50 Celebrities Who Are Shorter Than We Realized
We all know the saying, “The camera adds ten pounds,” but did you know that it can also add a few inches to your height? While some famous faces seem to tower over us onscreen and in real life, there are plenty of celebrities who fall short (literally) of our expectations.
From A-list actresses to leading men, these Hollywood stars might surprise you with their petite stature! Did any of these shock you? Read on and let us know in the comments if you thought some of these celebs were taller!
Jet Li, 5′ 5″
Known for his expertise in martial arts, Jet Li packs quite a punch for his size. His roles include The Expendables, Hero, Fist of Legend and The One. In each of those films, he usually the smallest person on screen but we’re quite sure no one in real life or on the screen wants to cross his path.
Here he is with basketball star Yao Ming. Maybe his height is the reason he trains so hard. So if he ever has to face a larger opponent, he’ll make up the difference with his skills.
Vanessa Hudgens, 5’1″
For having such a big personality, Vanessa Hudgens is quite petite. You’d never guess that the actress and singer stands at just five feet tall.
In photos of Hudgens alongside her Spring Breakers co-stars, she’s almost dwarfed by them! Despite her height, Hudgens routinely stands out of the crowd. There’s something to be said about that!
The Olsen Twins, 5′ 2″
We best know Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen as being the adorable little Michelle on Full House. Nowadays, we know them more for staying off the red carpet and more so sitting next to the runway. These girls have definitely made a fashion lifestyle for themselves and have steered clear of acting for some time.
But for being so involved in fashion, it’s surprising to know they’re barely taller than five feet. Even if you stacked them on top of each other, they still wouldn’t be that tall. But really, what scenario would you need to do that? Anyways, these aren’t the only fashion moguls to make the list.
Emilia Clarke, 5′ 2″
You may recognize her as the Mother of Dragons. The Game of Thrones actress may be mothering beastly dragons but you would never have guessed she was so short. The star actress didn’t start to receive a lot of recognition until she landed the role in the HBO hit series.
Born in 1986, the star has done some pretty impressive work since her first mainstream short film, Drop the Dog in 2009. You may remember her beautiful performance in Me Before You. She fell in love with somebody reduced to a wheelchair and she was almost as tall as him when he was sitting!
Kelly Clarkson, 5’3”
Kelly Clarkson, a petite powerhouse, made a lasting impression on the judges and the world when she competed in and won the inaugural season of American Idol in 2002.
Her incredible voice captivated audiences, overshadowing the fact that she stands at a modest height of just 5’3″. Her talent and vocal prowess became the focus, and her stature became irrelevant in the face of her remarkable talent.
Thom Yorke, 5’5”
Thom Yorke, the renowned lead singer of Radiohead, is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished musicians of the past thirty years. Despite his relatively short stature of 5’5″, fans are consistently amazed by his live performances.
His talent and artistic contributions have solidified his place in music history, transcending any preconceived notions about his height.
Josh Hutcherson 5’7″
Josh Hutcherson, recognized for his notable performances in blockbuster action films such as The Hunger Games, may surprise fans with his relatively modest stature, standing at 5’7″.
In a humorous moment while presenting an award alongside the taller Kate Upton, who measures 5’10”, Hutcherson quipped, “Me and Kate would never work.”
Martin Scorsese 5’3”
The famed director, producer, screenwriter, and film historian is short, standing at just 5’3”.
It’s easy to assume that the rich and famous are Amazonian gods and goddesses, but Scorsese is one of the shorter men in showbiz.
Eva Longoria, 5’0”
Some people have such big personalities that it’s hard to believe that they don’t have the height to match! Eva Longoria just might be the perfect example of that.
The accomplished star is an actress, producer, director, businesswoman, and activist who stands at just five feet.
Paula Abdul, 5′ 0″
Back in 2011, Paula Abdul told LA Magazine, “I’m five feet two on a good day.” That’s one way to put it.
Here, she looks tiny as ever standing next to her fellow American Idol judges.
Kourtney Kardashian, 5′ 0″
Kourtney Kardashian spends most of her life focusing on her children and life as a well-known home decorator. She’s also the shortest of all of the Kardashians.
At only five feet, Kourtney is one of the shortest on the list.
Amy Poehler, 5′ 2″
Amy Poehler ihad a long run on Saturday Night Live and then went on to play Leslie Knope in Parks and Recreation.
She did all of this while being only five feet two inches tall. Amy is loud, wild, and hilarious, and her height doesn’t change any of that.
Lady Gaga, 5′ 1″
Lady Gaga is never afraid to sing loud, dress weird, and perform her heart out, both on stage and behind the camera.
A lot of people would be surprised to find out that she just barely exceeds five feet! She’s been known to sport pretty tall heels.
Robert Downey Jr. 5′ 9″
Robert Downey Jr. may not be that short, but he’s definitely not as tall as some people believe. Robert stands at just 5’9”.
Robert Downey Jr. delivers repeated powerhouse performances that make us feel like he would tower over everyone. There are many photos of Robert Downey Jr. where he is wearing creepers — shoes designed to add a few inches to your height.
Lil’ Wayne, 5’5″
Lil’ Wayne stands at just 5’5” tall. Weezy’s short stature makes him one of the shortest rappers in the game and puts a whole new meaning to the “Lil’” in “Lil’ Wayne”!
Although he’s short, he’s in good company amongst a slew of other short rappers.
Prince, 5’2”
The legendary musician was only 5’2”!
He sure packed a ton of talent into such a small frame. The late star clearly didn’t care about his short stature as he constantly strutted his stuff in sequins and heels.
Kim Kardashian, 5′ 3″
Kim Kardashian is a model, wife, mother, and businesswoman mostly known for her, big, um, assets. One thing she’s definitely lacking is having a big height. At only five feet and three inches, she’s definitely one of the shorter celebrities on the list.
Kim is often seen wearing tall high heels and slim and sleek clothing that makes her appear as tall as the rest of the supermodels she’s friends with. You’ll be surprised to find out she’s not even the shortest of the Kardashians.
Nicole Richie, 5′ 1″
Nicole Richie is best known for being Lionel Richie’s daughter and Paris Hilton’s best friend. At one point, they had a pretty successful reality series together, and that was the first glimpse we got of her being a little tiny. But really, anyone would look short next to the towering 5’8″ Paris Hilton. Especially when Hilton was rarely seen sporting anything other than stilettos.
But Nicole is among some of the shortest celebrities on the list. We still have some trouble telling, as her spouse, Joel Madden, is only 5’6″ as well. Even though that’s a bit short comparatively, he didn’t end up making this list.
Elijah Wood, 5′ 6″
For being one of the most famous hobbits on screen, it’s not too surprising to find out Elijah Wood isn’t so tall after all. But at least part of us assumed it was just a trick of the camera. Even if you aren’t a Lord of the Rings fan, you probably never thought Elijah Wood would barely be taller than half the Kardashians.
The thing for male celebrities is that they can’t really wear heels as often as female celebrities. Obviously, they can, but seeing men sporting Jimmy Choos is a rarity on the red carpet. Elijah Wood has done well with his height so far, so it probably hasn’t affected him too negatively.
Kevin Hart, 5′ 4″
We’ve always had a bit of an idea that Kevin Hart is pretty tiny, as he does mention it in his roles and in his stand up sometimes, but knowing his actual height is still pretty surprising. Although he’s taller than a lot of people on the list, he does still fall below average for most men. Above, he’s pictured third from left.
He’s also known for having a few athletic friends, so we’d imagine it can be challenging for him at times to look taller, when he’s hanging with men who tower feet above him. But Kevin’s height has never held him back from having a pretty successful career as well as having an incredibly attractive wife.
Jack Black, 5′ 6″
Jack Black might not be someone that you wonder how tall they are. Mainly because he’s too busy making you laugh. But the funnyman is only 5′ 6″. He has a long catalog of movies under his name but one of his most recent films showcases just how tall (or short) he really is.
The 2017 release of Jumanji featured The Rock, Black, and Kevin Hart. Hart is already very short but as you can see in the image here, Black is barely taller than him. Meanwhile, The Rock is just standing there as the pillar of strength he always is.
Seth Green, 5′ 4″
Seth Green just so happens to be one of the shortest men on our list. We first fell in love with Seth when he was the cool werewolf in a band on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Since then, he’s had plenty of movie and TV roles, always playing a funny or silly character.
All the while, unbeknownst to us, Seth Green is only five feet and four inches tall. But if anyone proves that height is just a number, it’s Seth. He’s been married to his much taller supermodel wife for years now, and it doesn’t seem like his height has ever had an effect on their relationship. Although he’s the last short dude on the list, he’s not going to be the last to surprise you.
Kristen Bell, 5′ 1″
Kristen Bell has always been a fireball, but who would have thought that she was just that tiny. At barely 5 feet tall, Kristen is in the second tier of tiny celebrities on the list. Although she’s not the shortest one, there are still plenty that are taller than her!
We assumed we just saw her as a tiny girl as her husband, Dax Shepard, towers over six feet tall. Although many people would look short next to him, Kristen Bell actually is short. But that’s never held her back. She’s always had strong roles that required a loud voice and independent spirit, and she hasn’t failed yet.
Rooney Mara, 5′ 3″
Rooney Mara is an incredibly talented actress known for starring in mostly Oscar-worthy films. She always looks rather serious, and her slim figure and strong facial features would have led us to assume she towers as tall as any supermodel on the runway. But the reality is much different than that.
At just five feet and three inches tall, Rooney Mara has trouble comparing in height to many of the other actresses and actors that surround her. But she just proves that in no way does size equal talent, and the future still looks bright for her as she attempts to widen her trophy shelf.
Mila Kunis, 5′ 4″
Mila Kunis first won us over for her role on That 70’s Show, and we fell even more in love as she played Meg on Family Guy. Just like her co-star on that series, Seth Green, Mila only stands five feet four inches tall. Of course, we never thought of her as a skyscraper of a person, but when you see the numbers of how truly tiny someone is, it really puts it into perspective.
Standing next to her six-foot-two-inch husband, Ashton Kutcher, definitely, doesn’t help her case. Regardless of how tiny she may be, that has obviously never held her back. She’s got a loud voice and even louder personality, and that doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon.
Bruno Mars, 5′ 5″
So far, Bruno Mars is the tallest on the list. But in no way does that mean he’s very tall compared to many other celebrities he surrounds himself with. Bruno Mars is known for being a talented musician with countless hit singles. He’s a heartthrob for many girls, but unfortunately, you can’t really use tall, dark, and handsome to describe him.
Although Bruno Mars may not be as tall as some other handsome musicians in his field, that does not make him any less talented, attractive, or likable in any sense. His height has never stopped him before, and it’s likely not going to really affect his future either.
Reese Witherspoon, 5′ 1″
A lot of celebrities on the list so far have at least appeared to be a little short in comparison to others, especially once you see the actual numbers. But Reese Witherspoon is one of the most shocking tiny celebrities so far.
At just five feet and one inch tall, Reese is in the group of the tiniest of the tiny. Reese has had countless lead roles, but even her roles as a sidekick or love interest never gave us any hint to the fact that she’s just barely five feet tall. It just even further proves that height doesn’t really matter in the film industry as much as we may have thought.
Ariana Grande, 5′ 0″
Ariana Grande has been called our generation’s Mariah Carey. That’s a pretty bold statement, but if you ever heard her sing, you would at least understand on some level what people are talking about. This long-legged, long-ponytailed celeb has vocal chords that can blow away the biggest of stars.
It’s pretty shocking, then, to find out that she is exactly five feet tall. Even though she may wear tall heels, even three-inch stilettos would still land her on this list. Here she is pictured with actress Blake Lively.
Jada Pinkett Smith, 5′ 0″
Jada Pinkett Smith is unstoppable in pretty much every aspect. She’s the mother of her and Will Smith’s eccentric children and even has her own metal band. The power couple is always seen fiercely on the red carpet, and Jada doesn’t put up with anyone’s B.S. For such a strong-willed person, it surprises us to find out that she’s exactly five feet tall.
If we’ve learned anything from this list, it’s that size is definitely just a number. Jada is one of the few on the list who don’t make it past five feet tall, but out of all, she may be one of the strongest.
Blac Chyna, 5′ 2″
As Rob Kardashian’s former fiancee, Blac Chyna is yet another person to be linked to the Kardashian Klan.
She proves that even a tiny height is no excuse not to achieve your goals.
Christina Aguilera, 5′ 2″
Christina Aguilera has been one of the biggest pop stars of our generation for almost two decades now. She first got her start as a talented little girl with a big voice, and ever since then, she’s been blowing us away with her talent and ability to produce hit singles.
She went from a tiny musketeer and grew into an international pop star. Although she’s grown in popularity, it seems at some point she stopped getting taller. At only five feet two inches, Christina is one of the tiniest pop stars we’ve seen. But there’s still one more pop star on the list who’s even shorter.
Daniel Radcliffe, 5’5″
The English actor is best known for playing Harry Potter, a role in which he was cast when he was 11 years old. At the time, the writers couldn’t have known that Daniel Radcliffe wouldn’t grow much after that. When asked if his height hurts his career, he told Playboy, “I don’t think so. I could play a soldier. The minimum height for a marine is five feet, and I’m well above that. If you’re asking, ‘Can you play a really [explicit] tall person?’ No, obviously not.”
His girlfriend, Erin Darke, doesn’t seem to mind is height. They met on the set of Kill Your Darlings in 2012 and have been together ever since.
Shakira, 5′ 2″
Shakira’s hips definitely don’t lie, but you could argue that her height definitely does. At only five feet two inches, it’s shocking to know that Shakira is in no way as tall as we may have thought she was. She’s a singer, dancer, and overall pretty talented person, so we never would have assumed she was so tiny in comparison to other pop stars.
If we’ve learned anything from this list, it’s to never assume someone’s height.
Kendrick Lamar, 5′ 6″
The Compton-based artist Kendrick Lamar packs a punch when he’s on the mic. His ferocious rhymes would lead you to believe that he is much bigger and taller in real life. But that is not the case. Standing at 5′ 6″, Lamar probably wasn’t tall enough to ride the rides at Six Flags Magic Mountain until he reached middle school
You see him standing next to Pharrell Williams (who isn’t that tall either) and Jay-Z (he actually is tall) and the two just tower over him. What Lamar lacks in height he makes it up with great lyrics. There’s a reason he’s one of the best right now.
Tom Cruise, 5′ 7″
Action movie extraordinaire Tom Cruise might be fooling a lot of his viewers. The star of one of the biggest action movie franchises ever, Mission Impossible, would lead you to believe he is much bigger than 5′ 7″. Maybe the shorter height allows him to do some of the stunts more easily.
Jhene Aiko, 5′ 2″
The beautiful R & B singer is all soul, no height. At 5′ 2″, the singer first came into the spotlight when she was featured on Kendrick Lamar’s EP Overly Dedicated. She is of Japanese, Dominican, Spanish, African American, and Cherokee descent (there are too many to list).
If you were to ever go to one of her concerts, you will see first hand just how petite she is. It looks like she could be blown away if the gust of wind is too strong. Hopefully, she keeps strong so that won’t ever happen.
Chris Paul, 5′ 11″
We know what you’re thinking, why is Chris Paul on this list? Are you thinking that because he is in the NBA? That’s acceptable but let’s put this player’s height in true perspective. Up until 2006, the average height in the NBA was 6, 7″. In a league that searches for height, Paul still thrives.
As you see in the photo above, Kevin Durant makes Paul look like he’s playing his little brother. But this is often the case when he is on defense. But when Paul gets the ball in his hand, he plays with the passion of a giant. He is also very feisty for someone so small. He never lets anyone push him around.
Michael J. Fox, 5′ 4″
The Back to the Future star was never known for his height. He was more so known for those crazy nice Nikes he sported in Back to the Future (The Marty McFlys). In fact, they are so popular that they retail for $3,000 dollars! Fox has some interesting comments about his height.
“Girls think you’re so cute when you’re short,” he said. “They always want to put me in their pocket. Great, as long as it’s their breast pocket.” But you must never forget one thing. “I’m 5 feet 4 1/2 inches tall. Don’t forget the one-half inch.”
Aziz Ansari, 5′ 6″
The actor, writer, comedian, and author wears many hats. But do they make a short guy’s hat for Aziz Ansari? If you watch his Netflix Original Series, you can get an idea of how short he is. He hangs out with his best friend (Eric Wareheim) often. Their height difference is staggering, but to be fair, Wareheim is just a gentle giant already.
Hilary Duff, 5′ 2″
The former Disney star Hilary Duff seems to get better with time! While she was on Disney Channel, no one cared how tall she was. Everyone was just happy to be entertained by the highly-spirited actress. Now she is all grown up and her stature is on full display.
Julia Louis Dreyfus, 5′ 3″
Keeping with the Seinfeld trend, let’s talk about Julia Loius Dreyfus. The longtime interest of Jerry was also short just like his best friend was. We’re surprised Kramer was so tall. Dreyfus is a lovely 5′ 3″ and we think she is perfect just the way she is. According to her, she thinks she wears a big shoe size for her height.
In 1995 she claimed, “I’m 5’3″, I’ve gone from a 7 1/2 to an 8 shoe. I wear an 8 now. And that’s a big foot for someone who is 5’3.”
Big Sean, 5′ 8″
The irony in this is that his name is “Big” Sean. Maybe he should just change it to Sean. In no way is his body frame big at all. Big Sean is signed to Kanye West’s label G.O.O.D. Music and has been rising the ranks of hip-hop for some years now.
Snooki, 4′ 8″
Yes, the Jersey Shore star had to be included. She is the definition of tiny! The reality star hasn’t been making any headlines lately as she focuses on raising her family.
Just look at the height difference in this photo. On InsideEdition she said, “I’m 4’9, maybe with the poof 4’11.”. She was ‘measured by hand’ at 4ft 8. In 2013 she mentioned her weight, claiming “I’m 4-foot-9, which is the size of a third grader, so weighing 96 pounds is normal for me”.
Hayden Panettiere, 5′ 2″
Nashville actress Hayden Panettiere isn’t as short as Snooki but she sure is close. It’s almost like you can’t tell how short someone is on screen until you see them next to some who is of normal height in real life. But it seems that she is conscious of how her height affects her weight.
In Teen Hollywood she said: “I’m five foot two so any weight that I gain, you can see it”. But she didn’t stop there. She continued on about her pregnancy weight varies. “I started out at 106 pounds and guess how much I weigh now? Around 145 pounds.”
Anna Kendrick, 5’0”
Anna Kendrick is best known for her performances in films like Twilight, Pitch Perfect, and Into the Woods. But what she’s less known for is her small stature. The actress stands at just five feet tall — although she regularly wears high heels on the red carpet so she appears a few inches taller.
She also fully embraces her height, telling Esquire, “I was angsty about my height when I was younger, but I love it now. Why wouldn’t you want to be a little compact being?” She also commented on how her height made her self-conscious when it came to dating. “I used to think that guys preferred tall women, but plenty of them like short girls,” she said. “Tall girls, short girls… just any girls, you know?”
Cher Lloyd, 5’2″
Cher Lloyd is a singer, songwriter, and model who rose to fame after she finished in fourth place in The X Factor. Since then, she has gone on to release her debut single, “Swagger Jagger,” which entered number one on the UK Singles Chart. Lloyd has continued to have a successful music career into 2018, even after her two year hiatus.
With a powerful voice and unique style like Lloyd’s, you might be surprised at how short the star is if you catch one of her live shows.
Salma Hayek, 5’2”
Salma Hayek is another shortie on our list. The gorgeous Mexican-American actress-producer and model stands at just 5’2”. But don’t let her small stature fool you — Salma is a force to be reckoned with.
She’s been an activist for more than two decades and works with numerous charitable groups that increase awareness of violence against women. In 2006, she donated $25,000 to a shelter for battered women in Mexico as well as another $50,000 to different Monterrey based anti-domestic violence groups.
Paul Simon, 5’3”
Simon and Garfunkel were one of the biggest groups of their time. When you’re known for your chart-topping hits and have become a counterculture icon for the decade’s social revolution, people don’t really notice your height (or lack of it).
But surprisingly enough, Paul Simon is just 5’3”. Art Garfunkel was just 5’9” himself, but with six inches of height on Simon, he appeared even taller than he really is.
Ashanti, 5’3”
The red carpet is an interesting place. Since we usually see solo shots of celebrities in their outfits, we rarely see them in group shots or standing next to someone. But when we do, it’s easy to grasp just how all or short someone really is.
Here we have Ashanti next to Taylor Swift. In all fairness, Taylor Swift is really tall, so she could make anyone look short…but her staggering height makes those lacking in the height department extra short!
Jamie Cullum, 5’4”
Jamie Cullum is an English jazz-pop singer and songwriter who stands at just 5’4”.
People couldn’t help but comment on the height difference between the lovebirds, which was only accentuated by Sophie’s collection of high heels. The pair married in 2010 and have two children together. Besides his height, Cullum looks young in general. In an interview on The Jonathan Ross show, he said: ‘People have always thought I was twelve, like really young. I can walk around with my kids, I could be waving my mortgage around, I could have the keys to my car…”
