Larger-than-life characters, such as Ethan Hunt in “Mission: Impossible” and Michael Corleone in “The Godfather,” reign supreme on the silver screen, so you might expect that the actors portraying them loom just as large in real life. The truth is, Tom Cruise and Al Pacino made these titans of film their own despite being on the shorter side themselves. Here’s the lowdown on height and how it can impact an actor’s career.
Like any physical attribute, height plays a role in casting decisions. This is especially true when it’s an intrinsic part of a character’s physicality, such as when Damian Delano Young was cast to play basketball phenom Michael Jordan in “Air.”
Still, while towering over the competition can help you stand out and might be a requirement for certain roles, it’s not the most important factor in casting. It’s only one characteristic of your acting type; your abilities, training, and connection to the character ultimately make a bigger impact. “What we’re after is you,” said CD Tara Rubin. “What we’re after is a little bit strange, a little bit perfect, a little bit imperfect—whatever it is, that’s what interests us. The details of your character and your personality are what are going to fill in the character on page, so we love to see what that is.”
The stereotypical statuesque lead may have dominated for decades, but the industry’s recent move toward more diverse representation means that actors of all sizes can land gigs.
Navigating Hollywood as a shorter actor can be challenging, but taking a determined and disciplined approach can improve your chances of success.
1. Hone your craft. Like any actor, you must continuously improve and sharpen your acting skills so you can land roles based on your talent. Rather than fixating on your height and how it may be perceived, focus on becoming a better actor by taking classes, working with a coach, and refining your technique.
2. Embrace your strengths. If you fear getting typecast and pigeonholed into height-specific roles, try highlighting your strengths. Whether you’re an improv guru, have a flair for the dramatic, or can rock out on the drums, let your unique skill set make an impression.
3. Be honest. Although it might be tempting to add a few inches on your acting résumé—or even leave your height off entirely—it’s best to aim for full transparency. “I’m often told precisely what the client wants in terms of height,” CD Pamela Kramer told Backstage. “If a man is too tall, he may actually be too tall for the set they have created. I don’t know who is telling actors to remove their height stats from their résumés. It’s a horrible trend and bad advice. I can guarantee that if I have a thousand faces to look at and I like your face but there’s another hundred that are just as nice and they have their height stats and you don’t, I am most likely not calling to check what your height is. One opportunity lost is one too many. Don’t make it hard for us.”
4. Remember that confidence is key. Want to impress a CD? Try projecting confidence. “Any swagger is just defense,” Emmy Award winner Peter Dinklage explained. “When you’re reminded so much of who you are by people—not a fame thing, but with my size, constantly, growing up—you just either curl up in a corner in the dark or you wear it proudly, like armor or something. You can turn it on its head and use it yourself before anybody else gets a chance.”
5. Prepare for the audition. Your height might be one of the first things a casting director notices, but it’s up to you if that’s what they remember you for. By thoroughly preparing for the audition, you can override any preconceived notions and leave a lasting impression.
6. Offer alternative solutions. If you want to take on a taller character or need to add some inches for a kissing scene, ask to use elevator-lift shoes or stand on an apple box. You can also request that directors film from below or only shoot close-ups to create the illusion of height.
7. Stay persistent. Rejection is part of the game for any aspiring actor, so strive to stay persistent and keep auditioning. Every “no” brings you closer to a “yes”—and every actor, no matter their height, gets rejected at some point in their career.
8. Find short actor inspo. If you feel insecure about your height and its potential impact on your career, take a look at the heights of some of your favorite actors, such as the ones compiled here.
Reese Witherspoon on “The Morning Show” Courtesy Apple TV+
- Tom Cruise (5’7”): It’s believed that the face of the “Top Gun” and “Mission: Impossible” franchises wears shoe lifts for his biggest performances.
- Danny DeVito (4’10”): “No casting director is gonna forget the five-foot guy!” joked the small-statured DeVito (“Batman Returns,” “Matilda,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”).
- Peter Dinklage (4’5”): Dinklage, who was born with achondroplasia, said that since becoming famous for taking on Tyrion Lannister on “Game of Thrones”: “There’s an ownership to someone looking at me or approaching me. It’s because of something positive. It’s not just my size. It’s the work I’ve done that has afforded them a second look.”
- Michael J. Fox (5’4”): In his book “Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist,” the “Back to the Future,” “Family Ties,” and “Spin City” actor writes: “Frankly, my height or lack thereof never bothered me much. Although there is no doubt that it has contributed to a certain mental toughness. I’ve made the most of the head start one gains from being underestimated.”
- Kevin Hart (5’4”): “I’m really confident that the laugh that I’m getting, you’re not laughing necessarily at me as if I’m a joke,” Hart said of incorporating height jokes into his standup routine. “You’re laughing at the experience. I’m giving you an experience through a story that is relatable.” Hart has also applied his comedic chops to films including “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” “Ride Along,” and “Central Intelligence.”
- Scarlett Johansson (5’3”): “It’s so difficult to feel comfortable in the body you have,” said Johansson, whose notable projects include “The Avengers,” “Lost in Translation,” and “Marriage Story.” “You always want to look a different way, taller or thinner, whatever it may be. I still struggle with it. I think everybody does.”
- Al Pacino (5’6”): As depicted in “The Offer,” a series about the making of “The Godfather,” Pacino allegedly almost didn’t land his role as notorious Mafia movie boss Michael Corleone due to his height. He went on to become a triple crown of acting winner and the star of films including “Scarface,” “Scent of a Woman,” and “The Irishman.”
- Natalie Portman (5’3”): The Oscar-winning star of “Black Swan” had to walk on platforms to portray the six-foot Mighty Thor in “Thor: Love and Thunder.”
- Daniel Radcliffe (5’5”): Speaking on how his stature relates to his work, which includes the “Harry Potter” series, “Swiss Army Man,” and “The Woman in Black,” Radcliffe said: “I don’t know what a typical male lead is. People just say, ‘You’re not a typical male lead.’ I think it’s just because I’m like, 5’5”. I think that is literally it. I’m shorter than the average male lead. But that’s not really true. Dustin Hoffman is tiny. Tom Cruise is little. There are loads of people who are sort of short.”
- Reese Witherspoon (5’1”): When she first came to Los Angeles, Witherspoon said, all she heard was, “No, not right—not tall enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough.” But she “didn’t really care about their opinions,” and would go on to become an Oscar and Emmy Award winner in films and TV series such as “Walk the Line,” “Big Little Lies,” and “The Morning Show.”