Smith was born in in Epworth, Lincolnshire and from an early age studied dance with the Joyce Mason School of Dancing in Scunthorpe. She was a member of the National Youth Music Theatre from 1995-2001, performing a number of lead roles in productions such as Bugsy Malone and Into the Woods.
Smith's theatre credits include the musical Into The Woods at London's Donmar Warehouse, and Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park.
She also played Audrey in the stage production of Little Shop of Horrors at The Menier Chocolate Factory, London, from November 2006 which then moved to The Duke Of York's Theatre in March 2007, and due to a very successful run moved again at the end of June 2007 to The New Ambassadors Theatre, its run ended in September 2007. Smith received a nomination for the 2008 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, for her performance in the show.
Smith appeared as Vanessa in Tinderbox: a Revenge Comedy by Lucy Kirkwood at the Bush Theatre, Shepherd's Bush, in April 2008.
Smith is currently playing the lead Elle Woods in the musical version of Legally Blonde as it transferred from Broadway to London's West End in December 2009.
So Much Better
Sheridan Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You would love me again
You'd come to respect my mind and at last you'd find
You could love me again
And I have turned my whole world upside down
Trying not to let you go
Watching you walk away is like a fatal blow
Whoa! Is that my name up on that list?
Does someone know that I exist?
Is this a mistake? Am I even awake?
Pinch me now to make sure
Ow! Yes, that's my name in black and white
Maybe I'm doing something right
Wow! I feel so much better than before
Warner, sorry I've been a pest
But I guess my best was not working with you
But looks like I've found a cure
And I so look forward to working with you
What? Working with who?
Hey, remember when we spent spring break
In the hot tub every night
We said nothing else could ever feel so right
Well, this might!
Seeing my name up on that list
That beats the first time that we kissed
You thought I was dumb
But I think that somebody's judgment was poor
Seeing my name in black and white
It's like making love with you all night
No wait, it feel so much better, hello, much better
It's oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, much better
'Cause I am so much better than before
Yes, she's so much better than before
Yes, she's so much better than before
Maybe she's what you prefer
But hey, last year I was her
Maybe you will change your mind
But you might look up to find
I've gone on to better things
Better jobs or bigger rings
I don't have the time to cry
I'm too busy loving my name up on that list
Kind of a cool, ironic twist
Who else can I tell? Hoo! Wait, where's my cell?
Mom will fall on the floor
Hey mom!
Look at my name in black and white
Your daughter's doing something right
I feel so much better
I'll be there on Monday, 9 o'clock
And we will see who walks the walk
No, no, I can't wait, I will be there at 8
When they unlock the door
Oh, oh! I'll even dress in black and white
See, I have not begun to fight
And you'll go, oh, much better and oh, much better
And soon all y'all gotta know much better
I am so much better
I am so much better
I am so much better than before!
In Sheridan Smith's "So Much Better," the lyrics detail an individual who is moving on from a past relationship and is finally finding success and happiness on their own. At first, the lyrics express the individual's desire for their ex-lover to come back and love them again, but the singer slowly realizes that they no longer need the approval or validation of their ex. The turning point in the song is when the singer sees their name on a prestigious list, which is a metaphor for their success and accomplishments without their ex. The singer begins to feel reinvigorated and excited about their newfound independence, and they use this as momentum to propel themselves even further. Throughout the song, the singer seems to be growing in confidence and self-assuredness as they recognize their own value and worth outside of their past relationship.
Overall, the lyrics of "So Much Better" seem to be a triumphant and empowering anthem for anyone who has ever struggled to move on from a past relationship, showcasing that there is always light at the end of the tunnel and that we are all capable of becoming "so much better than before."
Line by Line Meaning
All of this time I planned I'd be patient and
I thought I could win you back by being patient and waiting for you to love me again
You would love me again
I hoped that you would love me again
You'd come to respect my mind and at last you'd find
I thought that eventually you would respect me for my intellect and that would lead you to love me again
You could love me again
I wanted you to love me again
And I have turned my whole world upside down
To try and keep you from leaving me, I've completely altered my life
Trying not to let you go
I've been trying everything I can to keep you from leaving me
Watching you walk away is like a fatal blow
It hurts so much to see you leave, it feels like a life-threatening injury
Whoa! Is that my name up on that list?
Wow, my name is on the list!
Does someone know that I exist?
Someone recognizes me and knows who I am
Is this a mistake? Am I even awake?
I can't believe it's real, it feels like a dream
Pinch me now to make sure
I need to make sure this isn't a dream, can someone pinch me?
Ow! Yes, that's my name in black and white
Ouch, pinched too hard! But yes, my name is really on the list
Maybe I'm doing something right
This means I must be doing something well
Wow! I feel so much better than before
This recognition has made me feel so much happier than I was before
Warner, sorry I've been a pest
Warner, I apologize for bothering you so much
But I guess my best was not working with you
I realize that my approach before did not work with you
But looks like I've found a cure
But it seems like I've discovered a solution
And I so look forward to working with you
I'm excited to have the opportunity to work with you
What? Working with who?
Who am I going to be working with?
Hey, remember when we spent spring break
Do you remember when we hung out together during spring break?
In the hot tub every night
We spent every night in the hot tub
We said nothing else could ever feel so right
We both agreed that there was nothing better than being in the hot tub together
Well, this might!
But this feeling may be even better!
Seeing my name up on that list
Seeing my name on the list feels amazing
That beats the first time that we kissed
This is even better than when we first kissed
You thought I was dumb
You used to think I was unintelligent
But I think that somebody's judgment was poor
But I believe that the person who thought I was unintelligent was wrong
Seeing my name in black and white
The fact that my name is written down is so validating
It's like making love with you all night
This feeling is euphoric, almost like having sex with you all night long
No wait, it feel so much better, hello, much better
Actually, this is an even better feeling than sex, hello, it's so much better!
It's oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, much better
It's so, so, so, so, so much better
'Cause I am so much better than before
Because I am so much happier and more successful than before
Yes, she's so much better than before
Yes, I am so much happier and more successful than before
Maybe she's what you prefer
Maybe you like me better now
But hey, last year I was her
But remember, last year I was the same person you didn't like
Maybe you will change your mind
Maybe your perspective on me will change
But you might look up to find
But by the time you realize I'm different, it might be too late
I've gone on to better things
I've moved on to bigger and better things
Better jobs or bigger rings
I have better jobs or bigger rings than before
I don't have the time to cry
I don't have time to be upset or sad
I'm too busy loving my name up on that list
I'm too preoccupied by the fact that my name is on the list
Kind of a cool, ironic twist
It's a cool and ironic coincidence
Who else can I tell? Hoo! Wait, where's my cell?
I need to tell someone about this, but where is my phone?
Mom will fall on the floor
My mom will be so surprised, she might faint
Hey mom!
Hi, Mom!
Look at my name in black and white
Look at the fact that my name is written down!
Your daughter's doing something right
Your daughter is doing well
I'll be there on Monday, 9 o'clock
I'll be there on Monday at 9 o'clock
And we will see who walks the walk
We'll see who is actually able to succeed
No, no, I can't wait, I will be there at 8
Actually, I can't wait and I'll be there at 8
When they unlock the door
As soon as the door opens
Oh, oh! I'll even dress in black and white
I'm so excited that I'll even dress up in black and white
See, I have not begun to fight
I haven't even started to show what I'm capable of
And you'll go, oh, much better and oh, much better
When you see what I can do, you'll be so impressed!
And soon all y'all gotta know much better
Everyone will see how much better I am soon
I am so much better
I am truly so much better than I was before
I am so much better
I'm so much happier now
I am so much better than before!
I'm doing so much better than before and I'm happy about it
Contributed by Anthony Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@alexw6626
Everyone he to remember that Sheridan didn't go to drama school. As close as she got was National Youth Theatre so considering she isn't trained intensively for 3/4 years she's done really well. I think she's great and a big fan of her!
@alexw6626
Haha it is. She's has got a lot of experience. I agree. I was just saying that she hadn't had the foundation of training is all :)
@ameliamorgan2287
Drama school isn't the only way to train, she most likely has training, just not from a drama school.
@alexjemphrey
@A M yea Maggie had such an original on Elle I thought
@raghavsuneja7240
She might not have the energy of LBB, but she sure has more attitude, more fierceness to her portrayal, and that makes her portrayal of Elle Woods an equally intriguing version.
@reaceness
If you want to watch LBB in Legally Blonde, have you considered...watching LBB in Legally Blonde?
@maytheday8747
I think it's unfair to compare Sheridan to LBB because they are both fantastic actors and singers, they just have their different ways of being Elle! Please don't hate on this I'm just saying.
@Bamjoanna
Katie Alexander agree
@lannisterfilth
She looks way too old to be Elle.
@alfie7333
The only comment on this video that is true