The Grady Twins Went From ‘The Shining’ to Lawyering and Microbiology
In 1980, Warner Brothers released The Shining, Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novel of the same name. The movie, about an author with writer’s block who moves to an isolated hotel with his family, then gets possessed by supernatural forces, is a classic of the horror film genre. One of the scariest movies ever made, it aged well, and still retains its ability to thrill and chill viewers well into the fourth decade following its release. It received mixed reviews when first released, but today it is widely regarded as one of the greatest horror movies ever made.
In a film full of frightening, few things have sent more shivers down viewers’ spines than the Grady twins. The girls are best remembered for holding hands in hallways in matching frilly blue dresses, with pink ribbons, hair clips, and knee-high socks. Played by British twins Lisa and Louise Burns, the creepy girls really wanted to play with young Danny Torrance, chanting “Come and play with, Danny, forever, and ever, and ever“, apparently unwilling to take “no” for an answer.
The Grady girls’ scenes are among the film’s most memorable and readily recognizable, even though they are on screen for less than a minute total. They were ten years old when they starred opposite Jack Nicholson and almost stole the movie. Their success in The Shining did not lead to long Hollywood careers, however. After becoming pop culture icons at such a young age, actresses Lisa and Louise Burns just about vanished from the public eye.
As they revealed decades later, success in The Shining actually damaged their acting careers. The way acting schools worked in Britain, they were unable to enroll because they were deemed professionals, and thus ineligible. As a result, they were turned away from the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. So they gave up on acting, and pursued more prosaic careers. Lisa studied literature, and is now a lawyer who negotiates licenses for intellectual property. Her sister Louise, who pursued a science degree, is now a published microbiologist. And yes, they still want to play – both regularly attend horror conventions worldwide to meet fans.