Sheridan Smith fought back tears as she joined Ann Ming at the North East screening of new ITV drama I Fought The Law at the Gala Theatre in Durham on Thursday.
The actress, 44, who portrays a young Ann in the gripping true crime series, appeared visibly emotional, wiping her eyes with a tissue during a moving moment on stage.
Before the show’s debut, an invited audience, including Sheridan and Ann, 79, watched a special screening of the first episode, hosted by North East Screen.
The pair then joined executive producer Charlotte Webber, writer Jamie Crichton and director Erik Richter Strand for a Q&A.
Speaking to ChronicleLive, BAFTA winner Sheridan – last seen in the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special – expressed deep admiration and respect for Ann, who spent 15 years campaigning to change the law in memory of her daughter Julie.
Ann, who was closely involved in the production, said she couldn’t have asked for ‘anybody better’ to play her than Sheridan, remarking it was like watching herself on screen.
Sheridan Smith fought back tears as she joined Ann Ming at the North East screening of new ITV drama I Fought The Law at the Gala Theatre in Durham on Thursday
The actress, 44, who portrays a young Ann in the gripping true crime series, appeared visibly emotional as she joined the real Ann, 79, on stage for a Q&A alongside Charlotte Webber, Jamie Crichton, and Erik Richter Strand
Ahead of the screening, the pair posed for photos together.
Sheridan looked effortlessly chic in a cream blazer and matching trousers, while Ann cut a stylish figure in a navy blue polka dot mesh dress layered under a navy print shirt.
The Royle Family star appeared visibly close to Teesside mum Ann, whose determined fight for justice led to the historic overturning of the UK’s double jeopardy law – which previously prevented those acquitted of a crime from being retried.
Ann’s 22-year-old daughter Julie was tragically murdered in 1989 by William Dunlop, who was twice acquitted of the crime in the 1990s.
He later confessed and was finally convicted in 2006, after the law was changed – a victory that only came thanks to Ann’s relentless pursuit of justice.
Appearing earlier this month on This Morning with hosts Rylan Clark and Sian Welby, Ann admitted that she couldn’t imagine anyone but Sheridan stepping into her shoes to tell the story.
‘I came on set twice, and she didn’t know I was there,’ Ann said, surprising Sheridan.
‘And I watched her, playing me, in one of the difficult scenes – when we told Kevin the truth. It was like watching me.’
Ahead of the emotional screening, the pair posed for photos together. Sheridan looked effortlessly chic in a cream blazer and matching trousers, while Ann cut a stylish figure in a navy blue polka dot mesh dress
The Royle Family star appeared visibly close to Teesside mum Ann, whose determined fight for justice led to the historic overturning of the UK’s double jeopardy law – which previously prevented those acquitted of a crime from being retried
Ann, who was closely involved in the production, said she couldn’t have asked for ‘anybody better’ to play her than Sheridan, remarking it was like watching herself on screen (Ann pictured with former Cleveland Police murder detective Mark Braithwaite)
This prompted Sheridan herself to well up and say: ‘All I wanted was Ann to be proud.’
Ann continued: ‘I don’t think they could have got another actress to do it as well. She takes on a role and becomes that person.’
The brave mother was heavily involved in the dramatisation of her story and served as a consultant on the four-part series.
Ann admitted that she initially had her reservations about the series when ITV first made contact with her.
The show, written by Jamie Crichton, is notably based on Ann’s book ‘For The Love Of Julie’.
She said: ‘I had a team of lawyers backing me all the way. They didn’t think it was a one-man band.
The show, written by Jamie Crichton, is notably based on Ann’s book about her fight to bring her daughter’s murder to justice – ‘For The Love of Julie’ (Sheridan as Ann Ming in the series)
‘And then they said they were thinking about approaching Sheridan Smith, and I’ve watched everything she’s ever been in. I thought they couldn’t get anyone better to play me.’
Alongside the drama, ITV will air an accompanying documentary, I Fought The Law: The Ann Ming Story, offering a deeper look into the real-life events behind the series.
William Dunlop, who was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 17 years, has since applied for parole – but his request was blocked by the Secretary of State in March.
I Fought The Law is scheduled to premiere on August 31 at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
