Her superpower as an actor is her ability to portray profound trauma and grief, but it turns out Sheridan Smith is just as good at playing a character of the more rebellious kind. The proof is in The Scapegoat, the psychological thriller that takes Daphne du Maurier’s 1957 novel and turns it into a film that’s truly unmissable.

The doppelgänger drama tells the story of two very different men, John Standing and Johnny Spence (both played by Matthew Rhys), who, as strange as it sounds, share the same face. Sheridan takes on the rather scandalous role of Johnny’s brother's wife who also happens to be having an affair with Johnny himself – and her performance is nothing short of superb.

With the film available to watch tonight (or now, if you wish) on Prime Video, here’s everything you need to know about The Scapegoat before you watch it, including the plot, cast and how to tune in.

What is The Scapegoat about?

editorial use only mandatory credit: photo by itv/shutterstock (1941867v) matthew rhys as john/johnny. the scapegoat tv programme. 2012 set in 1952, as england prepares for the coronation, the scapegoat tells the story of two very different men, john standing and johnny spence, who have one thing in common a face. almost exact replicas of each other they meet by chance in a station bar, each at a crossroads in their life, one setting out on a walking tour after losing his job as a teacher; the other avoiding home after a disastrous business venture. the charming and charismatic johnny wines and dines his new acquaintance but when john wakes the next morning with a hangover he is alone and a chauffeur is standing outside his room, waiting to take him home. despite his protests he finds himself sucked irresistibly into another mans life.
ITV/Shutterstock

The film, which was first released in 2012, is an adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s 1957 novel (though not entirely faithful to it) and tells the story of two men who look remarkably similar yet lead completely different lives. Set in 1952 as England is preparing for the coronation of Elizabeth II, teacher John Standing (Matthew Rhys) meets Johnny Spence (also played by Matthew Rhys), who is his exact double in appearance. He even sounds just like him.

Johnny is a failed businessman, and, after a night of drinking, John wakes up to discover that his doppelgänger has stolen his identity. Unable to explain the situation, he settles into Johnny’s life with his family and is forced to deal with all the problems Johnny has left behind. Not only does he have business issues to deal with, he also has a wife, two mistresses and numerous family secrets.

couple leaning in for an intimate moment
UKTV

Among the cast are Andrew Scott, who plays Johnny’s brother, Eileen Atkins, who stars as his mother, and Sheridan Smith, who plays his sister-in-law, Nina. While Nina is married to Johnny’s brother, she’s also having an affair with Johnny, so it’s fair to say there's plenty of scandal in the film.

While each of the performances are fantastic, the most impressive one undoubtedly comes from Matthew Rhys who pulls of his dual role to perfection. He told WalesOnline: “The trickiest bit was making sure it was credible when my characters swapped places with each other – they had to be similar enough so that those around them believed they were the other person but there had to be subtle differences so that viewers will know who’s who. It was a fine balancing act.

“I tried to use a different posture for each one. When I was playing Johnny, the posh character, I used to pretend I could smell something slightly unpleasant to give him a sneer. I made John a little bit softer.”

Who’s in the cast of The Scapegoat?

group of four individuals in vintage attire posing together
UKTV

The cast of The Scapegoat includes:

  • Sheridan Smith (I Fought the Law)
  • Matthew Rhys (The Beast in Me)
  • Eileen Atkins (Cranford)
  • Anton Lesser (Endeavour)
  • Jodhi May (Scarborough)
  • Phoebe Nicholls (Shackleton)
  • Alice Orr-Ewing (Partygate)
  • Andrew Scott (Fleabag)
  • Eloise Webb (Innocent)
  • Sylvie Testud (The Captive)
  • Pip Torrens (The Nevers)

Is there a trailer for The Scapegoat?

Yes, you can watch the trailer for The Scapegoat below.

Is The Scapegoat any good?

editorial use only mandatory credit: photo by itv/shutterstock (1941867az) sheridan smith as nina. the scapegoat tv programme. 2012 set in 1952, as england prepares for the coronation, the scapegoat tells the story of two very different men, john standing and johnny spence, who have one thing in common a face. almost exact replicas of each other they meet by chance in a station bar, each at a crossroads in their life, one setting out on a walking tour after losing his job as a teacher; the other avoiding home after a disastrous business venture. the charming and charismatic johnny wines and dines his new acquaintance but when john wakes the next morning with a hangover he is alone and a chauffeur is standing outside his room, waiting to take him home. despite his protests he finds himself sucked irresistibly into another mans life.
ITV/Shutterstock

Yes - Daphne du Maurier’s novel is, in itself, a fantastic story and the film is everything you’d want from a page-to-screen adaptation. Matthew Rhys is entirely believable as two “strangers” and there’s so much entertainment to be found in each of the character’s morally questionable decisions. It’s absolutely worth a watch for both the plot and performances.

How can I watch The Scapegoat?

The Scapegoat is available to watch now on Prime Video.

What other Sheridan Smith dramas can I watch now?

a woman stands in front of a law courts building surrounded by media and spectators
ITV

One of Sheridan’s best real-life dramas, in our opinion, is The Moorside, which you can watch now on ITVX. The two-part series tells the story of Shannon Matthews who was reported missing in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, when she was just nine years old and it’s the sort of drama that stays with you long after you’ve watched it. You can expect an equally compelling performance in Black Work, which sees Sheridan play police officer Jo Gillespie, whose world is thrown into turmoil when her husband Ryan (Kenny Doughty) is tragically shot dead. You can watch Black Work now on ITVX.