Let’s face it—Hollywood is known for glamour, glitz, and over-the-top personalities, but when it comes to physical height, not all stars are walking tall down the red carpet. Actually, some of the most influential women in Hollywood are a few inches shorter than the average height of an American woman (around 5’3.5″, the CDC says). What they can’t match in height, however, they easily make up for in personality, talent, and star power. These women are living proof that Hollywood success isn’t about standing tall, but shining bright. Here’s a glance at 10 short icons who’ve made a giant impact in pop culture.
10. Reese Witherspoon (5’3″)
Reese Witherspoon might be a hair shy of the height average, but her clout in Hollywood is far from average. Rising to fame as a young child actress, Reese has become one of the most powerful and admired women in the business. With a résumé boasting an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Golden Globe, she’s as versatile as they get—comfortable in both tearjerkers like Walk the Line or romantic comedies like Legally Blonde. Aside from acting, she’s also established a powerhouse production company, Hello Sunshine, that fights for women-led stories. Reese shows us that leadership, vision, and star power can’t be measured with a tape measure.
9. Lily-Rose Depp (5’3″)
Making her own way despite being the offspring of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, Lily-Rose Depp has already caused a splash as an actress and fashion icon. At 5’3″, she’s graced the Chanel catwalks and magazine covers, demonstrating that high fashion doesn’t necessarily need supermodel stature. On screen, she’s starred in hit films such as The King and Voyagers, suggesting a bright movie future ahead. With millions of fans following her career, Lily-Rose represents the new fusion of fashion, film, and online celebrity. Petite as she is, her star power is undeniably magnetic.
8. Christina Aguilera (5’2″)
Standing only 5’2″, Christina Aguilera possesses a voice that will bring you to a standstill. It burst onto the scene in the late ’90s and fast became one of the defining pop icons of her time. Hits such as Genie in a Bottle and Beautiful not just ruled the charts but became cultural anthems. She has received numerous Grammys, a Latin Grammy, and is ranked among the most powerful voices in the history of music. Whether belting out on the stage on a world tour or mentoring on The Voice, Christina proves that real star quality has nothing to do with height—it is about talent, determination, and integrity.
7. Shakira (5’2″)
Global icon Shakira is another small but mighty powerhouse, standing at just 5’2″ but ruling the world through her music and personality. With her hip-swinging dance steps, distinctive voice, and boundless energy, she’s sold over 70 million albums globally. Her Super Bowl halftime show set up her status as a cultural icon, and her philanthropy—via the Barefoot Foundation—has brought education to thousands of underprivileged kids. Shakira’s impact crosses languages, continents, and genres, demonstrating that being small in size is no hindrance to being greater than life on the global stage.
6. Eva Longoria (5’2″)
Eva Longoria initially caught America’s eye with her appearance on Desperate Housewives, when her sharp tongue and glamorous presence marked her out as someone special. Standing 5’2″, she’s not the tallest actress on location, but she’s constructed a towering career as an actress, producer, director, and businesswoman. In addition to her on-screen and off-screen work, Longoria is also a vocal activist, campaigning for Latino visibility in Hollywood and contributing to several charitable efforts. She’s a testament that confidence and perseverance are what help one stand tall.
5. Dakota Fanning (5’4″)
Although she barely clears the height threshold, Dakota Fanning merits a place on this list for the amount she has achieved by an early age. She made it to household status as a child actress with her tearful turn in I Am Sam and became the youngest-ever nominee at the SAG awards. Since then, she’s worked on a combination of big-budget blockbusters such as War of the Worlds and offbeat cult favorites such as Coraline. Off-screen, Dakota also went on to pursue a higher education, demonstrating that she’s not merely a Hollywood fairy tale; she’s a polymath force with brains, talent, and staying power on her side.
4. Megan Fox (5’4″)
Megan Fox’s vampy looks and on-screen presence tend to cause people to think she’s taller than she actually is. At 5’4″, she’s not small by Tinseltown standards, but still shorter than a lot of her blockbuster competitors. Breaking out in Transformers, Fox immediately became one of the most discussed actresses on the planet. Throughout the years, she’s managed to juggle motherhood alongside her career and still hold roles in cult classics such as Jennifer’s Body. Megan shows that confidence and charm tend to count much more than inches when it comes to drawing attention.
3. Amy Poehler (5’2″)
Comedy whiz Amy Poehler has made a career out of shattering boundaries and having viewers in stitches until their sides ache. At 5’2″, she’s not the tallest woman in the room, but her spirit more than compensates. From her beloved years on Saturday Night Live to her Golden Globe-winning portrayal of Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation, Poehler has set a new standard for what it is to be a female comedian in Hollywood. Off-camera, she’s a writer, producer, and advocate for women in the entertainment world, reminding everyone that humor and heart go hand in hand.
2. Salma Hayek (5’2″)
Salma Hayek has spent her career pushing boundaries, first as a Mexican actress making it in Hollywood and now as a producer dedicated to bringing about diverse stories. Standing at 5’2″, she’s a force to be reckoned with in every movie she works on, from her Oscar-nominated turn in Frida to blockbuster franchises like Desperado and Eternals. Offscreen, Hayek is an outspoken supporter of women’s rights and humanitarian issues. Her voice holds sway not only in the entertainment world but also in international dialogue regarding equality and justice.
1. Natalie Portman (5’3″)
Natalie Portman might be just 5’3″, but she’s a giant among Hollywood stars. From her first big break as a kid in Léon: The Professional to her Oscar-winning turn in Black Swan, Portman has proven herself to be a chameleon of an actress. She’s not talented screen alone either—she’s a Harvard grad with research credits in neuroscience, the cream in the intelligence cake. Whether she’s a superhero in Thor or a tormented ballerina, Portman’s talent at bringing crowds in is a testament that height matters little to star power.
These women might not be the tallest of them all, but they’ve each established careers and legacies that tower above the rest. With music and films, fashion and giving back, they’ve demonstrated that success is not a function of height—it’s a matter of how high you reach.