'I was scared to ask for help': Sheridan Smith admits she 'lost her mind' after the death of her father but is now 'working on' her anxiety

Published: 02:10 GMT, 17 November 2017 | Updated: 02:11 GMT, 17 November 2017

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She's been open about struggling to cope with the death of her father.

Yet Sheridan Smith has revealed that during her grief she struggled to cope as she wasn't able to ask people around her for help.

In an appearance on the Jonathan Ross Show, which will air Saturday, the 36-year-old actress spoke about returning to the limelight after struggling with her mental health and why she is speaking out about it now.

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Grieving: In an appearance on the Jonathan Ross Show Sheridan Smith revealed that while grieving her dad's death she struggled to cope as she didn't ask people around her for help

Sheridan pulled out performing in the West End production Funny Girl in December following the devastating death of her father, Colin, from cancer and she recalled: 'It was the worst thing.

'I hate it and I always think "The show must go on" and I hate letting anyone down but I think the public understood in a way that you can’t choose when these things happen.

'It was a gradual build up when my dad got diagnosed and I just couldn’t continue, I lost my mind, I completely did to the point where people were stopping me in the street and cuddling me because people understand that, it’s just life.'

Depressing: Sheridan pulled out performing in the West End production Funny Girl in December following the devastating death of her father, Colin, from cancer

Discussing her battle with her mental health, she said: 'I’d been performing anyway leading up to that, and I’ve always had a bit of anxiety, and so I was a little bit nervous but the catalyst of it all was my dad.

'Now I’m in a better place, I want to say "It’s okay not to be okay" because I didn’t speak about it and then it snowballed and it came to this huge head… You’re scared to ask for help because people think "Oh what have you got to be worried about?"

'I’ve taken time away, stepped away, managed to be around my family, have some quality time with them and come back with this album and a tour and hope that people welcome me back.'

Speaking out: The 36-year-old actress spoke about returning to the limelight after struggling with her mental health and why she is speaking out about it now

Reflective: Discussing her battle with her mental health, she said: 'I’d been performing anyway leading up to that, and I’ve always had a bit of anxiety, and so I was a little bit nervous but the catalyst of it all was my dad'

Whilst she's feeling in a better place, the Gavin and Stacey actress admitted that she's still working on keeping her anxiety under control.

She explained: 'It’s a weird thing because people just go, "Pull yourself together" and that’s the worst thing you can say… You can’t help it. Unfortunately it just comes. It’s an issue that I have that I’m working on.'

Sheridan hasn't ruled out returning to the stage, however, as she explained: 'I’m straight back.

Better place: Sheridan revealed 'I’ve taken time away, stepped away, managed to be around my family, have some quality time with them and come back with this album and a tour'

Learning process: Whilst she's feeling in a better place, the Gavin and Stacey actress admitted that she's still working on keeping her anxiety under control

'I’m filming an ITV drama at the minute, then a Channel 4 drama after that then I’m going on the road, I’m touring with the album which I’ve never done and I’m terrified.'

Sheridan was joined on the show by Peter Kay; Luke Evans and voice of Love Island, Iain Stirling.

The Jonathan Ross Show airs Saturday, 9.40pm on ITV

On screen soon: The Jonathan Ross Show features (L-R) Danny O'Donoghue, Glen Power, Jonathan Ross, Mark Sheehan, Peter Kay, Sheridan Smith, Luke Evans and Iain Stirling