SF
Siobhan Finneran
ActorBorn April 27, 1966 (59 years)
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.
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
| 2024 | The Damned · as Helga |
| 2024 | Protection (TV Series) · as Di Liz Nyles |
| 2023 | The Reckoning (2023) (TV Series) · as Beryl Hullighan |
| 2021 | Time (TV Series) · as Marie-Louise O'dell |
| 2020 | Alma's Not Normal (TV Series) · as Lin |
| 2020 | The Stranger (TV Series) · as Ds Johanna Griffin |
| 2019 | A Confession (TV Series) · as Elaine Pickford |
| 2019 | Forensics: The Real CSI (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 2019 | The Widow (TV Series) · as Sally Newell |
| 2018 | Pond Life · as Kath Edlington |
| 2018 | James Bulger: The New Revelations · as Narrator |
| 2018 | Snatches: Moments from Women's Lives (TV Series) · as Jen |
| 2017 | Apostasy · as Ivanna |
| 2017 | The Other One (2020) (TV Series) · as Marilyn |
| 2017 | The Chillenden Murders (TV Series) · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2017 | The Loch (TV Series) · as Dci Lauren Quigley |
| 2017 | The Moorside (TV Series) · as Dc Christine Freeman |
| 2015 | Midwinter of the Spirit (TV Series) · as Angela Purefoy |
| 2014 | Nobody from Nowhere · as Elizabeth Traven |
| 2014 | Happy Valley (TV Series) · as Clare Cartwright |
| 2014 | Inside No. 9 (TV Series) · as Edith |
| 2013 | The Selfish Giant · as Mrs. Swift |
| 2012 | Downton Abbey Revisited · as Sarah O'brien |
| 2012 | The Syndicate (TV Series) · as Mandy Atkinson |
| 2010 | Downton Abbey (TV Series) · as Sarah O'brien |
| 2009 | Coronation Street: Romanian Holiday · as Verity |
| 2009 | Unforgiven (TV Series) · as Izzie Ingram |
| 2009 | Unforgiven: Behind the Scenes · as Izzie Ingram |
| 2008 | Apparitions (TV Series) · as Sister Ruth |
| 2007 | Boy A · as Kelly |
| 2007 | Comedy Showcase (TV Series) · as Shirley |
| 2007 | Benidorm (2007) (TV Series) · as Janice Garvey |
| 2006 | The Amazing Mrs Pritchard (TV Series) · as Beverley Clarke |
| 2006 | The Street (TV Series) · as Kim |
| 2006 | Johnny and the Bomb (TV Series) · as Mrs. Bushell |
| 2005 | Doctor Who (2005) (TV Series) · as Becka Savage |
| 2004 | Conviction (UK) (TV Series) · as Gail Cleary |
| 2004 | Passer By · as Helen Keyes |
| 2003 | Blue Murder (UK) (TV Series) · as Anita Burgess |
| 2003 | |
| 2002 | Sparkhouse (TV Series) · as Sue Bolton |
| 2002 | Wire in the Blood (TV Series) |
| 2002 | Harold Shipman: Doctor Death · as Kathleen Adanski |
| 2001 | Bob and Rose (TV Series) · as Marina Marquess |
| 2000 | Clocking Off (TV Series) · as Julie O'neill |
| 1999 | Always And Everyone (TV Series) · as Karen Boyd |
| 1998 | The Cops (TV Series) · as Brenda Walsh |
| 1997 | Where the Heart Is (TV Series) · as Carol Bevan |
| 1997 | Cold Feet (TV Series) · as Nikki Kirkbright |
| 1996 | Dalziel and Pascoe (TV Series) · as Susie Ferdinand |
| 1995 | Resort to Murder (TV Series) · as Lena |
| 1995 | Out of the Blue (TV Series) · as Fran Paiton |
| 1995 | Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (TV Series) · as Peggy Rainford |
| 1993 | Peak Practice (TV Series) · as Caroline Royal |
| 1992 | |
| 1988 | Motormouth (1988) (TV Series) · as Milly Bates |
| 1987 | Rita, Sue and Bob Too · as Rita |
| 1986 | Casualty (TV Series) · as Sue Stedding |
| 1972 | Emmerdale (TV Series) · as Heather Hutchinson |
| 1965 | Jackanory (TV Series) · as Storyteller |
| 1960 | Coronation Street (TV Series) · as Josie Phillips |