Acting · Oldham, Lancashire, England, UK · Born April 27, 1966
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.
TVUnchosen
2026
as Mrs Phillips
MovieChatlines
2026
TVDictator: The Hitler Interviews
2025
as Self - Narrator (voice)
MovieThe Damned
2025
as Helga
TVProtection
2024
as DI Liz Nyles
MovieInside No. 9: The Party's Over
2024
as Self
MovieHuggo
2024
as Julia
TVThe Reckoning
2023
as Beryl Hullighan
MovieRapture
2023
MovieHunting the Essex Lorry Killers
2021
as Self (Narrator)
TVTime
2021
as Marie-Louise O'Dell
TVThe Yorkshire Jobcentre
2020
as Self - Narrator
TVThe Other One
2020
as Marilyn
TVAlma's Not Normal
2020
as Lin
TVThe Stranger
2020
as DS Johanna Griffin
TVA Confession
2019
as Elaine Pickford
TVForensics: The Real CSI
2019
as Narrator
MoviePond Life
2019
as Kath Edlington
TVThe Widow
2019
as Sally Newell
MovieJames Bulger: The New Revelations
2018
as Narrator
TVSnatches: Moments from Women's Lives
2018
as Jen
MovieBenidorm: 10 Years on Holiday
2018
as Herself
MovieApostasy
2017
as Ivanna
TVThe Loch
2017
as DCI Lauren Quigley
TVThe Chillenden Murders
2017
as Self - Narrator (Voice)
Having a Ball: The Making of Rita, Sue and Bob Too
2017
TVThe Moorside
2017
as DC Christine Freeman
MovieBroadcast Signal Intrusion
2016
as Jane
TVMidwinter of the Spirit
2015
as Angela Purefoy
MovieBullseyes and Beer: When Darts Hit Britain
2014
as Narrator
MovieNobody from Nowhere
2014
as Elizabeth Traven
TVHappy Valley
2014
as Clare Cartwright
TVInside No. 9
2014
as Edith
MovieThe Selfish Giant
2013
as Mrs. Swift
TVThe Syndicate
2012
as Mandy Atkinson
TVDeath in Paradise
2011
as Fleur Edwards
TVDownton Abbey
2010
as Sarah O'Brien
MovieCoronation Street: Romanian Holiday
2009
as Verity
TVUnforgiven
2009
as Izzie Ingram
TVApparitions
2008
as Sister Ruth
MovieBoy A
2008
as Kelly
TVComedy Showcase
2007
as Shirley
TVBenidorm
2007
as Janice Garvey
TVThe Amazing Mrs Pritchard
2006
as Beverley Clarke
TVJohnny and the Bomb
2006
as Mrs. Bushell
TVDoctor Who
2005
as Becka Savage
TVPasser By
2004
as Helen Keyes
TVBlue Murder
2003
as Anita Burgess
TVThe Royal
2003
as Rita Hogg
TVWire in the Blood
2002
as DI Jan Shields
TVTimeshift
2002
as Self - Narrator (voice)
TVSparkhouse
2002
as Sue Bolton
MovieHarold Shipman: Doctor Death
2002
as Kathleen Adanski
The King and Us
2002
as Jenny
MovieBlood Strangers
2002
as WPC Melanie Whitaker
TVBlood Strangers
2002
as WPC Melanie Whitaker
TVBob & Rose
2001
as Marina Marquess
TVClocking Off
2000
as Julie O'Neill
TVHetty Wainthropp Investigates
1996
as Peggy Rainford
Resort to Murder
1995
as Lena
TVOut of the Blue
1995
as Fran Paiton
TVPeak Practice
1993
as Caroline Royal
TVHeartbeat
1992
as Janet
MovieRita, Sue and Bob Too
1987
as Rita
TVCasualty
1986
as Sue Stedding
MovieThe Stork
as Gwenda
