Sheridan Smith has sparked concern after mysteriously deleting her Instagram account.
The 43-year-old actress’s profile now displays error messages such as ‘sorry, this page isn’t available’, ‘page not found’, or ‘something went wrong’ when fans attempt to access it.
Her sudden departure from social media comes just days after she shared a heartfelt tribute to Gavin & Stacey.
In the lead-up to the festive season, the Railway Children star had been active on Instagram, regularly posting photos with her son, Billy, and reflecting on her return to the BBC sitcom for its 2024 Christmas special.
She described reprising her role as Ruth ‘Rudi’ Smith as a ‘privilege’.
Meanwhile the unexpected deletion of her account coincides with a turbulent period in her life, both personally and professionally.
Sheridan Smith has sparked concern after mysteriously deleting her Instagram account (pictured in April)
The 43-year-old actress’s profile now displays error messages such as ‘sorry, this page isn’t available’, ‘page not found’, or ‘something went wrong’ when fans attempt to access it (pictured in Gavin & Stacey)
Her sudden departure from social media comes just days after she shared a heartfelt tribute to Gavin & Stacey (pictured with James Corden in 2009)
Just last week, it was revealed that the mother-of-one had indefinitely shelved her long-awaited autobiography, Honestly.
Announced in 2021, the tell-all book was intended to explore the actress’s darkest moments, including her battles with alcohol, mental health struggles and high-profile relationships, such as those with actor James Corden and Jamie Horn, the father of her son.
At the time, Sheridan described the book as a way to reveal ‘a lot of truths’ and confront her past.
However, after multiple delays, the project has been cancelled. A source revealed to The Sun: ‘Sheridan has had a busy few years and didn’t have time to put the finishing touches to the book.
‘Her mindset is different now, and she doesn’t want this version to come out. She felt unsure whether she wants to put all of her life on pages for everyone to read.’
This decision comes as no surprise to fans familiar with The Huntsman performer’s long-standing struggles.
In 2016, the actress faced a highly publicised breakdown while starring in the West End production of Funny Girl.
Stress, exhaustion and her father’s cancer diagnosis compounded her mental health issues, forcing her to take a hiatus from the show.
The unexpected deletion of her account coincides with a turbulent period in her life, both personally and professionally (pictured last March)
Just last week, it was revealed that the mother-of-one had indefinitely shelved her long-awaited autobiography, Honestly
Her most recent West End play, Opening Night (pictured), faced harsh criticism and an early closure, as producers blamed a ‘challenging financial landscape’ for the shock decision
Reflecting on that period, Sheridan admitted: ‘I was very ashamed of that time in my life.
‘I went off the rails a bit, dated all the wrong people… I feel like I’m a mum now, and I’m very grateful for everything I’ve got. I feel like the best is yet to come.’
The BAFTA-winning actress has never shied away from discussing her mental health battles, often tying them to the pressures of fame and loss.
Her father’s death in 2016 profoundly affected her, leading to an extended period of grief.
‘The public always stood by me… People were stopping me and cuddling me on the street,’ she shared in a recent interview, expressing gratitude for the understanding she received during that time.
Her most recent West End play, Opening Night, which she described as ‘close to the bone’, highlighted the parallels between her own struggles and those of her character, a functioning alcoholic actress unraveling under pressure.
Despite Sheridan’s dedication to the role, the production faced harsh criticism and an early closure, as producers blamed a ‘challenging financial landscape’ for the shock decision.
The show ended its run at the Gielgud Theatre in London in May 2024, two months earlier than originally planned.
She broke down in tears when discussing the play, revealing: ‘I was just heartbroken for the company. I felt like I let them down in a way, that I couldn’t sell it.’
The actress explained that Opening Night forced her to confront her demons head-on.
‘I wanted to prove that I could do it, that I could face my demons. I’m so much stronger than I was back then,’ she said.
Despite this,the star remains busy, recently completing filming for I Fought The Law, a drama about Ann Ming, the woman who overturned the UK’s double jeopardy law.
MailOnline has contacted Sheridan’s representatives for comment.
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