Shirley Henderson
Shirley Henderson
Shirley Hendersonis a Scottish actress. She is perhaps best known for her film roles as Gail in Trainspotting, Jude in Bridget Jones's Diaryand Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secretsand Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Her other films include Topsy-Turvy, Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Frozen, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Dayand Anna Karenina. On television from 1995-1997, she starred opposite Robert Carlyle in the BBC series Hamish Macbeth...
NationalityScottish
ProfessionMovie Actress
Date of Birth24 November 1965
It's odd, because I used to see pictures, on telly or wherever, of what I now know to be Shaftesbury Avenue and I used to wonder what that amazing street with all the lights was. Well, now I know. I think when you get a wee taste of something, it maybe isn't what you thought it was.
Youth makes you brave, I suppose. When you're young, you make a fool of yourself all the time. Because of all the rejections and the criticism you get all the time, there has to be a drive there.
American scripts are usually non-stop conversation. People talking over each other. I like that.
I spend plenty of time in London and it doesn't scare me, but it's a lonely place, even if you've got friends there. My job takes me all around the world, meeting lots of interesting people. But I think if I couldn't get home, if I couldn't get back to what I consider my real life I'd be frightened.
I don't have children, but we all want to protect whatever we love in life.
I don't know what I'd do if I had to look pretty all the time.
I like doom and gloom with a sense of humour. Maybe it's a Scottish thing, we like to undercut indulgence with a laugh.
I wasn't frightened of people, but I didn't have a clue about the adult world.
I'm not going to get an Oscar at 30 - that's done. So I'll think of something else.
There is such pressure on kids these days to be the best at everything.
You suddenly find yourself somewhere and you wonder, how did I get in this room? That happens to me all the time, every day!
Children don't just play any more - they're far too busy learning to fence and taking extra French classes. In the end, you're actually doing more damage to your children by trying to hot-house them. It's far better to remain a calm parent.
Filming is long - you get very tired, and your skin breaks out and you get lumps and bumps. It's easier if you're allowed to have bags under your eyes.
I never get the tall, blonde, glamorous roles because I'm not tall, blonde and glamorous. I'm more the wee, disturbing characters because of the way I look or sound.