Shirley Henderson is famous for playing Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Recently, fans discovered how young she was when she originally tried out for the part. She shared the story in an interview with The Independent, explaining how she landed the role and why her age wasn’t revealed at the time.
Henderson recounted being advised not to mention her age during the audition. She was 37 at the time, but was auditioning for the role of a 14-year-old student at Hogwarts.
She described going to an audition dressed as a schoolgirl – a white shirt, black skirt, and ponytail – and feeling self-conscious about it. She admitted thinking the outfit was absurd, but she went anyway. To her surprise, she received a call back and was ultimately offered the part.
She explained that playing Myrtle as a ghost actually made the role easier to portray on screen. Because Myrtle is an elderly spirit inhabiting a younger body, a slightly blurred or ‘misty’ visual effect meant the focus wasn’t sharply on her face, allowing for more flexibility in performance.
Henderson shared that she maintained her privacy following the film’s release, and very few people realized she was the actress behind Moaning Myrtle. She stated, “I really don’t think anyone recognized me.”
She admitted she hadn’t read the Harry Potter books when she first auditioned, but her sister had. She also doubted she could convincingly play a teenager, explaining, “I was in my 30s, and I didn’t think I could play a 14-year-old girl.” However, one of the casting directors thought she was perfect for the role and kept her age a secret from the others during the auditions.
People online were surprised and amused to learn she was 37 years old. One commenter playfully pointed out the contrast between her age and her role, saying, “It’s funny to think someone who’s 37 is playing a teenage ghost in a huge movie franchise!”
People shared humorous observations, like one comment referencing the resemblance to a young Daniel Radcliffe wearing a wig. Others joked about how a particular scene from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire would feel different after seeing the new actor in the role. Many agreed that casting an older actor was a clever choice, as it logically explains how a ghost wouldn’t age.
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2025-11-25 15:45