Petite Powerhouses: A Look At Hollywood’s Shorter Female Stars Taking The World By Storm

Hollywood stars have to contend with every feature of their body being under the microscope. Whether it’s their hair, fingernails, shoe size, or even teeth, the media and the masses pay close attention to every detail. Although none of these have anything to do with defining these stars, on most occasions, they do give us some perspective of how they look in reality.

While height might be a defining factor in many industries – especially for men – and can be an obstacle for people wanting to chase their dreams, it certainly wasn’t for these women. They might not have won the genetic lottery when it came to tallness, but they sure have other qualities that make up for that. Here are 45 of the shortest women in Hollywood.

Nicole Richie

Lionel Richie’s adopted daughter, Nicole Richie, is an American socialite and big-time television personality. She’s a close friend to her fellow socialite, Paris Hilton, with whom she starred in the reality tv series, The Simple Life in the early to mid-aughts.

Nicole stands at a little over five feet in height, while her friend, Paris, is much taller at six inches over five feet. Regardless, her height is absolutely no hindrance to her success as she is a very accomplished businesswoman and TV personality.

Reese Witherspoon

As one of the most beloved stars in all of Hollywood and one of the highest-earning actresses in the whole world, Reese Witherspoon is a household name. She’s the recipient of numerous awards, including one from the Academy and two Golden Globe awards.

Reese is just one inch over five feet tall but has reached heights in Hollywood that even those taller than her could only hope to touch. She began her illustrious career as a teenager and is now counted amongst Hollywood greats.

Kim Kardashian 

The Kardashians are one of the most renowned celebrity families in all of Hollywood and the world as a whole, and at the center of all that fame is Kim Kardashian. This stunning socialite is also a beauty mogul and businesswoman.

She’s the ex-wife of rapper Kanye West and is also the owner of a very successful cosmetics brand, a shapewear line, and a fragrance line, amongst other ventures. Kim is just two inches over five feet but is still a big-time star.

Lady Gaga

The thirteen-time Grammy award winner and golden globe recipient, Lady Gaga, is one of the biggest names in the entertainment industry today. It isn’t often that we get to see a talented singer who also excels at acting, and that’s one of the things that makes this lady so special.

There are really no limits to what Lady Gaga has achieved in her life. We aren’t just talking about her being one of the best-selling artists globally. This five-foot, one-inch-tall legend is also a philanthropist and activist! We bet you didn’t know that!

Salma Hayek

When we think of Latina women in Hollywood, Salma Hayek is one of the first names that comes to mind. The Mexican-American actress is an absolute bombshell and has starred in quite a number of film and television series productions.

Salma is just a little over five feet tall, but that was no impediment to her success as an actress. She has earned herself four Emmy award nominations for her work on screen and behind the scenes for television series and still remains a big star in the industry.

Emma Roberts

Emma Roberts, who happens to be the niece of one of the biggest actresses in Hollywood, Julia Roberts, is following in her aunt’s footsteps. The actress is known for starring in quite a number of thriller and horror movies as well as television series.

She made her professional acting debut at the tender age of ten for a biographical crime film, Blow, and has had countless projects ever since. Emma stands at five feet and two inches tall and is also a singer and producer.

Anna Kendrick

One of Hollywood’s favorite girls next door, Anna Kendrick, is an amazingly talented actress and singer. She began her career sometime in the late nineties and rose to prominence after starring in the 2009 comedy-drama film, Up In The Air.

Today, Anna is known for being the star of the Pitch Perfect franchise, one of the most commercially successful and popular musical comedies of the past decade. She might be just five feet and one inch tall, but her success helps her stand taller than ever.

Emilia Clarke

Multiple primetime Emmy award nominee Emilia Clarke is a British actress known for her success in both the world of television and film. She starred in one of the most commercially successful TV shows in recent memory, Game Of Thrones, as the strong and persistent “Daenerys Targaryen.”

She might have been the Mother of Dragons on the screen, but she’s not half as intimidating in person with her charming personality, genuine smile, and miniature height. The Last Christmas and Me Before You actress stands at two inches over five feet.

Kristen Bell

Very few actresses in Hollywood have the charm and appeal Kristen Bell has, and we’re pretty sure that’s played a role in getting her to where she is in the industry today. Kristen had an agent even before she was 13, but it wasn’t until the early 2000s that she shot to prominence.

Kristen was the star of the mystery television series Veronica Mars which ran for fifteen years since 2004. Playing the independent and sassy character was her first significant role in TV, and as for film, the five foot one star broke out for playing the titular character in Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Ariana Grande

Pop and R&B superstar, Ariana Grande, is one of the biggest names in the business today. She’s loved by so many people all around the world and has been the recipient of multiple awards, including not one but two Grammy awards.

Although she’s usually spotted on the red carpet in sky-high heels, she’s actually pretty small in real life. Nonetheless, the fact that Ariana is just a bit over five feet has obviously been no hindrance to her career as an artist.

Nicki Minaj

Even though she’s just five feet and two inches tall, Nicki Minaj’s list of accolades propels her status to unthinkable heights. She is one of the best-selling artists of all time and undoubtedly the biggest female rapper of the 2010s.

Nicki Minaj is also a voice actress and has voiced a couple of notable characters in animated movies like the 2012 installation of the Ice Age franchise and the second Angry Birds movie released in 2019. The Queen of Rap is certainly a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood.

Scarlett Johansson

You can’t make a comprehensive list of the top actors and actresses of our era without putting the amazing Scarlett Johansson in one of the top spots. She’s the highest-grossing star in the industry and one of the highest-paid actresses of the past decade.

The Jojo Rabbit and Black Widow actress had her breakthrough in the industry sometime in the nineties, but it wasn’t up until later in the decade that she began to gain wider recognition. Today, the five-foot-three-inch tall actress is one of the most renowned.

Mila Kunis

Starring in a successful sitcom was the start of some stars’ careers, and for others, it cemented their status in the industry. For Mila Kunis, that sitcom was That 70’s Show, one she starred in with her husband, Ashton Kutcher.

Mila was cast for the role at an early age and would go on to play her character in the show until its completion. She stands at four inches over five feet and is also the voice behind Meghan Griffin in the animated series Family Guy.

Lucy Hale

The highest teen choice award-winning actress for a single series, Lucy Hale, is also a singer and Gracie award winner. She always charms us on screen regardless of the type of role she plays, especially in Pretty Little Liars and Truth Or Dare.

Lucy stands at just two inches over five feet tall and has starred in quite a number of film and television productions over the years. She has some upcoming work, and we can’t wait to see what kind of role she’ll take up next.

Kylie Minogue

Pop music is one of the biggest genres in the industry today, and Australian star, Kylie Minogue, is widely known for her success and contribution to it. She has earned herself the title of being the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time and the “Princess of Pop” by the European media.

Her career kickstarted sometime in the eighties, and since then, she has sold more than eighty million records worldwide. Kylie stands at just a little over five feet but is a winner of a number of awards, including a Grammy and several Brit awards.

Mary Kate Olsen

There are actors who began their careers as adults, some as teenagers, and even more, started off as child actors. But rarely do we ever get to see one who began as just a baby. Alongside her twin sister Ashley, Mary Kate Olsen started her career as an infant.

At the tender age of nine months, the two starred in a popular television sitcom in the 80s, Full House. Kate retired as an actress sometime in the early 2010s, and now, the five-foot-one-inch former actress is a full-time fashion designer.

Lea Michele

Many big-time Hollywood stars of today started their careers at an early age, and from childhood stars, they became big faces in the business. Lea Michele is no different, starting off on Broadway and going on to earn herself three Teens Choice Awards.

Although she’s just five feet and two inches tall, she was soaring at the height of her career. Lea was the star of not just Scream Queens but also Glee, and alongside her costars for the latter, she was nominated for three Grammy Awards.

Isla Fisher

Beginning her professional career by starring in a soap opera, Isla Fisher would go on to become a big-time Hollywood star. She’s the wife of the hilarious Sacha Baron Cohen and has starred in a number of widely successful films and shows.

The five-foot-two star is also an author and mother of three. Although Isla initially started off in show business by appearing in a number of commercials at a tender age, she would later find her ground in the entertainment industry as an actress.

Jennifer Love Hewitt

Beginning her career as an actress in commercials as a child, Jennifer Love Hewitt would later go on to act in the Disney Channel show Kids Incorporated. She cemented her status as a teen idol after being cast in Party Of Five and starring in I Know What You Did Last Summer.

Her face is one that many people who grew up watching movies in the ’90s and early 2000s must have seen a couple of times. Jennifer is also a musician, and the five-foot, two-inch star’s music has even been charted by Billboard, with one of her songs reaching No.37.

Natalie Portman

Starting her professional acting career at the tender age of twelve, Natalie Portman has worked hard to be able to star in some of Hollywood’s biggest movies and franchises. The actress is also extremely vocal about animal rights and the causes she holds dear.

Natalie is now one of the world’s highest-paid actresses and one of the most recognizable faces in all of film and TV today. This Israeli-born American actress stands at just three inches over five feet and has also worked as a director for several film productions.

Jada Pinkett Smith

Hollywood stars aren’t without their drama, and when it comes to this lady, there’s loads of it. From her entanglement with August Alsina to the remarkable slap her husband gave to Chris Rock during the 2022 Oscars, Jada’s public life has been filled with its share of scandal.

The actress is also a talk show host for the sensational Red Table Talk, a role for which she’s earned a Daytime Emmy Award. Jada is four feet and eleven inches tall and has also appeared in two movies of The Matrix franchise.

Lucy Liu

Actress and martial arts enthusiast Lucy Liu is an unmistakable face in Hollywood. She was discovered when she was 19 on the subway by an agent, and that was the start of her rise to fame in the film industry.

She is three inches over five feet tall and has starred in numerous action movies over the past few decades. The Kill Bill and Charlie’s Angels actress has also lent her voice to some animated movies and continues to be a Hollywood star today.

Lena Dunham

Although she’s most recognized for being the writer and creator of the popular comedy-drama series, Girls, which ran for five years that earned her a number of accolades, Lena Dunham has also appeared in other film and television projects as well.

She stands at two inches over five feet and has played guest roles in the popular political thriller series, Scandal, as well as in the animated series, The Simpsons. Additionally, she portrayed a character in the popular horror TV show American Horror Story: Cult.

Eva Longoria

The beauty bombshell that is Eva Longoria is a talented actress, director, and producer known for starring in the comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives. She has also been featured on the cover of numerous big-time magazines like Vogue and Marie Claire. 

Eva is five feet and one inch tall and has been ranked as one of Hollywood’s most gorgeous women. She has also produced several documentaries and has a long list of film appearances over the course of her extensive professional career.

Vanessa Hudgens

Nearly every Hollywood star got their success not from having many appearances but from one single role that garnered them mainstream success in the business. For Vanessa Hudgens, that role was “Gabriella Montez” in the High School Musical film franchise.

“Gabriella” and “Troy’s” (Troy, played by Zac Effron) romance stole the hearts of so many young teens, including us, and even now, the two are still beloved by their fans. Vanessa stands at just five feet and one inch and still makes TV appearances every now and then.

Ashley Olsen

Alongside her sister Mary Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen started her career as an actress when she was just a tender nine-month-old. They would both go on to star in numerous films, making a name for themselves as one of Hollywood’s most beloved twins.

Just like her twin sister, Ashley stands at just one inch over five feet and fully retired as an actress in 2012 to focus on her career as a fashion designer. Together, the twins have co-authored a book and have several fashion brands to their names.

Lily-Rose Depp

Born of a French singer/actress, Vanessa Paradis, and the Hollywood giant that is Johnny Depp, Lily-Rose Depp is a model and, like both her parents, also an actress. She began her acting career in 2014 and has been winning the hearts of more and more fans ever since.

Although many models (especially runway models) are known for being extremely tall, Lily doesn’t exactly fit that description. She’s just about three inches over five feet tall in height but still owns the runway and models for top designer brands like Chanel.

Snooki

We might not be the most avid watchers of the hit reality television show Jersey Shore, but if there’s any name we might have picked up from the series over the years, it’s definitely Snooki. She was the person most fans of the show just couldn’t help but love.

Snooki has also been a guest and even a hostess for some WWE events, including a WWE RAW episode sometime in 2011 and their Wrestlemania event that same year. The four feet and eight inches tall celeb has a large social media following and is still loved by her fans.

Zoe Kravitz

Although Zoe is widely known for being an actress, playing several supporting characters in high-budget franchises like the Divergent series and Fantastic Beasts movies, she’s also a singer and model for some high-profile brands. More recently, she brought to life “Catwoman” in the 2022’s The Batman.

Her father is the legendary Lenny Kravitz, while her mother is the famous actress Lisa Bonet. Zoe is five feet and two inches tall and is also part of the cast of the drama series Big Little Lies alongside her fellow Divergent cast member, Shailene Woodley.

Amy Poehler

When it comes to the world of comedy, Amy Poehler’s presence deserves much more than simple acknowledgment. She started acting even before she turned ten years old and is now renowned in the industry for her comedic, acting, and filmmaking skills.

Amy is also a producer and was once a member of the cast of Saturday Night Live. She’s two inches over five feet tall and has hosted the Golden Globes quite a number of times alongside Tina Fey, with whom she starred in the movie Sisters.

Hayden Panettiere

New York-born actress, model, and singer Hayden Panettiere is one of the most outstanding Hollywood entertainers of today. She may stand at just five feet tall, but with regard to her career’s success, she is standing far and high with the stars.

Her list of film and television credits is beyond impressive, with roles in some of the biggest movies of the past two decades. Hayden has been nominated for a Golden Globe and is also one of the youngest artists to have ever been nominated for a Grammy.

Shakira

The Queen of Latin Music is one of the all-time greats in music history. Her albums have held high spots in the charts in Hispanic Music, and she’s also regarded as one of the best-selling female artists of all time.

The three-time Grammy Award winner stands at just five feet and two inches but has been shaking the world and rocking the stage with her amazing music and electric performances. Frankly, we can’t wait to see what she has in store for us this year!

Christina Aguilera

Five-time Grammy Award winner Christina Aguilera has one of the most recognizable voices of her generation. She broke out into the music scene in the late ’90s and was topping the charts during her moments in the spotlight. We still can’t get enough of Genie In A Bottle!

The singer, songwriter, and television personality might be just five feet and two inches in height, but not many people would know that, considering the level of influence she has had on the industry with her chart-topping hits and amazing performances.

Paula Abdul

The multi-faceted Paula Abdul is an extraordinary presence in the music industry and Hollywood as a whole. Not only was she an incredibly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era, but she’s also an accomplished actress and singer.

She’s barely even five feet tall, but she was still rocking the world with her talent during the late ’80s and the ’90s, starring in numerous movies and releasing many chart-topping singles. Paula has also been a judge for American Idol.

Constance Wu

Crazy Rich Asians took the whole world by storm back in the year of its release. The leading lady of this incredible romcom was played by none other than the lovely Constance Wu. A year prior, in 2017, she had been ranked by Time magazine as one of the most influential people in the world.

Her role in the above-mentioned movie garnered her loads of critical acclaim as she was nominated for a variety of awards. But, besides that, the five foot, two inches tall actress has a lot of movie and television series credits to her name, like the hilarious Fresh Off The Boat and Hustlers.

Quinta Brunson

The creator of the popular ABC mockumentary and sitcom Abbott Elementary is one heck of a comedic genius. Quinta Brunson has been in love with comedy ever since she was a little girl, and she now gets to live her dream as someone recognized in the field.

She garnered traction online sometime in 2014 with the comedic videos she would post on her social media page. The four feet and eleven inches tall star has now made several appearances in many television series and been nominated thrice for a Primetime Emmy.

Kourtney Kardashian

Alongside her sisters, Khloe and Kim, as well as her mother, Kris, and the Jenner sisters, Kourtney Kardashian is one of the most widely known celebrities in all of Hollywood. She, just like the other members of her family, is also a socialite and media personality.

Kourtney is just a little over five feet tall, and her small frame is especially noticeable whenever she’s pictured with her husband and other members of her family. She’s also involved in the fashion industry and endorses various brands through her social media.

Hilary Duff

A lot of celebrities we know today started off as teen stars from Disney and Nickelodeon, and the charming Hilary Duff is one of those stars. Lizzie McGuire is a character she perfectly embodied and one that remains dear to the hearts of the kids of that era till today.

A movie based on the series was also made back in 2003, and it was just as much of a hit as the show was. After playing “Lizzie,” the five-foot-two Hilary would go on to have a number of appearances in many high-budget comedy and romantic movies.

Maisie Williams

Many actors and actresses start off by taking small roles in just about anything televised they can get their hands on, whether that’s independent movies or even commercials. Maisie Williams, on the other hand, didn’t have to go through that.

She started her career on a high note by being cast as “Arya Stark” in one of the most widely-known fantasy series of the past decade, Game of Thrones. Maisie stands at five feet and one inch and is dwarfed by pretty much everyone she takes a photo with! That said, she’s a total superstar!

AnnaSophia Robb

This actress and singer began her career way back in 2004 when she starred in Samantha: An American Girl Holiday. That said, AnnaSophia Robb is also famously known for her supporting role in the fantasy film Charlie and the Chocolate factory, which stars Johnny Depp.

She then took up a bunch of minor roles, even appearing on an episode of the animated series Danny Phantom before being cast as Carrie in the series, The Carrie Diaries. The five feet tall star might have just had the role for one year, but she earned loads of praise and recognition for it.

Amanda Seyfried

Amanda is one of Hollywood’s most loved actresses. She may not look like it, but this singer and actress is actually just two inches over five feet tall! She started her career as a model in her pre-teens and then ventured into acting not too long afterward.

Amanda is now an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee and has also been named by Time Magazine as one of the most influential people in the world. We can’t wait to see what the future has in store for this Mama Mia! star.

Kristin Chenoweth

American singer and movie star Kristin Chenoweth has been stealing the hearts of her fans for more than three decades now. Her illustrious career began in the early nineties, and she now has a number of accolades to her name.

With the level of influence she has had on the industry, it’s surprising to learn that Kristin is a pretty little woman. She stands at eleven inches over four feet in height, but she’s one heck of a huge star. Besides film, the actress has also appeared in some TV shows like Glee.

Chandra Wilson

Grey’s Anatomy is by far one of the most popular medical drama series of the past two decades and one in which the delectable Chandra Wilson stars. She’s earned herself four Emmy Award nominations for her work in the show.

She got cast on her first show at just five years old and now not only stars in Grey’s Anatomy but also Station 19, as well as another medical drama, Private Practice. Chandra stands at ten inches over four feet and is also a director.

America Ferrera

Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner America Ferrara has been involved in quite a number of television as well as film productions over the span of her career. However, she is mostly recognized for playing “Betty Suarez” in the series Ugly Betty.

America is also a voice actress and was part of the cast for the How to Train Your Dragon franchise as well as Dreamworks Dragons. She’s one inch above five feet in height and, like several other stars on our list, she has previously been named one of the most influential people by Time Magazine.

Rachel Bilson

We are certain that it comes as no shock to you to learn that many Hollywood stars’ parents were also in the business. For example, Rachel Bilson’s father is a writer, producer, and even director, while Rachel herself is an actress.

The five-foot-two star has been in the business for over twenty years now and has not aged a day! She has earned herself several Teen Choice Awards and, because of her great looks, has been ranked by People magazine as one of the “World’s Most Beautiful People.”