Hollywood has long been in love with bigger-than-life personalities, but for some actresses, their star power matches their size—literally. While showbiz has traditionally obsessed over a very specific appearance ideal, these women have made height an asset, dominating the screen and shattering myths. From just reaching the 6-foot barrier to reaching skyscraper heights, here’s a countdown of the industry’s tallest leading ladies.
15. Ann Coulter – 6’0″
More famous for her biting political commentary than for acting, Ann Coulter has still appeared on the screen a few times, such as in Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! and Real Time with Bill Maher. Her height is just one of the many reasons she’s impossible to ignore.
14. Geena Davis – 6’0
Beginning as a model, Geena Davis won an Oscar and became a star of classics such as Thelma & Louise, Beetlejuice, and The Fly. She’s acknowledged that her height singled her out as a child—something she wasn’t necessarily comfortable with—but which later served as part of her authoritative on-screen presence.
13. Cathy DeBuono – 6’0″
Actress and trained psychotherapist Cathy DeBuono has played roles in independent films such as Crazy Bitches and Snapshots. Her dramatic height has become a highlight in every production she’s worked on.
12. Saffron Burrows – 6’0″
From Deep Blue Sea through Troy to You, Saffron Burrows’ tall appearance has been a boon in a range of roles, from high-level action to brooding drama.
11. Terry Farrell – 6’0
Remembered by Star Trek loyalists as Jadzia Dax on Deep Space Nine, Terry Farrell also played Becker and Hellraiser III. Her lanky, graceful build was part of her sci-fi appeal.
10. Jerry Hall – 6’0″
Jerry Hall’s height made her a force to be reckoned with on the catwalk before she made the move to acting in Batman and Running Out of Luck. Her career has always been bigger than life—just like her build.
9. Allison Janney – 6’0″
Awards winner Allison Janney has appeared on screens in The West Wing, Mom, and I, Tonya. She has claimed that her height made it difficult to secure early roles, but she soon found her niche—and dominated it.
8. Famke Janssen – 6’0″
Before X-Men’s Jean Grey and GoldenEye’s Xenia Onatopp, Famke Janssen was a Vogue model. Though her height sometimes led to typecasting, she’s leaned into her magnetic on-screen presence.
7. Kristen Johnston – 6’0″
Two-time Emmy winner Kristen Johnston, best known for 3rd Rock from the Sun, has long joked about the attention her height attracts, saying, “When you’re that tall, people talk about it all the time.”
6. Jane Lynch – 6’0″
Jane Lynch’s height complemented her legendary role as Sue Sylvester on Glee, which won her an Emmy. She’s also been on Only Murders in the Building and lent her voice to beloved cartoon characters.
5. Brooke Shields – 6’0″
From teen model to television and film star, Brooke Shields’ height has never been far from her persona. She has acknowledged that it hasn’t always been simple to find clothes and scene partners to fit her frame.
4. Sigourney Weaver – 6’0″
Sigourney Weaver’s imposing stature assisted in redefining women in action roles—most notably as Ellen Ripley in Alien. Although it’s claimed to have cost her leading romantic roles at times, it also solidified her place in sci-fi legend.
3. Brigitte Nielsen – 6’1″
Actress-turned-model Brigitte Nielsen brought her towering height to Red Sonja and Rocky IV. She’s fully accepted her height, referencing photographer Helmut Newton: “You can never be tall enough.”
2. Janet McTeer – 6’1″
British actor Janet McTeer has ruled stage and screen in shows such as Ozark, Albert Nobbs, and The Woman in Black. She used to be self-conscious about her height, but now considers it one of her best features.
1. Gwendoline Christie & Elizabeth Debicki – 6’3″ (Tie)
Gwendoline Christie, unforgettable as Game of Thrones’ Brienne of Tarth and Star Wars’ Captain Phasma, admits she used to be self-conscious about her height but now flaunts it.
Elizabeth Debicki, who has starred in The Crown, Tenet, and The Great Gatsby, confesses that she used to slouch to fit in—before she discovered that standing tall was her superpower.
Bonus: Lindsay Kay Hayward – 6’8″
Lindsay Kay Hayward, a.k.a. Isis the Amazon, is the tallest actress in Hollywood. Appearing on Grey’s Anatomy and My Tall Life, she has experienced unusual challenges in dating and working as an actress because of her unusually tall height.
From directing battle scenes to making red-carpet appearances, these women demonstrate that height can be an asset in a career in Hollywood. In a world fixated on appearance, they’ve taught us that being tall—both figuratively and literally—is something to brag about.