Sheridan Smith to play Bridget Jones

Sheridan Smith is tipped to win an Olivier award this weekend for her lead role in Legally Blonde (GERAINT LEWIS)

Sheridan Smith is set to play the title role in a stage adaptation of Bridget Jones's Diary, the story of a young blonde woman with man trouble, which will debut in London next year.

Smith, who is tipped to win an Olivier award this weekend for her lead role in Legally Blonde, confirmed she was hoping to don Bridget's infamous Spanx. The film's producer Working Title is also set to work on the musical, for which Lily Allen will provide the music.

"Every girl at some point feels like Bridget Jones," said Smith in The Independent today. "I'm constantly wearing Spanx, eating ice cream, and feeling a bit lonely.

"Bridget is great because she's more downtrodden. She falls over all the time, or makes an arse of herself and I'm totally like that."

Smith said she had attended a workshop with Allen, Helen Fielding, the book's author, and Stephen Daldry, who directed Billy Elliot.