KINCARDINE actress Shirley Henderson picked up a top gong at this year's Olivier Awards ceremony in London.

Shirley won the Best Actress in a Musical award for her performance in Conor McPherson's 'Girl From the North Country'.

The 52-year-old is perhaps most famous for her role in the Harry Potter films as Moaning Myrtle and Jude, from Bridget Jones's Diary.

In an emotional acceptance speech she said: "Connor McPherson, you're a mighty talent.

"When your script arrived, it was everything I had been looking for for a long time.

"I hadn't been on stage for a very long time – 17 years – so I was scared to take it on but there was something about it that I just knew I was going to say yes. I'm so glad that I did."

She went on to speak about coming across her own diary from when she was 17, highlighting that her dream was to sing on a London stage.

Girl From the North Country premiered at The Old Vic in London from July to October last year, before transferring to the West End at the Noel Coward Theatre for a limited 12-week run until March.

She studied theatre arts at Fife College before attending Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

From there she went on to star in high-profile films such as Trainspotting, where she played Gail, and as Morag in Rob Roy.