Siobhan Finneran
Biography
Siobhan Margaret Finneran is an English television and film actress. She made her screen debut in the 1987 independent film Rita, Sue and Bob Too, and subsequently worked consistently in television drama including roles in Coronation Street (1989–1990), Clocking Off (2000–2002) and The Amazing Mrs Pritchard (2006). In 2005, Finneran originated the lead female role in the stage play On the Shore of the Wide World and was awarded the Manchester Evening News Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Also a comedy performer, Finneran appeared as Janice Garvey, a leading character in the first seven series of ITV sitcom Benidorm (2007–2015). Later television roles include portraying a lawyer in the mini-series Unforgiven (2009), an embittered servant in the first three series of the costume drama Downton Abbey (2010–2012) and a recovering addict in Happy Valley (2014–2023), for which she was nominated for the 2017 British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress. Later film credits include Mrs Swift in the 2013 film release The Selfish Giant, which earned her a British Independent Film Award nomination. Finneran is also a prolific television documentary narrator. Finneran was born in Oldham, Greater Manchester, then in Lancashire, to Irish parents. She moved with her family to Saddleworth as a young child, and has lived in the area ever since. During childhood Finneran was always drawn to the performing arts and was a fan of the celebrated English comedian Eric Morecambe, recalling that "as a little girl I wanted to be Eric Morecambe. Not to be like him but to actually be him". She completed a theatre studies course. In 2023, Finneran became patron for Manchester based charity Contact Hostel, an organisation that provides support and accommodation for teenage girls facing homelessness.
Known For
All Movies (22)
- Chatlines2026
- The Damned2025 · as Helga
- Inside No. 9: The Party's Over2024 · as Self
- Huggo2024 · as Julia
- Rapture2023
- Hunting the Essex Lorry Killers2021 · as Self (Narrator)
- Pond Life2019 · as Kath Edlington
- James Bulger: The New Revelations2018 · as Narrator
- Benidorm: 10 Years on Holiday2018 · as Herself
- Apostasy2017 · as Ivanna
- Having a Ball: The Making of Rita, Sue and Bob Too2017
- Broadcast Signal Intrusion2016 · as Jane
- Bullseyes and Beer: When Darts Hit Britain2014 · as Narrator
- Nobody from Nowhere2014 · as Elizabeth Traven
- The Selfish Giant2013 · as Mrs. Swift
- Coronation Street: Romanian Holiday2009 · as Verity
- Boy A2008 · as Kelly
- Harold Shipman: Doctor Death2002 · as Kathleen Adanski
- The King and Us2002 · as Jenny
- Blood Strangers2002 · as WPC Melanie Whitaker
- Rita, Sue and Bob Too1987 · as Rita
- The Stork— · as Gwenda
All TV Shows (48)
- Unchosen2026 · as Mrs Phillips
- Dictator: The Hitler Interviews2025 · as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Protection2024 · as DI Liz Nyles
- The Reckoning2023 · as Beryl Hullighan
- Time2021 · as Marie-Louise O'Dell
- The Yorkshire Jobcentre2020 · as Self - Narrator
- The Other One2020 · as Marilyn
- Alma's Not Normal2020 · as Lin
- The Stranger2020 · as DS Johanna Griffin
- A Confession2019 · as Elaine Pickford
- Forensics: The Real CSI2019 · as Narrator
- The Widow2019 · as Sally Newell
- Snatches: Moments from Women's Lives2018 · as Jen
- The Loch2017 · as DCI Lauren Quigley
- The Chillenden Murders2017 · as Self - Narrator (Voice)
- The Moorside2017 · as DC Christine Freeman
- Midwinter of the Spirit2015 · as Angela Purefoy
- Happy Valley2014 · as Clare Cartwright
- Inside No. 92014 · as Edith
- The Syndicate2012 · as Mandy Atkinson
- Death in Paradise2011 · as Fleur Edwards
- Downton Abbey2010 · as Sarah O'Brien
- Unforgiven2009 · as Izzie Ingram
- Apparitions2008 · as Sister Ruth
- Comedy Showcase2007 · as Shirley
- Benidorm2007 · as Janice Garvey
- Benidorm2007 · as Janice
- The Amazing Mrs Pritchard2006 · as Beverley Clarke
- Johnny and the Bomb2006 · as Mrs. Bushell
- Doctor Who2005 · as Becka Savage
- Passer By2004 · as Helen Keyes
- Blue Murder2003 · as Anita Burgess
- The Royal2003 · as Rita Hogg
- Wire in the Blood2002 · as DI Jan Shields
- Timeshift2002 · as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Sparkhouse2002 · as Sue Bolton
- Blood Strangers2002 · as WPC Melanie Whitaker
- Bob & Rose2001 · as Marina Marquess
- Clocking Off2000 · as Julie O'Neill
- Hetty Wainthropp Investigates1996 · as Peggy Rainford
- Resort to Murder1995 · as Lena
- Out of the Blue1995 · as Fran Paiton
- Peak Practice1993 · as Caroline Royal
- Heartbeat1992 · as Janet
- Heartbeat1992 · as Tax Inspector
- Heartbeat1992 · as Gloria Brown
- Casualty1986 · as Sue Stedding
- Casualty1986 · as Mel Riley