Shortest Female Actors in Hollywood, Ranked

Short doesn’t mean small on talent—or impact. Hollywood is packed with powerhouse performers who stand below the average height yet tower in charisma, versatility, and box-office pull. From dramatic leads and action icons to sitcom standouts and scene-stealing character actors, these women prove stature is measured in far more than centimeters.

For this countdown, we focused on widely reported heights; when ties popped up, we weighed cultural footprint, career momentum, and standout roles. Heights can vary by source, but the spirit is the same: celebrating stars who consistently punch above their weight on screens big and small.

Scarlett Johansson

Often reported around 5’3″, Scarlett Johansson toggles effortlessly between intimate indies like ‘Lost in Translation’ and global blockbusters as ‘Black Widow’. Her voice-only turn in ‘Her’ and raw power in ‘Marriage Story’ prove that presence isn’t about inches.

Her action chops and art-house cred—think ‘Under the Skin’—made her a generational multi-hyphenate. Award nods, massive box office, and durable name recognition keep her high among the 5’3″ cohort.

Natalie Portman

Also commonly listed near 5’3″, Natalie Portman pairs precision with daring, from ‘Black Swan’ to ‘Jackie’. She launched young with ‘Star Wars’ and kept leveling up with cerebral, auteur-driven choices.

Portman’s range—arthouse rigor and franchise magnetism—keeps her a perennial A-list force. Whether wielding a hammer in ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ or anchoring intimate dramas, her influence stands tall among similarly sized peers.

Winona Ryder

Around 5’3″, Winona Ryder’s ’90s-defining turns in ‘Heathers’, ‘Beetlejuice’, and ‘Girl, Interrupted’ evolved into a modern resurgence with ‘Stranger Things’. She’s proof that cult appeal can become cross-generational currency.

Ryder’s singular screen energy—edgy, offbeat, and empathetic—made her a style bellwether long before nostalgia crowned her again. That second act matters for rank among the mid-5-foot set.

Lucy Liu

Frequently cited at about 5’3″, Lucy Liu blended lethal grace in ‘Kill Bill’ with series longevity in ‘Elementary’. She cracked the action-comedy code with ‘Charlie’s Angels’ and has expanded into directing and producing.

As an action trailblazer and TV mainstay, Liu’s résumé spans genres while opening doors for broader representation. Sustained relevance across mediums elevates her within this height band.

Isla Fisher

Reported near 5’3″, Isla Fisher made a comedic splash in ‘Wedding Crashers’ and brought heist-glam sheen to ‘Now You See Me’. She’s equally at home in rom-com mayhem like ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic’.

Fisher’s secret weapon is timing—elastic, fearless, and fizzy. Her ability to shift from farce to warmth secures a strong standing among the 5’3″ crowd.

Salma Hayek

Often listed around 5’2″, Salma Hayek forged an Oscar-nominated path with ‘Frida’ while weaving between action in ‘Desperado’, character study in ‘Beatriz at Dinner’, and superhero spectacle with ‘Eternals’.

Hayek’s off-screen producing muscle and on-screen magnetism make her a global icon. That dual impact breaks ties within the 5’2″ tier.

Eva Longoria

About 5’2″, Eva Longoria became a household name with ‘Desperate Housewives’ before building a second career behind the camera, including the feature ‘Flamin’ Hot’. Her advocacy and entrepreneurial streak amplify her Hollywood footprint.

Longoria’s pivot to directing and producing shows long-game savvy. Front-of-camera star power plus industry influence earns her a high mark among peers at her height.

Anna Kendrick

Reported near 5’2″, Anna Kendrick harmonized her way into blockbuster territory with ‘Pitch Perfect’ while scoring prestige cred in ‘Up in the Air’. She’s equally deft in ‘Into the Woods’ and twisty fun like ‘A Simple Favor’.

Kendrick’s comic reflexes and musical agility make her a quadruple threat. A steady stream of buzzy projects keeps her ranking strong in the 5’2″ cluster.

Emilia Clarke

Around 5’2″, Emilia Clarke commanded epic fantasy in ‘Game of Thrones’ and jumped genres with ‘Me Before You’, ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’, and Marvel’s ‘Secret Invasion’. Few actors pivot from dragons to spies so smoothly.

Clarke’s pop-culture imprint—and franchise versatility—add heft beyond height. That global recognition places her high among similarly statured stars.

Zoë Kravitz

Typically listed at about 5’2″, Zoë Kravitz fuses indie cool with mainstream heat—stealing scenes in ‘Big Little Lies’, leading ‘High Fidelity’, and crafting a sleek, cerebral turn in ‘The Batman’.

As an actor-producer with an eye for stylish, character-driven stories, Kravitz sets trends more than follows them. That cultural sway nudges her up in a crowded tier.

Rachel Bilson

Around 5’2″, Rachel Bilson became a small-screen staple with ‘The O.C.’ and ‘Hart of Dixie’, bringing spark and warmth to ensemble worlds. She has a knack for making comfort-watch TV feel effortless.

Bilson’s consistency—relatable, bright, and witty—keeps audiences returning. In the 5’2″ bracket, long-running fan affection counts.

Vanessa Hudgens

Commonly cited at 5’1″, Vanessa Hudgens jumped from teen phenomenon in ‘High School Musical’ to grown-up range across rom-coms like ‘The Princess Switch’ and musical turns in ‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’.

Her ability to hop between stage-leaning vocals and cozy-comfort movies makes her a cross-platform favorite. That versatility gives her an edge among the 5’1″ stars.

Kristen Bell

About 5’1″, Kristen Bell toggles from whip-smart sleuth in ‘Veronica Mars’ to morally curious hilarity in ‘The Good Place’. She’s also a beloved voice in animation, with pipes that stick in your head.

Bell’s comic timing—cheerful on the surface, razor-sharp underneath—has real staying power. That blend of brightness and bite keeps her high in the 5’1″ lane.

Reese Witherspoon

Reported near 5’1″, Reese Witherspoon built an empire on wit and grit—from ‘Legally Blonde’ to prestige dramas like ‘Wild’, then into hit producer-led series such as ‘Big Little Lies’ and ‘The Morning Show’.

Witherspoon’s behind-the-scenes leadership reshaped opportunities for women-driven stories. Business acumen plus star wattage makes her a heavyweight among the petite.

America Ferrera

Often listed around 5’1″, America Ferrera broke big with ‘Ugly Betty’, anchored workplace laughs in ‘Superstore’, and delivered a recent, culture-spanning turn in ‘Barbie’.

Ferrera’s superpower is sincerity: she brings grounded humanity to satire, fantasy, and farce. That authenticity resonates—and climbs the ranking.

Hayden Panettiere

Roughly 5’0″, Hayden Panettiere grew from breakout heroics in ‘Heroes’ to musical drama fireworks in ‘Nashville’. She’s equally comfortable revisiting slasher canon with the ‘Scream’ franchise.

Panettiere’s mix of resilience and vocal presence gives her staying power. A compact frame with a big, steady career arc lands her near the top.

Jada Pinkett Smith

Frequently cited at about 5’0″, Jada Pinkett Smith radiates steel and poise across action and drama, from ‘Set It Off’ to ‘The Matrix’ franchise and the comic-book-noir of ‘Gotham’.

Her on-screen authority—and off-screen producing and hosting—extend her influence. That multi-front presence is a tiebreak among the five-foot club.

AnnaSophia Robb

Around 5’0″, AnnaSophia Robb leapt to prominence with heart-tugging turns in ‘Bridge to Terabithia’ and athletic grit in ‘Soul Surfer’, then charmed TV audiences with ‘The Carrie Diaries’.

Robb’s career blends youthful earnestness with grown-up range. As she continues stacking nuanced roles, her compact stature feels ever more outsized.

Kristin Chenoweth

Typically listed near 4’11”, Kristin Chenoweth is a vocal thunderbolt who lights up TV in ‘Pushing Daisies’, ‘Glee’, and ‘Schmigadoon!’. She can pivot from crystalline ballads to machine-gun comedy.

That elastic control—voice, timing, presence—makes her a force in any medium. Few performers pack so much showmanship into so little physical space.

Linda Hunt

Often reported around 4’9″, Linda Hunt is the definition of screen gravitas—an Academy Award winner for ‘The Year of Living Dangerously’, a sci-fi presence in ‘Dune’, and the steady heart of ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’.

Hunt’s voice, gaze, and stillness command attention. Her career proves that the most imposing figure in the room might be the shortest—and that’s why she tops this list.

Share your picks, surprises, and who you think we missed among petite powerhouses in the comments!