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Siobhan Finneran picture

Siobhan Finneran

Acting
Known For

59 Years Old

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

Oldham, Lancashire, England, UK on 27th April 1966

All Credits

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