipped: “We’re all excited for a couple of drinks tonight. Or, as it’s known in theatrical circles, a few glasses of technical difficulties.” Speaking ahead of the opening of Opening Night, Sheridan told the Guardian: “Getting the script for Opening Night was a sign... I knew I had to do the play as a way of taking control of what I went through. I felt so ashamed of that time. I need to prove I’m not that person. It’s been very cathartic.”
However, producers Wessex Grove released a statement blaming "a challenging financial landscape" as the reason they pulled the show early. They wrote: "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." Sheridan takes on the lead of Myrtle Gordon, a functioning alcoholic actress, in the musical which is based on the 1977 John Cassavetes film of the same name.
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