Smith’s problems came to a head when she starred in Funny Girl in 2016, a stage role that coincided with her father’s battle with terminal cancer.

Her older brother, Julian, also died from cancer when she was little, and history repeating itself brought back traumatic memories.

“I didn’t know how to handle all those feelings […] I just lost my mind for a time there,” she says. “I was running away from a lot, straight to the bottom of a bottle. I was trying to get out of my own head.”

Later, she took two months out to be with her dad in his final days: “I’m proud of that, that I was able to get myself back together to be there. Sponge his mouth. Be by his side. He knew.”

Two years on, and Smith is now in a much better place. As a result, she is not self-medicating with alcohol in the same way:

“My anxiety’s down, my sociophobia’s down, all those things that I used to get myself into a state over – now that’s gone, I haven’t got that need any more.”

Smith’s recovery was not quick or easy, but it goes to show that it is possible, no matter how entrenched the struggle seems at the time.

An important part of getting better is simply the ability to talk about it, and being honest about your need for help: something that Smith demonstrates brilliantly.

Do you suffer from anxiety or another mental health issue? Seek help and support with the NHS or Mind

Sheridan Smith gets real about panic attacks and her struggle with anxiety