Sheridan Smith’s ‘Funny Girl’ Return Delayed By A Month, Due To Continued ‘Stress And Exhaustion’ | HuffPost

The star is continuing to recover, and spend time with her family, in private.

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Sheridan Smith’s return to the West End production of ‘Funny Girl’ has been delayed, by up to a month.

In May it was announced that the star would be taking a leave of absence from the role of Fanny Brice, and a statement from the team explained that she would be back in “two to four weeks”.

Sheridan Smith after the play's April press night

David M. Benett via Getty Images

However, it has now been announced that Sheridan’s break has been extended.

A new statement, on behalf of the producers, reads: "It is, and always has been, Sheridan’s and the producers’ intention that she will return to ‘Funny Girl’, and any speculation to the contrary is entirely inaccurate and unhelpful.

"Sheridan’s recovery from stress and exhaustion is the absolute priority. She is doing really well and is incredibly keen to return as soon as possible.

"Following medical advice, her return to the production will be slightly later than originally anticipated - no later than week commencing 11th July .

"Natasha J Barnes, who has played Fanny Brice in recent weeks to great critical and public acclaim, will continue in the role until Sheridan's return. Sonia Friedman, David Babani and Scott Landis, Producers of ‘Funny Girl’."

Sheridan has received support from a hundreds of fans in the past few weeks, and a number of celebrity pals have also spoken out to support her, including David Walliams.

“I feel a lot of compassion for Sheridan,” he said on a May episode of ‘The One Show’. “I love Sheridan she is like a sister to me.

“We wish her all the best, audiences will be thrilled when she does come back.

“I’ve seen the show already, it’s fantastic. I’ve got tickets again and can’t wait to go again.”

Sheridan Smith: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds

Sheridan Smith: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds(01 of09)

Name a well-known TV comedy or drama, and, chances are, she's starred in it. Her telly credits include 'The Royle Family', 'Gavin & Stacey', 'Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps', 'Heartbeat', 'Holby City', 'Where The Heart Is', 'Doctors', 'Fat Friends', 'The Royal', 'Mile High', 'The Bill', 'Benidorm', 'Jonathan Creek', 'Mrs Biggs' and 'Cilla' to name well, rather a lot. Just don't tell Sarah Lancashire. (credit:ITV)

Sheridan Smith: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds(02 of09)

A love of showbiz runs in the family. Sheridan's great-great-grandfather, Benjamin Doubleday, was a respected and well-known banjo player, whilst her parents, Colin and Marilyn, continue to perform as the fabulously named country and western duo, 'The Daltons' (that's them in the pic). And it was on stage with her parents that Sheridan first got a taste for the limelight. "When I was four I joined them on stage doing little dance routines," she said previously. "It wasn't long before I was standing on a stool joining in the singing." (credit:Twitter/Sheridan Smith)

Sheridan Smith: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds(03 of09)

She once dated her 'Gavin & Stacey' co-star James Corden, but we'll forgive her. She's also been romantically linked to Russell Brand, but hey, who hasn't? Sometimes though, the press get it REALLY wrong when it comes to her love life. “I have lots of gay mates,” she explains. “Every time I go out with one of them, it’s in the papers, ‘Ooh, Sheridan’s new mystery man!’ It makes me scream laughing, their gaydar is so broken!” (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Sheridan Smith: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds(04 of09)

She got the big thumbs up from critics and audiences alike for her portrayal of Elle Woods in the West End musical 'Legally Blonde', which won her a Best Actress gong at the Laurence Olivier Awards and Theatregoers Choice Awards. No mean feat. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Sheridan Smith: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds(05 of09)

Despite being a familiar face, she admits to being a complete fangirl around other famous types. “I still get so starstruck,” she admits. “When I did Quartet, a movie Dustin Hoffman directed, with Dame Maggie Smith, Billy Connolly, Tom Courtenay, Pauline Collins and Michael Gambon, I wanted to curtsey every day.” (credit:Ian West/PA Archive)

Sheridan Smith: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds(06 of09)

In 2012, she unexpectedly pulled out of playing the lead role in the musical version of 'Bridget Jones', throwing the planned West End production into chaos in what was described as a 'pure act of selfishness' by one unnamed person closely involved with the show. Two years later and the musical is still yet to make it to the stage but Sheridan's career has gone from strength to strength. (credit:Jon Furniss/Invision/AP)

Sheridan Smith: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds(07 of09)

One rumoured major new role for Sheridan is playing the jailed mother of Shannon Matthews, who was at the centre of a hoax kidnap that gripped the nation and beyond in 2008. Jeff Pope, who wrote 'Cilla', is writing the screenplay, and has hinted that he wants Sheridan to play the lead role of Karen Matthews. (credit:Samir Hussein via Getty Images)

Sheridan Smith: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds(08 of09)

Despite being loved by critics and TV and theatre audiences alike, Sheridan still doesn't think she's much cop and is riddled with self-doubt because she isn't a drama school graduate. "When I'm working alongside someone like Dame Maggie Smith, I can't help thinking 'I don't deserve to be here'," she has said in the past. "You see these formally trained actors with scripts covered in writing, whereas mine will be covered in coffee stains and fag burns. I spend most of the time feeling like I'm totally blagging it." (credit:Mark Robert Milan via Getty Images)

Sheridan Smith: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds(09 of09)

She has suffered from severe panic attacks in the past and still has one before every opening night. "[I get] very rapid heart rate, sweaty hands, dry mouth. Sometimes when it’s really bad, your hearing goes, your vision goes. Everyone can tell you that you’re going to be fine but none of it goes in," she explained. (credit:Jonathan Short/Invision/AP)

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