Siobhan Finneran

Known for ActingBorn 1966-04-27 (age 60)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.Read more

Movies & web series

The King and Us

Downton Abbey

Hunting the Essex Lorry Killers

Inside No. 9

Benidorm: 10 Years on Holiday

Happy Valley

Passer By

Out of the Blue

Wire in the Blood

The Royal

Sparkhouse

Time

Forensics: The Real CSI

Protection

Doctor Who

The Syndicate

Benidorm

Death in Paradise

Clocking Off

Unforgiven

Alma's Not Normal

Snatches: Moments from Women's Lives

The Reckoning

The Selfish Giant

The Stranger

Apparitions

Hetty Wainthropp Investigates

A Confession

Boy A

Heartbeat

Unchosen

Comedy Showcase

The Widow

Timeshift

Apostasy

Resort to Murder

The Moorside

Johnny and the Bomb

The Loch

Blue Murder

Midwinter of the Spirit

Harold Shipman: Doctor Death

Pond Life

The Amazing Mrs Pritchard

Nobody from Nowhere

The Chillenden Murders

Inside No. 9: The Party's Over

Peak Practice