The Grady Twins Now: 7 Shocking Facts About Lisa & Louise Burns, The Sisters Who Terrified The World In 'The Shining'

Few cinematic images are as instantly chilling and permanently etched into the horror psyche as the sight of the Grady twins standing motionless at the end of a long, patterned hallway. The iconic line, "Come and play with us, Danny," delivered by the two pale-faced girls, has haunted audiences for decades, making the actresses, Lisa and Louise Burns, eternal figures in film history. This deep dive, using the most current information available in December 2025, explores the lives, careers, and enduring legacy of the real-life sisters who brought Stanley Kubrick's vision of the Overlook Hotel's sinister past to life.

The mystique surrounding the Grady twins is largely due to their abrupt disappearance from the spotlight after the film's 1980 release. Despite their terrifying on-screen presence, the Burns sisters chose a life far removed from Hollywood, pursuing highly academic and professional careers. Today, they are in their mid-fifties, still embracing their legacy, and occasionally sharing fresh insights into their unique experience working with the legendary Kubrick.

Lisa and Louise Burns: The Grady Twins' Complete Biography and Filmography

The Grady twins were played by identical twin sisters, Lisa and Louise Burns, who were just 12 years old when filming began on The Shining. They were cast because of their "naturally spooky" look and ability to communicate non-verbally, a trait that Stanley Kubrick reportedly found essential for the roles. Their performance was their only major acting credit, a choice that has contributed significantly to their legendary status.

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• Names: Lisa Burns and Louise Burns
• Birth Year: Circa 1967/1968 (Making them approximately 57-58 years old as of late 2025)
• Hometown (During Filming): London, England
• Role in The Shining (1980): The Grady Daughters (often mistakenly called the Grady Twins)
• Character Names (Book/Script): Alexa and Alexie Grady
• Relationship: Identical Twin Sisters
• Post-Acting Careers:
  • Lisa Burns: Pursued a career in Law and became a practicing Barrister/Lawyer.
  • Louise Burns: Pursued a career in Science and became a practicing Scientist.
• Current Status: Both sisters have retired from their respective professional careers and now manage their shared legacy, frequently attending horror and fan conventions and sharing updates via their dedicated "Shining Twins" social media presence.
• Filmography: The Shining (1980) - The Grady Daughters.

Their decision to step away from the entertainment industry immediately after achieving global fame is a fascinating aspect of their story. They maintained a close relationship with Stanley Kubrick's family over the years, a testament to the unique and positive experience they had on the set of the horror masterpiece.

Where Are They Now? The Surprising Careers of the Burns Sisters

In the decades following the release of The Shining, Lisa and Louise Burns intentionally avoided the Hollywood spotlight, opting instead for highly academic and professional paths. This move is perhaps the most surprising detail about the "twins" for many fans.

Lisa Burns dedicated herself to law, eventually becoming a respected barrister. Louise Burns chose the world of science, establishing a career as a scientist. Their respective professional lives were completely separate from the world of acting, a deliberate choice that allowed them to maintain a sense of normalcy despite their cinematic immortality. They have often stated that they had no aspirations to be professional actresses, viewing their time on the film as a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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However, the sisters have recently embraced their iconic status. They are now highly sought-after guests at horror and fan conventions worldwide. They actively share updates on their lives and travels on their "Shining Twins" Facebook page, with a November 2024 update confirming their continued engagement with the fanbase. This renewed visibility, decades after the film's premiere, offers fans a fresh perspective on the women behind the legendary characters, highlighting their warmth and humor, which stands in stark contrast to their chilling on-screen personas.

Behind the Scenes: 5 Secrets from the Overlook Hotel Set

The production of The Shining under Stanley Kubrick was notoriously intense, but the Burns sisters recall a surprisingly pleasant and protective environment. Their unique experience has led to several fascinating behind-the-scenes revelations that shed light on the making of the classic film and the director's meticulous process.

1. They Are Not Twins in the Story

One of the most common misconceptions is that the Grady daughters were twins in Stephen King's novel or the film's script. In reality, the characters were sisters of different ages—eight and ten—named Alexa and Alexie Grady. Kubrick famously chose to cast identical twins, Lisa and Louise, to amplify the unsettling, symmetrical horror of the image, making them an inseparable, haunting unit.

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2. The Director Was Their Protector

Despite Kubrick's reputation for being demanding, the twins had a positive relationship with him. They described him as "very sweet" and protective. To shield them from the film's darker themes, he would reportedly ask them to leave the set during the more violent scenes involving Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) and Danny Torrance.

3. A Unique Souvenir

After filming the scene where Danny Torrance discovers the bodies of the murdered girls, Kubrick gifted the sisters tiny bottles of fake blood. This unusual but thoughtful memento was a way to acknowledge their contribution to the horror genre while keeping the mood light on set.

4. The Costumes Were Custom-Made

The now-famous blue dresses with the frilly collars were custom-designed for the film. The choice of matching, slightly old-fashioned attire—a subtle nod to the hotel's timeless, haunted nature—was a key element of their unsettling appearance. The simple, pastel blue color was chosen to stand out starkly against the deep reds and browns of the Overlook Hotel's interior, particularly the iconic carpet.

5. They Were Kept Isolated on Set

To enhance the eerie quality of their interaction with Danny Lloyd (who played Danny Torrance), Kubrick reportedly kept the Burns sisters separate from Lloyd during much of the filming. This was a psychological technique to ensure that their eventual on-screen meeting would have a genuine, slightly awkward tension, adding to the unsettling atmosphere of their scene together. This method is a classic example of Kubrick's dedication to creating authentic performances.

The enduring appeal of the Grady twins is a testament to the power of suggestion and symmetry in horror. Lisa and Louise Burns created a cultural phenomenon with a single scene, securing their place in film history while successfully transitioning to lives outside of the industry. Their story today is one of balance—between a terrifying on-screen legacy and a grounded, professional life, continuing to delight fans with their unique perspective on one of cinema's greatest horror stories.