Siobhan Finneran
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.
Photos
Films (22)
Crackula
2026
Chatlines
2026
Los Malditos
2025 · Helga
Inside No. 9: The Party's Over
2024 · Self
Huggo
2024 · Julia
Rapture
2023
Hunting the Essex Lorry Killers
2021 · Self (Narrator)
Pond Life
2019 · Kath Edlington
James Bulger: The New Revelations
2018 · Narrator
Benidorm: 10 Years on Holiday
2018 · Herself
Apostasy
2017 · Ivanna
Having a Ball: The Making of Rita, Sue and Bob Too
2017
Broadcast Signal Intrusion
2016 · Jane
Bullseyes and Beer: When Darts Hit Britain
2014 · Narrator
Nobody from Nowhere
2014 · Elizabeth Traven
Le Géant égoïste
2013 · Mrs. Swift
Coronation Street: Romanian Holiday
2009 · Verity
Boy A
2008 · Kelly
Harold Shipman: Doctor Death
2002 · Kathleen Adanski
The King and Us
2002 · Jenny
Rita, Sue and Bob Too
1987 · Rita
The Stork
· Gwenda
Séries (58)
Exclusion
2026 · Mrs Phillips
Dictator: The Hitler Interviews
2025 · Self - Narrator (voice)
Protection
2024 · DI Liz Nyles
The Reckoning
2023 · Beryl Hullighan
Time
2021 · Marie-Louise O'Dell
The Yorkshire Jobcentre
2020 · Self - Narrator
The Other One
2020 · Marilyn
Alma's Not Normal
2020 · Lin
Intimidation
2020 · DS Johanna Griffin
Une confession
2019 · Elaine Pickford
Forensics: The Real CSI
2019 · Narrator
The Widow
2019 · Sally Newell
Snatches: Moments from Women's Lives
2018 · Jen
Loch Ness
2017 · DCI Lauren Quigley
The Chillenden Murders
2017 · Self - Narrator (Voice)
The Moorside
2017 · DC Christine Freeman
Midwinter of the Spirit
2015 · Angela Purefoy
Happy Valley
2014 · Clare Cartwright
Inside No. 9
2014 · Edith
The Syndicate
2012 · Mandy Atkinson
Meurtres au paradis
2011 · Fleur Edwards
Downton Abbey
2010 · Sarah O'Brien
Unforgiven
2009 · Izzie Ingram
Apparitions
2008 · Sister Ruth
Comedy Showcase
2007 · Shirley
Benidorm
2007 · Janice Garvey, Janice
The Amazing Mrs Pritchard
2006 · Beverley Clarke
The Street
2006 · Kim
Johnny and the Bomb
2006 · Mrs. Bushell
Doctor Who
2005 · Becka Savage
Conviction
2004 · Gail Cleary
Passer By
2004 · Helen Keyes
Blue Murder
2003 · Anita Burgess
The Royal
2003 · Rita Hogg
Wire in the Blood
2002 · DI Jan Shields
Timeshift
2002 · Self - Narrator (voice)
Blood Strangers
2002 · WPC Melanie Whitaker
Bob et Rose
2001 · Marina Marquess
Clocking Off
2000 · Julie O'Neill
Always and Everyone
1999 · Karen Boyd
Cold Feet
1998 · Nikki Kirkbright
The Cops
1998 · Brenda Walsh
City Central
1998 · Carol Bell
Where the Heart Is
1997 · Carol Bevan
Dalziel and Pascoe
1996 · Susie Ferdinand
Hetty Wainthropp Investigates
1996 · Peggy Rainford
Resort to Murder
1995 · Lena
Out of the Blue
1995 · Fran Paiton
Peak Practice
1993 · Caroline Royal
Heartbeat
1992 · Janet, Tax Inspector, Gloria Brown
Josie
1991 · Actress
New Voices
1991 · Liz
The Sharp End
1991 · Tina
Motormouth
1988 · Milly Bates
Casualty
1986 · Sue Stedding, Mel Riley
The Russ Abbot Show
1986 · Various Characters
Emmerdale
1972 · Heather Hutchinson
Coronation Street
1960 · Josie Phillips