Sheridan Smith has said she now understands the "overwhelming fear" parents have over their kids after filming ITV's No Return.
The Two Pints of Lager actress stars in the new four-part drama as Kathy, a devastated mum who sees her character's 16-year-old son, Noah, being arrested in Turkey after being accused of sexually assaulting another boy.
The distraught mum is desperate to do everything she can to prove her son's innocence as he is set to face up to 12 years in prison.
READ MORE: Jason Manford defends Sheridan Smith over unkind scheduling comments
While it isn't the first time that Sheridan has played the role of a mother, it felt different for her this time as she now has her own son in real life.
The first time mum gave birth to baby Billy in May 2020 when she was engaged to insurance broker Jamie Horn, but the pair have since separated.
Speaking to The Mirror, she said: "Playing roles before I had Billy to playing ones now I’ve had him, is totally different.
"People had said you can’t understand the protectiveness and the overwhelming fear when you have a child and, he’s not even two yet, but I feel it.
"I hope it will resonate with the audience, they’ll be feeling all the angst as well. It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. I love playing protective mums like that. Kathy is a lioness."
Sheridan admitted that she has never had such an intense role as she said she could relate to her "fiercely loyal and protective" character.
She said: "I really put my heart and soul into it. I just trusted my instincts of how I would react for my son."
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