Horror fans have a list of films that they ceremonially release every Halloween, and “The Shining” is almost guaranteed to be chief among them. If you’ve watched Stanley Kubrick’s beloved film, certain scenes are etched in your memory, like the Grady twins standing—not standing—at the end of that creepy hallway. Well, the actors who played the ghostly girls, Louise and Lisa Burns, are now in their 50s and appear to be living quietly in the UK, sporting brown hair streaked with gray. They both seem to be fans of vibrant prints and luxurious scarves.
Adapted from Stephen King’s famous 1977 novel — one of those spooky reads to get into the Halloween spirit — the film “The Shining” was released in 1980. The British girls caught Kubrick’s eye during an open casting call. “We’re naturally scary!” they told Cosmopolitan years later. “But we practiced our timing – saying things in unison – and we worked repeatedly to say our lines in a hollow, otherworldly way.”
The twins told the Daily Mail in 2015 that Kubrick and his wife helped them celebrate their 11th anniversary on set. “What was so wonderful for us was that Stanley found time to celebrate the 11th birthday of two children he would never see again. In that moment, we truly felt like we were all family,” Louise said.
The Burns twins remained involved in The Shining
Louise and Lisa Burns did not continue acting after “The Shining.” Instead, the twins are among the child stars of the ’80s who are now unrecognizable. When the Daily Mail caught up with them in 2015, Lisa was working as a lawyer and Louise was a published scientist. However, over the years, both men have remained involved in the constant buzz around the iconic film.
In 2019, the Burns sisters posted photos to their joint Instagram account that showed them visiting “Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition” at the Design Museum in London; they even posed in front of their iconic blue dresses. In 2022, the twins shared on Instagram that they attended the launch party for director Lee Unkrich’s picture book, “Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining,” featuring behind-the-scenes photos and interviews with the cast and crew. And in 2023, they took part in a Q&A panel at Comic Con Northern Ireland to discuss the making and impact of the film.
Whether you’re looking for a spooky season outfit inspired by the most iconic horror films (Shelley Duvall’s turtleneck and button-down combo comes to mind) or just in a more redrum vibe, “The Shining” is firmly assured as a Halloween must-have. And Louise and Lisa’s portrayal of these strange twins is sure to make audiences squirm forever and ever.
Gn entert
