Siobhan Finneran
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- April 27, 1966 (age 60)
- Birthplace
- Oldham, Lancashire, England, UK
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
Photos
Filmography
The Stork
Movie · as Gwenda
Chatlines
Movie
Crackula
Movie
Unchosen
TV · as Mrs Phillips · 6 eps
The Damned
Movie · as Helga
Dictator: The Hitler Interviews
TV · as Self - Narrator (voice) · 3 eps
Huggo
Movie · as Julia
Inside No. 9: The Party's Over
Movie · as Self
Protection
TV · as DI Liz Nyles · 6 eps
Rapture
Movie
The Reckoning
TV · as Beryl Hullighan · 4 eps
Hunting the Essex Lorry Killers
Movie · as Self (Narrator)
Time
TV · as Marie-Louise O'Dell · 9 eps
Alma's Not Normal
TV · as Lin · 12 eps
The Stranger
TV · as DS Johanna Griffin · 8 eps
The Other One
TV · as Marilyn · 11 eps
The Yorkshire Jobcentre
TV · as Self - Narrator · 6 eps
Pond Life
Movie · as Kath Edlington
Forensics: The Real CSI
TV · as Narrator · 26 eps
The Widow
TV · as Sally Newell · 1 ep
A Confession
TV · as Elaine Pickford · 6 eps
James Bulger: The New Revelations
Movie · as Narrator
Benidorm: 10 Years on Holiday
Movie · as Herself
Snatches: Moments from Women's Lives
TV · as Jen · 1 ep
Apostasy
Movie · as Ivanna
Having a Ball: The Making of Rita, Sue and Bob Too
Movie
The Moorside
TV · as DC Christine Freeman · 2 eps
The Loch
TV · as DCI Lauren Quigley · 6 eps
The Chillenden Murders
TV · as Self - Narrator (Voice) · 2 eps
Broadcast Signal Intrusion
Movie · as Jane
Midwinter of the Spirit
TV · as Angela Purefoy · 3 eps
Nobody from Nowhere
Movie · as Elizabeth Traven
Bullseyes and Beer: When Darts Hit Britain
Movie · as Narrator
Happy Valley
TV · as Clare Cartwright · 18 eps
Inside No. 9
TV · as Edith · 1 ep
The Selfish Giant
Movie · as Mrs. Swift
The Syndicate
TV · as Mandy Atkinson · 6 eps
Death in Paradise
TV · as Fleur Edwards · 1 ep
Downton Abbey
TV · as Sarah O'Brien · 23 eps
Coronation Street: Romanian Holiday
Movie · as Verity
Unforgiven
TV · as Izzie Ingram · 3 eps
Boy A
Movie · as Kelly
Apparitions
TV · as Sister Ruth · 6 eps
Benidorm
TV · as Janice Garvey · 33 eps
Comedy Showcase
TV · as Shirley · 1 ep
Johnny and the Bomb
TV · as Mrs. Bushell · 2 eps
The Amazing Mrs Pritchard
TV · as Beverley Clarke · 6 eps
The Street
TV · as Kim · 1 ep
Doctor Who
TV · as Becka Savage · 1 ep
Passer By
TV · as Helen Keyes · 2 eps
Conviction
TV · as Gail Cleary · 1 ep
Blue Murder
TV · as Anita Burgess · 1 ep
The Royal
TV · as Rita Hogg · 1 ep
The King and Us
Movie · as Jenny
Harold Shipman: Doctor Death
Movie · as Kathleen Adanski
Timeshift
TV · as Self - Narrator (voice) · 1 ep
Wire in the Blood
TV · as DI Jan Shields · 1 ep
Blood Strangers
TV · as WPC Melanie Whitaker · 2 eps
Bob & Rose
TV · as Marina Marquess · 3 eps
Clocking Off
TV · as Julie O'Neill · 20 eps
Always and Everyone
TV · as Karen Boyd · 1 ep
The Cops
TV · as Brenda Walsh · 1 ep
City Central
TV · as Carol Bell · 1 ep
Cold Feet
TV · as Nikki Kirkbright · 13 eps
Where the Heart Is
TV · as Carol Bevan · 1 ep
Hetty Wainthropp Investigates
TV · as Peggy Rainford · 1 ep
Dalziel and Pascoe
TV · as Susie Ferdinand · 2 eps
Resort to Murder
TV · as Lena · 2 eps
Out of the Blue
TV · as Fran Paiton · 1 ep
Peak Practice
TV · as Caroline Royal · 1 ep
Heartbeat
TV · as Janet, Tax Inspector, Gloria Brown · 1 ep
The Sharp End
TV · as Tina · 1 ep
Josie
TV · as Actress · 1 ep
New Voices
TV · as Liz · 1 ep
Motormouth
TV · as Milly Bates · 32 eps
Rita, Sue and Bob Too
Movie · as Rita
Casualty
TV · as Sue Stedding, Mel Riley · 1 ep
The Russ Abbot Show
TV · as Various Characters · 19 eps
Emmerdale
TV · as Heather Hutchinson · 162 eps
Coronation Street
TV · as Josie Phillips · 4 eps