Siobhan Finneran
Acting • Born 1966-04-27
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.
Filmography
68 credits
Broadcast Signal Intrusion
Movie • 2016
Jane
Hunting the Essex Lorry Killers
Movie • 2021
Self (Narrator)
The Damned
Movie • 2025
Helga
Rita, Sue and Bob Too
Movie • 1987
Rita
James Bulger: The New Revelations
Movie • 2018
Narrator
The King and Us
Movie • 2002
Jenny
The Selfish Giant
Movie • 2013
Mrs. Swift
Boy A
Movie • 2008
Kelly
Nobody from Nowhere
Movie • 2014
Elizabeth Traven
Rapture
Movie • 2023
Harold Shipman: Doctor Death
Movie • 2002
Kathleen Adanski
Blood Strangers
Movie • 2002
WPC Melanie Whitaker
Apostasy
Movie • 2017
Ivanna
Pond Life
Movie • 2019
Kath Edlington
Coronation Street: Romanian Holiday
Movie • 2009
Verity
Benidorm: 10 Years on Holiday
Movie • 2018
Herself
Huggo
Movie • 2024
Julia
Inside No. 9: The Party's Over
Movie • 2024
Self
The Stork
Movie
Gwenda
Chatlines
Movie • 2026
Having a Ball: The Making of Rita, Sue and Bob Too
Movie • 2017
Bullseyes and Beer: When Darts Hit Britain
Movie • 2014
Narrator
Apparitions
TV • 2008
Sister Ruth
Clocking Off
TV • 2000
Julie O'Neill
Benidorm
TV • 2007
Janice Garvey
Time
TV • 2021
Marie-Louise O'Dell
Alma's Not Normal
TV • 2020
Lin
Forensics: The Real CSI
TV • 2019
Narrator
Downton Abbey
TV • 2010
Sarah O'Brien
Timeshift
TV • 2002
Self - Narrator (voice)
Happy Valley
TV • 2014
Clare Cartwright
The Widow
TV • 2019
Sally Newell
Blue Murder
TV • 2003
Anita Burgess
Johnny and the Bomb
TV • 2006
Mrs. Bushell
Midwinter of the Spirit
TV • 2015
Angela Purefoy
The Amazing Mrs Pritchard
TV • 2006
Beverley Clarke
Out of the Blue
TV • 1995
Fran Paiton
Comedy Showcase
TV • 2007
Shirley
Hetty Wainthropp Investigates
TV • 1996
Peggy Rainford
The Royal
TV • 2003
Rita Hogg
The Syndicate
TV • 2012
Mandy Atkinson
Peak Practice
TV • 1993
Caroline Royal
Wire in the Blood
TV • 2002
The Moorside
TV • 2017
DC Christine Freeman
Heartbeat
TV • 1992
Janet
Heartbeat
TV • 1992
Tax Inspector
The Loch
TV • 2017
DCI Lauren Quigley
Casualty
TV • 1986
Sue Stedding
Casualty
TV • 1986
Mel Riley
The Reckoning
TV • 2023
Beryl Hullighan
Sparkhouse
TV • 2002
Sue Bolton
Unforgiven
TV • 2009
Izzie Ingram
The Chillenden Murders
TV • 2017
Narrator (Voice)
Snatches: Moments from Women's Lives
TV • 2018
Jen
Doctor Who
TV • 2005
Becka Savage
Heartbeat
TV • 1992
Gloria Brown
A Confession
TV • 2019
Elaine Pickford
Inside No. 9
TV • 2014
Edith
Benidorm
TV • 2007
Janice
The Stranger
TV • 2020
DS Johanna Griffin
The Other One
TV • 2020
Marilyn
Passer By
TV • 2004
Helen Keyes
Out of the Dust
TV
Mrs Phillips
Protection
TV • 2024
DI Liz Nyles
The Yorkshire Jobcentre
TV • 2020
Self - Narrator
Dictator: The Hitler Interviews
TV • 2025
Self - Narrator (voice)
Death in Paradise
TV • 2011
Fleur Edwards
Bob & Rose
TV • 2001
Marina Marquess