Shirley Henderson, who played Moaning Myrtle (the ghost in the bathroom) in the Harry Potter films, was 36 years old when she first portrayed the teenage ghost in Chamber of Secrets.
Moaning Myrtle Was Played by a 36-Year-Old Actress
When Moaning Myrtle floated onto screens in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, audiences saw a whiny teenage ghost haunting the girls' bathroom. What they didn't see was that the actress behind those spectral pigtails was actually 36 years old.
Shirley Henderson, a Scottish actress born in 1965, was cast as the perpetually weeping ghost who died as a Hogwarts student in the 1940s. She appeared alongside actual teenagers Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint—who were all around 12 or 13 at the time.
How Did She Pull It Off?
Henderson's naturally high-pitched voice was key to the illusion. She didn't alter it for the role—that squeaky, childlike quality is simply how she sounds. Combined with her petite 5'1" frame and youthful features, she was a natural fit for the ghostly schoolgirl.
The production team enhanced the effect with:
- Strategic camera angles that emphasized her small stature
- CGI transparency effects that obscured fine details
- Costume design featuring childish pigtails and a school uniform
- Makeup that smoothed her complexion while keeping her deathly pale
Henderson reprised the role in Goblet of Fire in 2005, when she was 39. In that film, she had an extended scene in the prefects' bathroom with Daniel Radcliffe—creating what might be one of cinema's most unusual age-gap interactions.
A Career of Youthful Roles
Moaning Myrtle wasn't Henderson's first time playing younger. She'd already built a reputation for convincingly portraying characters decades below her actual age. Her baby face became something of a trademark in British film and television.
After Harry Potter, Henderson went on to star in everything from Bridget Jones's Diary to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. But for an entire generation, she'll always be that sobbing specter in the U-bend.
The casting choice was so successful that many fans watched the films for years without realizing Myrtle wasn't played by an actual teenager. It remains one of Hollywood's most impressive examples of age-defying casting—no magic required.
Frequently Asked Questions
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