The eldest of three sisters, Shirley Henderson was born into a working-class family in the village of Kincardine in Fife, Scotland. As a teenager she sang locally and performed in school drama clubs. Her first break came when she watched a singer on the "Opportunity Knocks" (1956) TV talent program and decided she could do as well. She entered and won a talent competition at Butlins Holiday Camp and from there graduated to local music club gigs. She was later accepted by London`s Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She performed on stage in England`s National Theatre company, which led to a role on the British TV drama "Hamish Macbeth" (1995) with future Trainspotting (1996) co-star Robert Carlyle.

Shirley Henderson grew up in Fife, Scotland. She began performing young and at the age of 13 found herself singing in a boxing ring between bouts after winning a local singing competition. She went on to sing in the local working men`s clubs on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons. After deciding upon acting as a career, she uprooted to London to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

After graduating in 1986 she embarked upon a stage career that included spells at the National Theatre under the direction of Peter Hall, the Royal Court, the Traverse, Hampstead, the Citizens, Shared Experience and most recently in Anna Weiss at the Whitehall Theatre under the direction of Michael Attenborough. Her first on-screen break saw her playing opposite Robert Carlyle in the popular TV series "Hamish Macbeth" (1995) which led to small roles in Rob Roy (1995) and Trainspotting (1996).