Siobhan Finneran
Acting
Born: April 27, 1966 (age 60) · Oldham, Lancashire, England, UK
Highest Rated
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
Doctor Who
2005
Downton Abbey
2010
The Stranger
2020
Boy A
2008
Happy Valley
2014
Death in Paradise
2011
Inside No. 9
2014
Time
2021
The Selfish Giant
2013
The Widow
2019
The Damned
2025
Nobody from Nowhere
2014
Photos (2)
Movies (15)
The Damned
Helga
Boy A
Kelly
Pond Life
Kath Edlington
Nobody from Nowhere
Elizabeth Traven
The Selfish Giant
Mrs. Swift
Rita, Sue and Bob Too
Rita
Apostasy
Ivanna
Harold Shipman: Doctor Death
Kathleen Adanski
James Bulger: The New Revelations
Narrator
Chatlines
2026
Huggo
Julia
Broadcast Signal Intrusion
Jane
Coronation Street: Romanian Holiday
Verity
Bullseyes and Beer: When Darts Hit Britain
Narrator
Rapture
2023
TV Shows (54)
Doctor Who
Becka Savage · 1 eps
Death in Paradise
Fleur Edwards · 1 eps
Coronation Street
Josie Phillips · 4 eps
Casualty
Sue Stedding · 1 eps
Casualty
Mel Riley · 1 eps
Emmerdale
Heather Hutchinson · 162 eps
Downton Abbey
Sarah O'Brien · 23 eps
Peak Practice
Caroline Royal · 1 eps
Heartbeat
Janet · 1 eps
Heartbeat
Tax Inspector · 1 eps
Heartbeat
Gloria Brown · 1 eps
Inside No. 9
Edith · 1 eps
Dalziel and Pascoe
Susie Ferdinand · 2 eps
Benidorm
Janice Garvey · 33 eps
Benidorm
Janice · 9 eps
Happy Valley
Clare Cartwright · 18 eps
Unchosen
Mrs Phillips · 6 eps
Wire in the Blood
DI Jan Shields · 1 eps
The Stranger
DS Johanna Griffin · 8 eps
Blue Murder
Anita Burgess · 1 eps
Where the Heart Is
Carol Bevan · 1 eps
Hetty Wainthropp Investigates
Peggy Rainford · 1 eps
Cold Feet
Nikki Kirkbright · 13 eps
Time
Marie-Louise O'Dell · 6 eps
The Cops
Brenda Walsh · 1 eps
The Widow
Sally Newell · 1 eps
The Street
Kim · 1 eps
The Syndicate
Mandy Atkinson · 6 eps
Always and Everyone
Karen Boyd · 1 eps
Protection
DI Liz Nyles · 6 eps
A Confession
Elaine Pickford · 6 eps
Clocking Off
Julie O'Neill · 20 eps
The Russ Abbot Show
Various Characters · 19 eps
City Central
Carol Bell · 1 eps
Out of the Blue
Fran Paiton · 1 eps
Bob & Rose
Marina Marquess · 3 eps
Alma's Not Normal
Lin · 12 eps
The Amazing Mrs Pritchard
Beverley Clarke · 6 eps
The Reckoning
Beryl Hullighan · 4 eps
Comedy Showcase
Shirley · 1 eps
Snatches: Moments from Women's Lives
Jen · 1 eps
Johnny and the Bomb
Mrs. Bushell · 2 eps
The Loch
DCI Lauren Quigley · 6 eps
Midwinter of the Spirit
Angela Purefoy · 3 eps
The Other One
Marilyn · 11 eps
Unforgiven
Izzie Ingram · 3 eps
Blood Strangers
WPC Melanie Whitaker · 2 eps
The Moorside
DC Christine Freeman · 2 eps
Sparkhouse
Sue Bolton · 3 eps
Forensics: The Real CSI
Narrator · 26 eps
Conviction
Gail Cleary · 1 eps
Apparitions
Sister Ruth · 6 eps
Passer By
Helen Keyes · 2 eps
The Royal
Rita Hogg · 1 eps
Self / Appearances (7)
Timeshift
Self - Narrator (voice) · 1 eps
Dictator: The Hitler Interviews
Self - Narrator (voice) · 3 eps
The Chillenden Murders
Self - Narrator (Voice) · 2 eps
Inside No. 9: The Party's Over
Self
Benidorm: 10 Years on Holiday
Herself
The Yorkshire Jobcentre
Self - Narrator · 6 eps
Hunting the Essex Lorry Killers
Self (Narrator)
