Shirley Henderson's Biography

Shirley Henderson was born on 24 December 1965 in Fife, Scotland.

She was a youngster when she started out singing in working men's clubs covering the likes of Abba, the Carpenters and Barbra Streisand.

Shirley Henderson also appeared on the popular talent finding show on TV, Opportunity Knocks.

Shirley Henderson studied drama in Kirkcaldy, on the same course as Ewan McGregor. Shirley then crossed the border and studied at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s Shirley Henderson had many theatrical roles and in the mid-1990s she also appeared increasingly on television.

Of particular note was Henderson's performance as Robert Carlyle's girlfriend in the popular TV series Hamish Macbeth. She would appear with Carlyle again in Trainspotting.

Other important TV roles were in Charles II: The Power & the Passion (2003) and Dirty Filthy Love (2004).

Also in 2004 Shirley Henderson along with Tilda Swinton, Therese Bradley and Kelly MacDonald was nominated for the Bowmore Scottish Screen Awards' best actress.

Many people, however, will best know Shirley Henderson for her film acting. Her roles in the movies have covered a wide range of films that include both blockbusters and the more experimental. This excellent Guardian interview with Shirley Henderson covers many areas including her film work with Michael Winterbottom.

Shirley Henderson appeared as Jude in the Bridget Jones films and as Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Other films of note, featuring Shirley Henderson are Frozen and Yes.

"Yes" was described by Time Out as "one of the most impressive and multi-layered explorations of the international fault lines made terminally apparent by 9/11."

In November 2005, Shirley Henderson played Kate in The Taming of the Shrew as part of BBC1's mammoth series of reworking Shakespeare into modern day settings. Henderson told The Radio Times: "It's thrilling to play a character like this. She is at an emotional peak in every scene. So raw and real."

Sam Wollaston, in his review of Channel Four's Wedding Belles, described Shirley Henderson's performance as Kelly as 'brilliant'.

In 2009, Shirley Henderson was cast in the lead role of Alice Chaplin in ITV's two-part drama May Contain Nuts.

Also in 2009 she starred in the film Life During Wartime, director Todd Solondz's sequel to his 1998 dark comedy Happiness.

In 2010 Shirley Henderson was cast in the BBC Two drama The Crimson Petal And The White.

In 2012, she was cast as Karen in Michael Winterbottom's film Everyday.

In 2016 she starred as Frances Drummond in the series Happy Valley.