Acting
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.
Filmography
Chatlines
Film · 2026
Crackula
Film · 2026
Unchosen
Series · 2026
The Damned
Film · 2025
Dictator: The Hitler Interviews
Series · 2025
Huggo
Film · 2024
Inside No. 9: The Party's Over
Film · 2024
Protection
Series · 2024
Rapture
Film · 2023
The Reckoning
Series · 2023
Hunting the Essex Lorry Killers
Film · 2021
Time
Series · 2021
Alma's Not Normal
Series · 2020
The Stranger
Series · 2020
The Other One
Series · 2020
The Yorkshire Jobcentre
Series · 2020
Pond Life
Film · 2019
Forensics: The Real CSI
Series · 2019
The Widow
Series · 2019
A Confession
Series · 2019
James Bulger: The New Revelations
Film · 2018
Benidorm: 10 Years on Holiday
Film · 2018
Snatches: Moments from Women's Lives
Series · 2018
Apostasy
Film · 2017
Having a Ball: The Making of Rita, Sue and Bob Too
Film · 2017
The Moorside
Series · 2017
The Loch
Series · 2017
The Chillenden Murders
Series · 2017
Broadcast Signal Intrusion
Film · 2016
Midwinter of the Spirit
Series · 2015
Nobody from Nowhere
Film · 2014
Bullseyes and Beer: When Darts Hit Britain
Film · 2014
Happy Valley
Series · 2014
Inside No. 9
Series · 2014
The Selfish Giant
Film · 2013
The Syndicate
Series · 2012
Death in Paradise
Series · 2011
Downton Abbey
Series · 2010
Coronation Street: Romanian Holiday
Film · 2009
Unforgiven
Series · 2009
Boy A
Film · 2008
Apparitions
Series · 2008
Benidorm
Series · 2007
Comedy Showcase
Series · 2007
Benidorm
Series · 2007
Johnny and the Bomb
Series · 2006
The Amazing Mrs Pritchard
Series · 2006
The Street
Series · 2006
Doctor Who
Series · 2005
Passer By
Series · 2004
Conviction
Series · 2004
Blue Murder
Series · 2003
The Royal
Series · 2003
The King and Us
Film · 2002
Harold Shipman: Doctor Death
Film · 2002
Timeshift
Series · 2002
Wire in the Blood
Series · 2002
Sparkhouse
Series · 2002
Blood Strangers
Series · 2002
Bob & Rose
Series · 2001
Clocking Off
Series · 2000
Always and Everyone
Series · 1999
The Cops
Series · 1998
City Central
Series · 1998
Cold Feet
Series · 1998
Where the Heart Is
Series · 1997
Hetty Wainthropp Investigates
Series · 1996
Dalziel and Pascoe
Series · 1996
Resort to Murder
Series · 1995
Out of the Blue
Series · 1995
Peak Practice
Series · 1993
Heartbeat
Series · 1992
Heartbeat
Series · 1992
Heartbeat
Series · 1992
The Sharp End
Series · 1991
Josie
Series · 1991
Motormouth
Series · 1988
Rita, Sue and Bob Too
Film · 1987
Casualty
Series · 1986
Casualty
Series · 1986
The Russ Abbot Show
Series · 1986
Emmerdale
Series · 1972
Coronation Street
Series · 1960
The Stork
Film