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