Shirley Ann Henderson (born 24 November 1965) is a Scottish actress. Henderson's film roles include Gail in Trainspotting (1996) and its 2017 sequel, Jude in the Bridget Jones films (2001–2025), and Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005). Her other notable credits include Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself (2002), Intermission (2003), American Cousins (2003), Frozen (2005), Marie Antoinette (2006), Anna Karenina (2012), Filth (2013), and Stan & Ollie (2018).

Henderson starred as Isobel Sutherland in the BBC series Hamish Macbeth (1995–97) and played Frances Drummond in the BBC drama Happy Valley (2016). She was in the BBC miniseries The Way We Live Now (2001), the ITV television film Dirty Filthy Love (2004), and played Claire Salter in the Channel 4 miniseries Southcliffe (2013).

She won the 2018 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Elizabeth in the original Old Vic production of Girl from the North Country. Her other accolades include two Scottish BAFTA Awards and a VFCC Award, along with BAFTA Award, BIFA Award, London Critics' Circle Award, Chlotrudis Award, Gotham Award, RTS Award, and Canadian Screen Award nominations.

Early life and education Henderson was born in November 1965 in Forres, Moray, and grew up in Kincardine-on-Forth, on the north shore of the Firth of Forth, in Fife. She attended Dunfermline High School. As a child, she began singing in local clubs, at charity events, holiday camps, and even a boxing contest.

At age 16, Henderson completed a one-year course at Adam Smith College, and at 17, she spent three years at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, graduating in 1986.

Career

Henderson's first television performance was in the leading role of Elizabeth Findlay in the 1987 ITV children's television drama Shadow of the Stone, for which she was cast by Leonard White. Having appeared in theatrical productions in Scotland in 1986 and 1987, she was directed by Peter Hall at the Royal National Theatre as Fanny Lock in Entertaining Strangers from October 1987 to March 1988, and as Perdita in The Winter's Tale from April to November 1988.

In 1990, she played the title role in Eurydice at the Chichester Festival, and also appeared on television in Wish Me Luck and Casualty. She landed the key role of Isobel in the popular BBC series Hamish Macbeth in 1995.

Henderson then moved into films, playing Morag in Rob Roy (1995) and Spud's girlfriend Gail in Danny Boyle's Trainspotting (1996). She continued her work in the theatre, including many productions at the Repertory Theatre in Scotland, the National Theatre, and the Royal Court Theatre in London. The next year, she appeared in Mike Leigh's Topsy-Turvy, in which she demonstrated her singing skills, and Michael Winterbottom's Wonderland.

Henderson played Jude in four Bridget Jones films and Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005). She co-starred in the British film Close Your Eyes (2002) along with Goran Višnjić and Miranda Otto and played French princess Sophie-Philippine in Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette (2006).

She played the school matron in Nick Moore's 2008 film Wild Child.

Small-screen appearances have included playing Marie Melmotte in The Way We Live Now (2001); Catherine of Braganza in Charles II: The Power and The Passion (2003); Charlotte in Dirty Filthy Love (2004); Ursula Blake in the Doctor Who episode "Love & Monsters" (2006); Emmeline Fox in The Crimson Petal and the White (2011); DS Angela Young in Death in Paradise (2011); and Meg Hawkins in Treasure Island (2012). She played Karen, the lead role, opposite John Simm in Channel 4's Everyday and Meme Kartosov in Anna Karenina.

In 2022, HBO Max announced that Henderson would star in Dune: Prophecy as Tula Harkonnen. However, in early 2023, director Johan Renck and Henderson were reported to have exited the production due to a "creative shift" and production delays.

In 2023 Henderson was awarded an Outstanding Contribution by BAFTA Scotland for her contribution to Scottish Film and TV.

Henderson appeared as Heather in I Swear in 2025.

Filmography Film

Year Title Role Notes 1992 Salt on Our Skin Mary 1995 Rob Roy Morag 1996 Trainspotting Gail 1998 Speak Like a Child Woman in Dream Uncredited 1999 Topsy-Turvy Leonora Braham Nominated – London Film Critics Circle Award for British Supporting Actress of the Year Wonderland Debbie Phillips 2000 The Claim Annie 2001 Bridget Jones's Diary Jude 2002 The Girl in the Red Dress Gaynor Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Moaning Myrtle Doctor Sleep Detective Janet Losey Once Upon a Time in the Midlands Shirley 24 Hour Party People Lindsay Wilson Nominated – London Film Critics Circle Award for British Supporting Actress of the Year Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself Alice Nominated – British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actor/Actress Villa des Roses Ella Nominated – British Independent Film Award for Best Actress 2003 American Cousins Alice Intermission Sally Fishy Glenda Sands AfterLife Ruby 2004 Yes Cleaner Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason Jude 2005 A Cock and Bull Story Susannah/Shirley Henderson aka Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story The Girl in the Red Dress Gaynor Short Frozen Kath Swarbrick BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Actress in a Scottish FilmMarrakech International Film Festival: Best Actress Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Moaning Myrtle 2006 Marie Antoinette Aunt Sophie Ma Boy Ali 2007 I Really Hate My Job Alice 2008 Wild Child Matron Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day Edythe DuBarry 2009 Life During Wartime Joy Jordan Nominated – Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Cast 2010 Meek's Cutoff Glory White The Nutcracker in 3D The Nutcracker Voice 2011 A Portentous Death Ros 2012 Everyday Karen Feguson Anna Karenina Opera housewife 2013 The Look of Love Rusty Humphries In Secret Suzanne Filth Bunty Blades Nominated – British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actor/Actress 2015 Tale of Tales Imma Urban Hymn Kate Linton 2016 Bridget Jones's Baby Jude 2017 T2 Trainspotting Gail Okja Jennifer Never Steady, Never Still Judy Nominated – Canadian Screen Award for Best Actress 2018 Stan & Ollie Lucille Hardy 2019 Greed Margaret Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Babu Frik Voice 2022 See How They Run Agatha Christie 2023 The Trouble with Jessica Sarah 2025 Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy Jude Elio OOOOO Voice I Swear Heather Davidson Glenrothan Jess 2026 The Mandalorian and Grogu Anzellans Voice TBA

Television Year Title Role Notes 1987 Shadow of the Stone Elizabeth Findlay 6 episodes 1990 Wish Me Luck Sylvie 5 episodes Casualty Denise 1 episode 1991 Dreaming Pauline TV movie Clarissa Sally 3 episodes The Advocates Andrea 3 episodes 1994 The Bill Kelly Rogers 1 episode 1995 Lloyds Bank Film Challenge: You Know My Story Diane 1995–1997 Hamish Macbeth Isobel Sutherland 20 episodes 1997 Bumping the Odds Lynette TV movie 2000 Animated Tales of the World: The Green Man of Knowledge Voice 2001 The Way We Live Now Marie Melmotte 4 episodesNominated – Royal Television Society Award for Best Actor – Female In a Land of Plenty Anne Marie 10 episodes 2003 Charles II: The Power and The Passion Catherine of Braganza 4 episodes 2004 Dirty Filthy Love Charlotte TV movieNominated – Royal Television Society Award for Best Actor – Female 2005 ShakespeaRe-Told Katherine Minola The Taming of the Shrew E=Mc2 (also known as Einstein's Big Idea) Mileva Maric 1 episode 2006 Doctor Who Ursula Blake Episode: "Love & Monsters" 2007 Wedding Belles Kelly TV movie 2008 Agatha Christie's Marple: Murder Is Easy Honoria Waynflete 2009 May Contain Nuts Alice Chaplin 2 episodes 2011 The Crimson Petal and the White Emmeline Fox 3 episodes Death in Paradise DS Angela Young Episode: "An Unhelpful Aid" The Gruffalo's Child The Gruffalo's Child 2012 Treasure Island Meg Hawkins TV movie 2013 Southcliffe Claire Salter Nominated – BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress Bob Servant Kirsty 2014 Jamaica Inn Hannah 2016 Happy Valley Frances Drummond Series 2 2018 The ABC Murders Rose Marbury 3 part TV series 2020 The Nest Siobhan 5 part TV series Worzel Gummidge Saucy Nancy 2021 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses Herself Special appearance Summer Camp Island Susie's Mom Voice 2022 The House Across The Street Claudia 2023 The Mandalorian Anzellan Crew Voice, 4 episodes Tom Jones Aunt Western Hilda Fairy Entity Voice, 1 episode 2024 Kiff Roo Voice, 1 episode 2025 Summerwater Annie Main cast Dept. Q Claire Marsh Main cast

Theatre Dates Title Role Venue Notes Ref. 10 October–November 1986 The Grand Edinburgh Fire Balloon Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh December 1986–January 1987 A Wildcat Christmas Carol Tiny Tim Kilmarnock 1987 The Gorbals Story Maggie play by Robert McLeish April 1987 The Threepenny Opera Lucy Brown Dundee Repertory Theatre 9 October 1987–26 March 1988 Entertaining Strangers Fanny Lock Royal National Theatre, London director: Peter Hall 28 April–24 November 1988 The Winter's Tale Perdita Royal National Theatre, London director: Peter Hall March 1989 My Mother Said I Never Should Rosie Royal Court Theatre, London author: Charlotte Keatley, director: Michael Attenborough 7 June–28 July 1990 Eurydice Eurydice Festival Theatre, Chichester director: Michael Rudman 1 August–5 September 1992 The Life of Stuff Evelyn Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh director: John Mitchell Opened 19 April 1993 Lion in the Streets Isobel Hampstead Theatre, London author: Judith Thompson, director: Matthew Lloyd 8–30 October 1993 Romeo and Juliet Juliet Citizens Theatre, Glasgow director: Giles Havergal 23 March–2 April 1994 The Mill on the Floss Maggie Tulliver New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich (followed by tour) author: George Eliot, directors: Nancy Meckler, Polly Teale 27 April–20 May 1995 The Maiden Stone Mary Hampstead Theatre, London author: Rosa Munro, director: Matthew Lloyd 10–20 September 1997 The House of Bernarda Alba Stuart Davids The Tramway, Glasgow author: Federico García Lorca, director: Stuart Davids 9 November–10 December 1997 Shining Souls Mandy Old Vic, London 22 November−18 December 1999 Anna Weiss Lynn Whitehall Theatre, London author: Mike Cullen, director Michael Attenborough 8 July−7 October 2017 Girl from the North Country Elizabeth Laine Old Vic, London director: Conor McPhersonLaurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical 30 December 2017–24 March 2018 Noël Coward Theatre, London director: Conor McPherson

Awards and nominations