How old was Shirley Henderson when she played Moaning Myrtle?

Shirley Henderson was 36 years old when she played Moaning Myrtle in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."

Did Shirley Henderson know Harry Potter before auditioning?

No, Shirley Henderson did not know who Harry Potter was before auditioning for the role.

Why was Shirley Henderson able to play a young ghost?

Henderson believed Myrtle's ghostly nature and a 'mistiness' allowed her age to go unnoticed by viewers.

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Moaning Myrtle: 36-Year-Old Actress on Secret Casting

22 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Shirley Henderson was 36 when cast as 14-year-old Moaning Myrtle.
She auditioned dressed as a schoolgirl, hiding her age.
Henderson felt the ghostly nature of Myrtle helped conceal her age.

Shirley Henderson, now 36, candidly discussed her casting as the teenage ghost Moaning Myrtle in the 2002 film "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets." She admitted to auditioning while dressed as a schoolgirl and that a casting director advised her to conceal her true age. Henderson felt that the character's supernatural, "misty" quality made the age discrepancy less noticeable to the audience.

Despite her prominent role, Henderson stated that her life remained unchanged post-release, with few people recognizing her. Prior to this part, she had already established a notable acting career with roles in "Trainspotting" and "Bridget Jones's Diary." She recalled not knowing who Harry Potter was before the audition, but her sister's familiarity with the books convinced her to try for the part.

Henderson reprised her role as Myrtle in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" and later appeared in "Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses." Her career also includes acclaimed performances in "Marie Antoinette," "Okja," and "Anna Karenina," alongside award-winning turns in theater and television.