Sheridan Smith has opened up about creating a "realistic" plane crash in her new show The Castaways.
Based on Lucy Clarke's best-selling novel of the same name, the survival thriller from Paramount+ tells the story of two sisters named Lori and Erin, played by Smith and Céline Buckens respectively.
When Erin fails to board a flight to Fiji, Lori embarks on the journey alone. When the plane crashes and fails to arrive at its destination everyone on board is presumed dead but Erin is determined to uncover the truth.
Related: Sheridan Smith talks overcoming major fear to become "warrior princess" in new show
Speaking to Digital Spy about the crash sequence, Smith said it hasn't given her any lasting fears about flying while revealing what went on behind the scenes.
"I'm alright flying, thank god. And I have been on a flight since," she said before praising the "incredible" team behind the "genius" special effects.
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"Basically, everybody who was on the plane was amazing because it was just still and all the Greek crew had water splashing at the window, everyone was screaming, lights were going out and we had a walkie talkie in front of us and the boys would be going '1, 2, 3 shake!' And '1, 2, 3, left!' And it worked amazingly," she revealed.
Related: Sheridan Smith stars in first trailer for Lost-style show Castaways
"That's a bit of a giveaway, but it was amazing these guys made it look so realistic and it felt realistic in the moment. But yeah, it was good fun to film," she added.
On where the scene was shot, Smith said: "It was a plane but we were in a studio. We had all the elements of fire and special effects. The team were incredible. They made it look phenomenal."
Elsewhere, Smith also opened up about how filming the show helped her to conquer her fears, describing it as "a challenge".
The Castaways will premiere on Paramount+ on December 26, 2023.
Reporter, Digital Spy
Harriet is a freelance news writer specialising in TV and movies at Digital Spy.
A horror enthusiast, she joined Digital Spy after working on her own horror website, reviewing films and focusing largely on feminism in the genre.
In her spare time, Harriet paints and produces mixed-media art. She graduated from the University of Kingston with a BA in fine art, where she specialised in painting. She also has an MA in journalism from Birkbeck University.
Previously Deputy TV Editor at Digital Spy and, before that, a TV Reporter at The Mirror, Rebecca can now be found crafting expert analysis of the TV landscape, when she's not talking on the BBC or Times Radio about everything from the latest season of Bridgerton or The White Lotus to whatever chaos is unfolding in the various Love Island villas. When she's not bingeing a boxset, in-the-wild sightings of Rebecca have included stints on the National TV Awards and BAFTAs red carpets, and post-match video explainers of the reality TV we're all watching.
