While on screen our favourite celebrities may seem larger than life height-wise, they can be surprisingly short off-screen, stage or outside the pages of magazines.
Whether through movie magic, stiletto heels or some good old-fashioned perspective play (i.e. placing them next to unusually small props), some of the most famous celebs have a presence so big that it belies their diminutive stature in real life.
Of course, the reverse can also be true and stars can appear taller in person (ahem, Elizabeth Debicki). But more often than not, actors, actresses and singers are on the smaller side.
What Is The Average Height For A Woman?
The average height of an Australian woman is 161.6cm or 5 feet 3 inches according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) National Health Survey 2022.
For comparison, the average hight for an Australian male was 174.8cm or just over 5 feet 7 inches.
This means that anyone below these heights might be considered short based on societal expectations.
Of course, it’s good to keep in mind that average height varies by country and even generation. In fact, the ABS data showed that younger people were likely to be taller, with the average height for women aged 18-44 at 163.1cm, while men in that age bracket averaged 176.4cm.
Meanwhile, women in the US are 161.29cm or 5 feet 3 ½ inches, while men in the US are an average of 175.26cm or around 5 feet 9 inches according to the US government’s National Center for Health Statistics.
Celebrities Who Are Unexpectedly Short
To illustrate just how much perspective can change things, we’ve rounded up 32 celebrities who are surprisingly small in stature (but big on talent). (And if you’re curious, you can head here to find more of Hollywood’s favourite short male celebrities.)
NB: All heights listed are reported measurements only.
1. Sabrina Carpenter
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Sabrina Carpenter is just 151cm or 4’9″ inches tall.
2. Zoë Kravitz
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Zoë Kravtiz (left) is 157cm, or 5’2″ tall.
3. Kim Kardashian
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Kim Kardashian (right) is 157cm, or 5’2″ tall.
4. Vanessa Hudgens
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Vanessa Hudgens (left) is 155cm, or 5″1′ tall.
5. Kristen Bell
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Kristen Bell (right) has a reported height of 155cm, or 5″1′ tall.
6. Anna Kendrick
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Anna Kendrick (right) is 157cm, or 5″2′ tall.
7. Natalie Portman
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Natalie Portman (right) is 160cm, or 5″3′ tall.
8. Rashida Jones
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Actress and filmmaker Rashida Jones (left) is 163cm, or 5’4″ tall.
9. Nicole Richie
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Nicole Richie (right) is 155cm, or 5″1′ tall.
10. The Olsen twins
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Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (far left and far right) are 152cm, or 5’0″ tall.
11. Eva Longoria
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Eva Longoria (right) is 152cm, or 5’0″tall.
12. Lady Gaga
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Lady Gaga (left) is 155cm, or 5″1′ tall.
13. Kylie Minogue
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While it’s well known that Kylie Minogue (right) is diminutive, it’s easy to forget her height of 152cm or 5’0″ when she’s on stage or screen.
14. Hilary Duff
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Hilary Duff (right) is 157cm, or 5″2′ tall.
15. America Ferrera
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Actress America Ferrera (left) is 155cm, or 5″1′ tall.
16. Nick Jonas
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One of the few male celebs whose height we’ve included on this list, Nick Jonas is 167 cm or 5″6′ tall.
17. Reese Witherspoon
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Reese Witherspoon (centre) is 156cm, or 5″1′ tall.
18. Isla Fisher
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Australian actress Isla Fisher is 160cm or 5″3′ tall.
19. Victoria Beckham
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Victoria Beckham (right) is 163 cm, or 5″4′ tall.
20. Salma Hayek
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Salma Hayek is 157 cm, or 5″2′ tall.
21. Jessica Chastain

Jessica Chastain (second from right) is 163cm, or 5’4″ tall. And seeing as he’s in this picture, we’ll add that James McAvoy (right) is 170 cm, or 5’7″ tall.
22. Kit Harington
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Kit Harington (left) is 173cm, or 5’8″ tall.
23. Kourtney Kardashian
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Kourtney Kardashian (right) is 155 cm, or 5’1″ tall and looks particularly short next to sister Kendall Jenner, whose height is 180cm.
24. Megan Fox
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Megan Fox is 163cm or 5’4″ tall.
25. Jada Pinkett Smith
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Jada Pinkett Smith is 152 cm or 5’0″ tall.
26. Amanda Seyfried
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Amanda Seyfried (left) is 159 cm, or 5’3″ tall.
27. Emilia Clarke
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Emilia Clarke is 157cm, or 5’2″ tall.
28. Elliot Page
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Elliot Page (left) is 155cm, or 5’1″ tall.
29. Ariana Grande
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Ariana Grande (right) is believed to be just over 152cm, or 5’0″ tall.
30. Jenna Ortega
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Jenna Ortega (middle) is around 155cm, or just slightly under 5’1″ tall.