Sheridan Smith has said she feels “lucky” to be pregnant during the lockdown, as it has given her life “focus”.
The actress, 38, stars in the first episode of ITV’s Isolation Stories, a four-part drama about families during the coronavirus pandemic.
Smith stars in the first episode, entitled Mel and filmed by her fiance Jamie Horn, about a heavily pregnant woman who faces childbirth alone.
#IsolationStories, four new drama shorts coming to ITV on May 4th for four nights.
Filmed during lockdown, about lockdown.
Produced by @GoffPip, starring @Sheridansmith1, @DaveThrelfallUK, @Angela_Griffin, Robert Glenister & @tom_glenister, Darren Boyd, @eddiemarsan & his sons. pic.twitter.com/NwgZyDzEIB
— ITV (@ITV) April 22, 2020
She said: “I’m lucky I have the baby coming soon so it’s been a focus for me.
“I think it would be hard for people like the character I play in the drama, as she is on her own.
“And obviously it’s hard for all the families being kept apart at the minute, so I count myself lucky and we have adapted to this new ‘normal’ for now.
“Clapping for the carers and watching all the beautiful situations happening have put things into perspective.
“It’s a terribly sad time for so many. But people coming together, encouraging each other to stay strong has been a wonderful thing to witness.”
The series, produced by Oscar-nominated Stan & Ollie writer Jeff Pope, also features Eddie Marsan and Robert Glenister.
Sterilised camera, lighting and sound equipment was delivered to each star’s home and operated by those close to them, including their families.
Smith said her fiance had done an “amazing” job operating the equipment.
“We had a crew of people on Zoom with us at all times during filming, explaining to Jamie where to place the cameras and lighting, he was amazing and isn’t in the industry so I was so proud of him,” she said.
“He was so good and turned out to be a natural cameraman.
“They were so impressed that they trusted him to do camera shots that are even tricky with a whole crew.
“I couldn’t help much with lifting, currently being so pregnant myself, so I was in charge of costume, make up, continuity etc.”
She said of the outbreak: “I think there are some amazing stories out there at the minute, I am so moved by things I see online everyday from families all over the UK.
“We’re all in this together and I have been so moved by how people have come together. It makes me quite emotional and so proud of us as a nation.
“There are so many extraordinary people out there doing incredible things. I’m in awe of everyone managing to get through this strange time right now.”
Isolation Stories airs at 9pm over four nights on ITV, starting on Monday May 4