Chatlines
2026 · Movie
Siobhan Finneran
1966-04-27
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Oldham, Lancashire, England, UK
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
Unchosen
2026 · TV Show
as Mrs Phillips
The Damned
2025 · Movie
as Helga
Dictator: The Hitler Interviews
2025 · TV Show
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Huggo
2024 · Movie
as Julia
Inside No. 9: The Party's Over
2024 · Movie
as Self
Protection
2024 · TV Show
as DI Liz Nyles
Rapture
2023 · Movie
The Reckoning
2023 · TV Show
as Beryl Hullighan
Hunting the Essex Lorry Killers
2021 · Movie
as Self (Narrator)
Time
2021 · TV Show
as Marie-Louise O'Dell
Alma's Not Normal
2020 · TV Show
as Lin
The Stranger
2020 · TV Show
as DS Johanna Griffin
The Other One
2020 · TV Show
as Marilyn
The Yorkshire Jobcentre
2020 · TV Show
as Self - Narrator
Pond Life
2019 · Movie
as Kath Edlington
Forensics: The Real CSI
2019 · TV Show
as Narrator
The Widow
2019 · TV Show
as Sally Newell
A Confession
2019 · TV Show
as Elaine Pickford
James Bulger: The New Revelations
2018 · Movie
as Narrator
Benidorm: 10 Years on Holiday
2018 · Movie
as Herself
Snatches: Moments from Women's Lives
2018 · TV Show
as Jen
Apostasy
2017 · Movie
as Ivanna
No image
Having a Ball: The Making of Rita, Sue and Bob Too
2017 · Movie
The Moorside
2017 · TV Show
as DC Christine Freeman
The Loch
2017 · TV Show
as DCI Lauren Quigley
The Chillenden Murders
2017 · TV Show
as Self - Narrator (Voice)
Broadcast Signal Intrusion
2016 · Movie
as Jane
Midwinter of the Spirit
2015 · TV Show
as Angela Purefoy
Nobody from Nowhere
2014 · Movie
as Elizabeth Traven
Bullseyes and Beer: When Darts Hit Britain
2014 · Movie
as Narrator
Happy Valley
2014 · TV Show
as Clare Cartwright
Inside No. 9
2014 · TV Show
as Edith
The Selfish Giant
2013 · Movie
as Mrs. Swift
The Syndicate
2012 · TV Show
as Mandy Atkinson
Death in Paradise
2011 · TV Show
as Fleur Edwards
Downton Abbey
2010 · TV Show
as Sarah O'Brien
Coronation Street: Romanian Holiday
2009 · Movie
as Verity
Unforgiven
2009 · TV Show
as Izzie Ingram
Boy A
2008 · Movie
as Kelly
Apparitions
2008 · TV Show
as Sister Ruth
Benidorm
2007 · TV Show
as Janice Garvey, Janice
Comedy Showcase
2007 · TV Show
as Shirley
Johnny and the Bomb
2006 · TV Show
as Mrs. Bushell
The Amazing Mrs Pritchard
2006 · TV Show
as Beverley Clarke
Doctor Who
2005 · TV Show
as Becka Savage
Passer By
2004 · TV Show
as Helen Keyes
Blue Murder
2003 · TV Show
as Anita Burgess
The Royal
2003 · TV Show
as Rita Hogg
No image
The King and Us
2002 · Movie
as Jenny
Harold Shipman: Doctor Death
2002 · Movie
as Kathleen Adanski
Blood Strangers
2002 · Movie
as WPC Melanie Whitaker
Timeshift
2002 · TV Show
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Wire in the Blood
2002 · TV Show
as DI Jan Shields
Sparkhouse
2002 · TV Show
as Sue Bolton
Blood Strangers
2002 · TV Show
as WPC Melanie Whitaker
Bob & Rose
2001 · TV Show
as Marina Marquess
Clocking Off
2000 · TV Show
as Julie O'Neill
Hetty Wainthropp Investigates
1996 · TV Show
as Peggy Rainford
No image
Resort to Murder
1995 · TV Show
as Lena
Out of the Blue
1995 · TV Show
as Fran Paiton
Peak Practice
1993 · TV Show
as Caroline Royal
Heartbeat
1992 · TV Show
as Janet, Tax Inspector, Gloria Brown
Rita, Sue and Bob Too
1987 · Movie
as Rita
Casualty
1986 · TV Show
as Sue Stedding, Mel Riley
The Stork
· Movie
as Gwenda
