Douglas Henshall was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1965  Glasgow, Scotland. He grew up in Barrhead. Whilst at school a friend asked him to join The Scottish Youth Theatre based in Glasgow. After leaving school, he moved to London to train at Mountview Theatre School. He returned to Glasgow after training where he joined the 7:84 Theater Company. Eventually, he went back to live in London where he received critical acclaim for his theater work.