As the Harry Potter films once again return to our screens this week, countless fans have been hit with a wave of nostalgia over the magical film series which dominated the lives of many 90’s and 00’s kids growing up.
But one star of the franchise who continues to surprise fans at home with their real age, is Moaning Myrtle star Shirley Henderson, who despite playing a ghostly teen on screen, was actually in her mid-thirties while filming!
Well known for her petite stature and youthful face, Shirley easily looks decades younger than her true age, 57 – and has had no shortage of varied roles over the years thanks to her versatility and finesse on screen.
But who exactly is Shirley Henderson and what exactly is her life like off-screen?
Early Life
Born and raised in Scotland, Shirley Henderson was born on November 24, 1965, in Kincardine, Fife.
Growing up she attended Dunfermline High School and actually started out as a singer before embarking on a career as an actress.
Throughout her childhood, Shirley regularly performed in local clubs, at charity events, holiday camps and even a boxing contest, before embarking on a professional career as an actress after turning 16.
Initially she studied a for a National Certificate in Theatre Arts at Adam Smith College, before later transferring to The Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London to achieve a BA Acting.
She graduated from the school in 1986 and officially kicked off her professional career.
Career Beginnings
Shirley’s first ever TV performance came in 1987, when she was cast as the leading role of Elizabeth Findlay in Shadow of the Stone, a children’s TV drama about a teenager’s spiritual connection to a 17th century girl.
At the same time as her on screen debut, Shirley also began to perform on the theatre stage and starred in numerous productions across Scotland including as Fanny Lock in Entertaining Strangers from October 1987 to March 1988.
By 1990, once again she was beginning to add to her television credits with performances in Wish Me Luck, Casualty and later went on to play the crucial role of Isobel in BBC crime series Hamish Macbeth.
Hollywood breakthrough
By 1995, Shirley had turned her hand towards films with her first feature film role coming in Scottish classic Rob Roy.
The following year, she would continue to impress audiences and critics alike in Danny Boyle’s seminal film Trainspotting.
From there onwards the film roles kept rolling in, with multiple parts in everything from Doctor Sleep to Marie Antoinette among her impressively increasing CV.
By far her most memorable roles to date however have to be as Bridget Jones’ friend Jude and of course, her performance in two of the Harry Potter instalments, the Chamber of Secrets and Goblet of Fire.
Further TV roles
And if that wasn’t enough for her, Shirley has showed no signs of slowing down since finding success in Hollywood, with the star also continuing to play homage to her TV and theatre roots by continuing to pick up roles in various productions, including in Doctor Who, Charles II: The Power & The Passion, Happy Valley and even in BBC detective series Death in Paradise.
Most recently however she was connected to the upcoming HBO Max series Dune: The Sisterhood, but it was reported earlier this year that she had since parted ways with the project.
Personal life
Like many stars these days, Shirley prefers to keep her private life away from the spotlight, even to the point of remaining completely off grid from social media.
It is currently unknown whether she is still in a relationship or single, as the most recent update to her relationship status was given back in 2012, when a profile feature in Scotsman Magazine stated that she lived “peacefully with her partner near the beach and the countryside.”
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