Hollywood’s relationship with height has been complicated. Tall actresses were told for years that they were “too much” to star in romance stories or that they’d upstage their male co-stars. But that is no longer the case. Today, these extremely tall women aren’t camouflaging their stature—what they’re doing is claiming it, and in doing so, they’re redefining the definition of a star. Meet the 10 women who make standing tall a superpower.
10. Tilda Swinton – 5’11”
Tilda Swinton embodies the word otherworldly. Her height adds to her impact in performances that are bold, quirky, and unforgettable, from Orlando to Doctor Strange. She has inspired countless actresses—including Gwendoline Christie, who once noted that Swinton’s on-screen performances had shown her tall, quirky beauty can thrive.
9. Nicole Kidman – 5’11”
Nicole Kidman’s 5’11” height has never limited her—if anything, it’s added to her sophistication. Kidman projects a combination of glamour and normalcy in Moulin Rouge! or Big Little Lies. She’s evidence positive that practicality and stature can happen together.
8. Michelle Obama – 5’11”
Although not an actress, Michelle Obama has achieved cultural icon status via her documentaries, TV presence, and global visibility. Standing at 5’11”, she is frequently towering over a room, and she uses that innate height to exude confidence and leadership wherever she attends.
7. Jane Lynch – 6’0″
Jane Lynch, forever remembered for Sue Sylvester on Glee, proudly owns her six-foot stature and sense of humor. She’s spoken about how hard it is to find clothes that fit, and she’s made it an opportunity to plunge into sleek, men’s fashion-influenced styles. Lynch shows that being tall can be one’s own style.
6. Geena Davis – 6’0″
Early in her life, Geena Davis sometimes pretended to be shorter to fit the standard for modeling. She later ended the ruse and made full use of her six-foot height. From Thelma & Louise to A League of Their Own, Davis proved that all women could be strong yet incredibly vulnerable.
5. Sigourney Weaver – 6’0″
Sci-fi legend Sigourney Weaver confessed that she was hardly ever cast as “the girlfriend” due to her tall stature. Rather, she reworked Hollywood stereotypes by becoming the ultimate action heroine. In Alien, she didn’t merely make it through—she ruled, and her 6-foot stature contributed to making her a legend.
4. Kimora Lee Simmons – 6’0″
Kimora Lee Simmons’ height thrust her into the fashion industry as a top supermodel, and she would go on to use it to build a business empire. Whether strutting down the catwalk or meeting in boardrooms, her six-foot-one-inch height has been part of her authoritative presence as a style and business leader.
3. Janet McTeer – 6’1″
At 6’1″, Janet McTeer brings gravity to any part, be it period dramas or contemporary thrillers. She exudes a commanding presence, and she continues to demonstrate that height and ability together equal an invincible force on screen.
2. Karlie Kloss – 6’2″
Karlie Kloss is not only a runway queen. At 6’2″, she’s actually standing head and shoulders above the rest of her generation, and her height has been her ticket to model stardom. In addition to fashion, she’s also done stints in tech and education companies, showing that tall women can go much further than the catwalk.
1. Gwendoline Christie – 6’3″
Sitting at the top of the head is a giant Gwendoline Christie, standing at an imposing 6’3″ tall. She is best known for playing Brienne of Tarth in Game of Thrones and has talked openly about the insecurities of developing quite quickly in her early years and how hard it was being very tall at casting offices. But she took those issues and flipped them on their head and became a symbol of power, strength, and uniqueness.
They weathered Hollywood stereotypes—no, they annihilated them. They fought cringe-worthy red carpet moments, fashion faux pas, and stereotyping, but still somehow remained above it all. In a time when the world can’t get enough of catching glimpses of people’s faces, they teach us that being different—being a little taller, in this case—can be the very same thing that makes you irreplaceable.