This article was originally published on 24/7Mirror
Being tall has its advantages in life. The ladies love you, and the NBA gives you the first pick. But that's guys! But what about the tallest women in the world, and more significantly, in Hollywood? What is it like to be a significantly tall woman in show business, and is it difficult for them to get work? Apparently, some famous women are much taller than studios would like you to think! To find out who they are, and what's it like for them to be taller than their male counterparts, read on!
Brigitte Nielsen — 6'1" (185 Cm)
Danish model and actress Brigitte Nielsen was Sylvester Stallone's tall wife in the 1980s. He was only 5'10", which seemed unimpressive next to her 6'1" frame. Even though their marriage didn't last, we can see that Brigitte was confident enough to date an A-lister. According to her, she got early prep for public scrunity: "My childhood was really comfortable and secure, but school was a nightmare. I was a lot taller than the other girls and they called me Gitte the giraffe."
Giraffes are graceful animals. But that's literally dehumanizing, isn't it? We think these comments prepared her for reality TV. That’s what she’s been up to, most recently, over in Europe.
Karlie Kloss — 6'1'' (185 Cm)
She's graced runways all across the world and come back to tell the tale. Karlie Kloss is the boss. The stunning midwestern beauty stands tall at 6'1''. We are not surprised to hear she opts for flats in her day-to-day life. According to Karlie: "I think I would look like a crazy woman walking around NYC in heels since I’m 6’1 and 6’4 in heels. Plus, I take the subway, so I’d stand out even more!"
Sadly, she's probably right. Heads would turn, and she would never be able to sneak by. But we trust that the Kloss knows what she is doing. Designer ballet flats, for the win!
Elle MacPherson — 6’0” (183 Cm)
Aussie model Elle MacPherson is one of the tallest women in the biz. Fans want to know more about her shoe choices. What does she prefer? According to the model: "I used to wear heels because I wanted to show people I wasn't ashamed of being tall. But I don't wear them anymore because you don't have to wear heels to be beautiful. I can't even remember the last time I wore heels."
But does she need to? Elle has been gracing covers for decades, and she had her time on the top runways, too. At six foot, that was an easy choice for designers.
Maria Sharapova — 6'2'' (188 Cm)
Russian tennis pro Maria Sharapova has been smashing spikes on the courts for years. We always admired her drive and her skill. But something that isn't talked about enough is her height. Maria is an impressive 6'2'' without sneakers. We're pretty sure that gives her an advantage on the court to catch flying balls. She's one of the tallest female athletes out there, and she doesn't play basketball. Has she thought about giving that a go, for fun?
Maria won the silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics for women's singles. When she's not beating shorter gals, she models. When you have legs as long as Maria, it's an easy second career.
Lindsay Kay Hayward — 6'8'' (204 Cm)
Lindsay Kay Hayward holds the current record as the tallest actress in the world. At 6'8'', she's turning heads and nabbing interesting roles. But it wasn't always a smooth ride, as a tall girl. She shares: "Middle school was probably the worst for me. My main coping method was comedy. I would just agree with what people would say in a joking manner, which takes the power away from the bully. How people treat you reflects who they are and not who you are."
Sounds like the kids made it hard for her to fit in. We don’t support that. We’re just not sure how she fits into pants. Where do you shop, Lindsay?
Elizabeth Debicki — 6'2" (188 Cm)
Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki is an impressive 6'2'' on the red carpet. And apparently, that's just a feature of her family. The actress once shared: "My younger sister is also very tall and my little brother, who is just 17, is 6ft 6in, so we're the Amazonian Family. As a teenager, I wasn't comfortable with being taller than other people, and I'm sure I stooped a lot." Does she still stoop, these days?
No way! Liz explains: "It's not easy to be a super-tall woman in Hollywood. But there are times when it works in my favor. In The Night Manager, for example, both of my co-stars, Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston, are also well over 6ft and it was lovely to look a co-star in the eye and not have them standing on an apple box."
Venus Williams — 6'1'' (185 Cm)
Whether it's grass or red clay, Venus and Serena Williams are instantly recognizable as a duo on the court. The sisters have won just about every tennis honor out there together but also compete against each other. But the height contest is an easy win for Venus. She is noticeably taller! Venus once posted: "You've got to remember I am six feet one inch, very tall (I love it!)" Serena is just 5'9'', for comparison.
We can see that Venus has a passion for fashion in her free time, and that includes high heels. Some tall ladies avoid stilettos. But Venus embraces them!
Dot-Marie Jones — 6'3" (190 Cm)
You probably know Dot-Marie Jones as Coach Beiste on Glee. Fans certainly find her believable as an athletic professional. Maybe that's because she was once deeply involved in sports, in real life. According to Dot: "I did volleyball, basketball, and track all through high school. And then I went to junior college and I stuck with track because I was good at shot put and discus. And then I got a full ride to Fresno State for their track program. Shot put was my main thing. I was the five-time All-American, and I set a couple records."
And that's not all. Dot was also a world arm wrestling champion fifteen times! There is no question that Dot-Marie was an accomplished jock long before her Glee days. Being 6'3" certainly helps!
Gwendoline Christie — 6'3'' (190 Cm)
At 6'3'', many women would go straight for the WBNA. But English actress Gwendoline Christie was more of a theater geek and decided Game of Thrones could use her talents. The show has been a smashing success, and she can claim part of the credit. But it wasn't always easy to be a towering auditioner. Gwen was told she "would probably never work because [she] didn't look the same as most actors."
Nowadays, Gwendoline's tall physique is no obstacle. You may have also noticed her in Star Wars: The Last Jedi as First Order stormtrooper Captain Phasma. She looks familiar for a reason!
Shalom Harlow — 6'0'' (183 Cm)
90's it-girl Shalom Harlow appeared on six American Vogue covers in her heyday. She was the host of MTV's House of Style, informing us about all the runway couture we envied. Since then, the Canadian model has become a bit of an actress, popping into movies like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and In & Out. And all the while, she was six feet tall without boots.
We are not surprised to hear how she got noticed. It must have been hard to miss her! According to Shalom: "I was scouted at a Cure concert. A model scout approached me there and asked me if I modeled, and I thought that was ludicrous."
Ireland Baldwin — 6'2'' (188 Cm)
Sure, Alec Balwin has reasonable stature. He's just shy of six-foot, the magical number that puts you in the tall club. But he's actually shorter than his own daughter, which must have been a shock to him. Ireland Baldwin is 6'2" And she’s a model. She also acts in movies, from time to time. And even though she is already high in the sky, she doesn't shy away from wearing the latest designer heels.
Ireland's mom is actress Kim Bassinger, who stands at 5'7''. That's above average, sure. But Ireland has Amazonian genes, and it must have come from the Baldwin side. Thanks, dad!
Tilda Swinton — 6'0" (183 Cm)
Tilda Swinton is all over the art-house world, which celebrates her rare looks. But you may know her from a few mainstream hits, like Avengers: Endgame. She won an Oscar for her performance in Michael Clayton, and she's not retiring anytime soon. But the real world has been a tricky place for Tilda, at times. It's rare to see a woman who stands 6'0". You might even do a double-take!
She shares: "I'm very often referred to as 'Sir' in elevators and such. I think it has to do with being this tall and not wearing much lipstick. I think people just can't imagine I'd be a woman if I look like this."
Lais Ribeiro — 6'1" (185 Cm)
Lais Ribeiro is a 6'1'' Victoria's Secret Angel. Although the company has now scrapped its yearly show, some models will always treasure it on their CV. Recalling one of her favorite professional moments, she explained: "When I stepped on stage for my first Victoria's Secret show in 2010, It felt like all that work finally paid off. I had long legs that I worked hard all year to keep, and it felt great being able to show them off."
Besides the bra and panty gigs, this Brazilian model has been walking more formal runways. Chanel, Gucci, and Versace have been calling. So has Marc Jacobs. We suspect they won't be the last!
Allison Janney — 6'0" (183 Cm)
Allison Janney is a verifiable six-footer. But does she admit that, readily? The actress shares: "I say I'm 5 feet 12 inches. I'm definitely 6 feet. In my heels, I'm 6 feet 3 inches. I was always sort of a late bloomer in a lot of things. I always felt that way. I felt like my career started late and I think it was because of my height — and maybe some of my confidence issues."
Clearly, she has a sense of humor., But we usually only know her for serious roles, like the mom in American Beauty, or LaVona Golden in I, Tonya. For the latter, she won an Academy Award!
Liz Cambage — 6'8" (203 Cm)
Liz Cambage is an Australian basketball player who made a move to the WNBA in Las Vegas. As an Aces star, she is towering on the court. She's actually one of the tallest in the world, in her game, at 6 foot 8. Born to a Nigerian father and an Aussie mother, she was already 6 feet tall at just ten years old. Not surprisingly, she got bullied for being different. How did she deal?
Mom suggested basketball to make friends, of course. It's a team sport, and we can see how she would instantly be everyone's favorite. Towering over all the other players, it was easy to dunk. Great idea, mom!
Jane Lynch — 6'0'' (183 Cm)
Funnywoman Jane Lynch is beloved for her role on Glee, as a stern, silly gym teacher. She is a tall, athletic-looking lady, to be sure. She fit right in! But Jane wasn't always comfortable with her six-foot frame. It must have been tough to be so much larger than all the other girls in school. According to the actress: "When I was a kid, I wanted to be a boy. I really had gender issues."
These days, Jane is happy with who she is. She loves making fans laugh, and in a way, her height has helped her do exactly that. A blessing in disguise!
Kimora Lee Simmons — 6'0'' (183 Cm)
Model Kimora Lee Simmons was a tall girl at age ten and got whisked away to the modeling world before she could say couture. At 14, she got a Chanel gig. This was early validation, unlike the experiences of many other tall girls her age. Today, she's the owner of Baby Phat and a reality TV veteran. According to Kim: "You can do anything you put your mind to, and you can do it in stilettos."
What else is on her CV? Recently, she took the time to go to college, graduating with a business degree. But that's not all: She’s also a mother of five!
Brooke Shields — 6'0" (183 Cm)
Brooke Shields got into the modeling world quite early, at age 12. From there, she was recruited into commercials and films. She's been on our radar ever since! The six-foot-tall beauty was a natural fit for the industry. But what about dating? According to Brooke: "Most of the guys I've gone out with, I've had to make it completely obvious that I'd like them to ask me out. Or, I've had to ask them.”
Brooke's personal life was more challenging than we could have guessed. Apparently, they found her height intimidating. Either that, or she was just too pretty to approach!
Leslie Jones — 6'0'' (183 Cm)
Leslie Jones has been gaining fans left and right, thanks to movies like Ghostbusters and Coming 2 America. And she's not too proud to make jokes about herself, despite her success. According to the comedienne: "The way we value black beauty has changed. I'm single now, but back in the slave days, I would have never been single. I'm 6 feet tall and I'm strong. Look at me, I'm a Mandingo." We're not sure exactly what she means, but we love laughing with Leslie!
At six feet tall, she certainly stands out on the red carpet. She even adds heels, which we think is a bold move. Then again, you've got to be pretty bold to make it onto SNL. That's a tough casting call!
Kristen Johnston — 6'1'' (185 Cm)
Kristen Johnston made us chuckle on 3rd Rock from the Sun. She seems to have a great sense of humor. But how did she gain her ability to induce laugher? Maybe it was an awkward adolescence! Kristen is pretty open about her struggle with self-esteem throughout high school. According to the comedienne: "I was 5 foot 11½ at age 13. I was enormous, a monstrosity, a freak. I've always been an outsider."
These days, it’s safe to say she is a Hollywood insider. But you never know how height can affect a pern’s development. Imagine how things would have turned out if she were tiny!
Ivanka Trump — 5'11" (180 Cm)
Ivanka Trump is the daughter of the 45th President, Donald Trump. He's 6 foot three, and Ivanka takes after him. Sure, she's a little shorter. But at 5 foot 11, she adds serious heels and towers over all the men in the boardroom. Back in the day, she even did a bit of modeling on the runway in NYC. But believe it or not, she's not even the tallest Trump sibling. And the winner of the competition isn't Don, Eric, or Tiff. It's the elusive Baron!
Ivanka is certainly the tallest daughter. But young Baron is already 6 foot 7. According to science. he's probably not done growing. Guys still grow a bit after age 18!
Michelle Obama — 5'11" (180 Cm)
At 5'11'', former First Lady Michelle Obama is one of the tallest White House wives in history. She even adds heels, which means that her staff are literally looking up to her at all times. But even she will admit that can be a little awkward, sometimes. She shares: "It's a little hard because I'm so tall, so you see people just kind of looking at me just because I'm so tall".
But we all know the dreaded tall girl problem really turns up in dating. We bet most of the guys were shorter than her before she found her forever man. Lucky for Michelle former prez Barack is 6 foot 1.
Taylor Swift — 5'11" (180 Cm)
Taylor Swift is well known for strutting around town with her girl gang of models, including Karlie Kloss. It must be intimidating to see them as a group. But that's probably at of their fun! Taylor herself stands at 5'11'', but she adds heels. Oddly enough, she might still be growing. At 25, she shared: "I grew an inch [in the past year], which means I'm the latest developing human in the world."
We're not sure if that's possible, Taylor. Women usually reach their full height at sweet sixteen. More than likely, your posture just improved. Experts say that can add up to two inches!
Claudia Schiffer — 5'11" (182 Cm)
German model Claudia Schiffer rose to fame during the early 90's. She was the favorite blond of many designers, and her height helped her dominate runways from NYC to Paris. But even Claudia had her awkward beginnings. She shares: "I always wanted to be less tall. When I was at school I was the same height as all of my girlfriends and then suddenly I was turning 12 and almost overnight I got really tall."
Thankfully, that wish didn't come true. Claudia holds a Guinness Book of World Records record title. She's been on the most magazine covers — more than a thousand, in total.
Melania Trump — 5'11" (180 Cm)
Melania Trump was a model before she became the first lady. She's actually been in the biz since age five, modeling locally. But she was noticed in a serious way at a show in Slovenia, back in the '80s. Photographer Stane Jerko recalled: “It was January 1987 when I went home just before the end of the fashion show...I saw a girl that immediately caught my eye. There stood a tall, slender, and attractive long-haired girl with distinct eyes.”
We think that's a pretty apt description. She's a brunette bombshell with a mysterious look. And at just under six feet tall, it's hard to hide in a crowd. Or on a runway!
Nicole Kidman — 5'11" (180 Cm)
Actress Nicole Kidman is a goddess standing almost 6 feet tall. With the right shoes, she's easily a giant in any room. But oddly enough, fans noticed she married a man shorter than her. Remember when Nicole was the wife of Tom Cruise? It didn't last. We don't know the real reason for their divorce. We just know that when Nicole was asked how she felt about it, she replied, "Well, I can wear heels now.”
These days, Nicole is remarried to country star Keith Urban. He's still shorter than her. But this time, only one inch less. We bet his cowboy boots make up the difference!
Saffron Burrows — 6'0" (183 Cm)
She's a model and an actress. But how was Saffron Burrows discovered? She recalls: "I was picked up on a London street by a model agent. She took me to her office and then sent me to Paris to work in shows. It was supposed to be two weeks, but I ended up living there with my Zimbabwean boyfriend. I made enough money modeling and acting in French movies to buy a nice flat."
Maybe her height played a role. After all, she stands at six feet, barefoot. It's no wonder she couldn't get lost in the crowd. We would notice her right away!
Macy Gray — 6'0'' (183 Cm)
Singer Macy Gray is 6'0'', and often runs into entertainers who are much smaller than her. She once commented: "Actors are really tiny, like toothpicks. I mean, Hugh Jackman is a tall, gorgeous thing, but a lot of actors are short. It’s crazy! I think someone’s going to be tall, and then I’m disappointed." We agree that TV can be deceiving. Think about all the camera angles they can play with!
For example, Tom Cruise is only five foot seven. He's usually acting next to a leggy beauty. Did you know that by watching Mission Impossible? No way. But if you ever met him in person, you might agree with Macy.
Laura Dern — 5’10 (178 Cm)
Recognize Laura Dern? You probably loved her in Blue Velvet or Jurassic Park. Laura is 5’10, which is more than we ever suspected. Early on, she actively tried to hide the truth. She recalls: “I'm sure I gave myself scoliosis because I just put myself in a pretzel to try to be 5ft 2...I'd stick one hip out, move shoulders down and stand as though I was 7 inches shorter than I was. I think I was 5ft 9. I'm 5ft 10 and a half.”
We get it: You were probably too distracted by the dinos to realize she's a very tall lady. But now that the secret is out, we kind of like it.
Rachel Maddow — 5'11" (180 Cm)
On TV, it's really hard to guess heights. Especially in news, right? At those stuffy desks, you really only see the top half of a person. Usually, it's not relevant, and it's not news. Only the weatherman shows his full body, night after night! In the case of MSNBC opinionist Rachel Maddow, there are some inches worth talking about. Rachel might just be the tallest woman in the biz today.
At 5'11'' without sneakers, we are very impressed by her secret stature. According to Ms. Maddow: "I'm not a TV anchor babe. I'm a big lesbian who looks like a man."
Adrianne Palicki — 5'11" (180 Cm)
She's tall, but that's not all. Actress Adrianne Lee Palicki was on Friday Night Lights, if you're wondering why she looks so familiar. Not surprisingly, she was the tallest girl cast member. Being 5'11" will do that for you! At the moment, the actress work on The Orville, a sci-fi comedy-drama show. What kind of genre is that, you ask? Look like you will just have to tune in, and find out.
Who is she off the clock, though? According to Adrienne: "I love shopping; I'm a jeans and a T-shirt kind of girl, but I go classy when I dress up with a little bit of sexy." That means heels, which makes her humongous in person!
Uma Thurman — 5'11" (180 Cm)
Actress Uma Thurman is just over 5'11''. Now, that makes her the blond bombshell Quentin Tarantino loves the most. From Pulp Fiction to Kill Bill, she has a special place in modern film. But she didn't always know that would be her destiny. According to Uma: "I spent the first fourteen years of my life convinced that my looks were hideous. Adolescence is painful for everyone, I know, but mine was plain weird."
We are glad to see the ugly duckling phase has officially ended. Today, Uma used to be married to the hunky Ethan Hawke. She's one inch taller than him, but neither seemed to mind at the time.
Kate Grigorieva — 5'11" (182 Cm)
Kate Grigoryeva is everyone's favorite Russian Victoria's Secret Angel. Most of her work happened between 2015 and 2016, but we're not about to forget her strut. At five foot eleven without heels, she is a striking presence on the street. But with stilettos and a full feather costume, she owns the stage. Since her stint with the bra brand, she has walked for designers like Givenchy, Gucci, Isabel Marant, and Roberto Cavalli. Just to name a few!
At the beginning of her career, she was in a number of contests. She won second place on the Next Top Model show in Russia, for example. Turns out she is probably the real winner, in the end!
Charlize Theron — 5'10 (178 Cm)
South African by birth, Hollywood by trade, Charlize Theron has adapted well to the demands of Tinseltown. Perhaps she was able to walk confidently into every room. She's 5;10'', and taller with trendy shoes. From Monster to Mad Max: Fury Road, we love seeing Charlize play every type of woman — even a serial killer. And we love seeing her in Dior ads, in between. But according to Charlize, "Modeling was never a passion of mine."
We suspect she will continue the J'Adore ads, because she's earning millions from the deal. But these days, Charlize spends a lot more time on motherhood. She's got two, so far!
Rebecca Romijn — 5'11" (180 Cm)
Rebecca Romijn actually suffered from a spine condition as a kid. She had Scoliosis, first. Then, she experienced tons of pain after her teen growth spurt. Today, you'd never know it. But she still feels a little odd about her height! The actress and model once said, "I'm 5'11", and sometimes I get self-conscious about wearing 4" heels. But [my husband] loves me in them, so who am I to say no?"
Back in the day, kids tased her as the "Jolly Blonde Giant". But we would guess they are not laughing now. It sure makes a funny story, all these years later!
Sigourney Weaver — 5'11" (180 Cm)
Sigourney once exclaimed: "Please, God, please, don't let me be normal!" It seems she got her wish since she was already 5’10 ½ by high school. In Hollywood, that might seem challenging. But for this future star, nothing could hold her back from destiny. Her role as Ellen Ripley in Alien really put her on the map. She actually got an Oscar nomination out of the gig. Not bad, Sigourney!
But that's not all. You also might recognize her from Ghostbusters, Galaxy Quest, or Avatar. Some people actually call her the "The Sci-Fi Queen". Sigourney Weaver is practically her own niche!
Gigi Hadid — 5'10" (178 Cm)
Model Gigi Hadid is 5'10'', and that has helped her runway career. But she's also a great print model and an Instagram phenomenon. She's even a great music video girl! It's safe to say she’s one of the top names of her generation. How did it all begin? Maybe it's in her DNA. According to Gigi: "My mom was a model. She met my dad when he was building the Ritz-Carlton in Colorado and she was modeling there."
These days, Gigi is on a break from the catwalk. She recently gave birth to her first child with Zayn Malik. They've been on-again, off-again, for years. But this time, we have a feeling they are going to stick together.
Kendall Jenner — 5'10" (178 Cm)
Every member of the Kardashian clan has their thing. For Kim, it's her curves. For Kris, it's being a mom boss. But for Kendall, it's the runway. Tall and lanky, she really fits in. We've seen her walking runways, and she seems to have some talent. Kendall knows she's a newbie, but she has big ambitions. She explains: “I want to be the next Gisele Bundchen. Everything she does, who she is, what she's done, she's just amazing.”
At 5'10'', she just might be able to try. We don't know if anyone can really challenge Gisele, but it's good to aim high. Kendall is already the world's highest-paid model, to start!
Aisha Tyler — 6'0'' (183 Cm)
Aisha Tyler is an actress and a comedian. Recently, she also branched out into talk shows and directing behind the scenes. But no matter what she does, she does it standing tall. And that's always been the case, according to Aisha. At an early age, she was a lot bigger than her classmates. She recalls: “I was extraordinarily tall. In third grade, I was almost twice as tall as some of the other kids.”
Being different is great when you want to stand out in the entertainment industry, later in life. But as a child, that can be tricky. Looks like Aisha made it through, without too many scars.
Anjelica Huston — 5'10 (178 Cm)
Anjelica Huston has found incredible success as an actress. She actually won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 1985. But long before she was n stage holding that golden man, she was a model. Anjelica recalls: ''During the four years I had spent in New York, I had achieved top status as a model and had worked for the best photographers and designers in the world. I had grown used to hearing that I was exotic and high-fashion.''
At a solid 5'10'', we can see how she quickly got noticed in a height-conscious business. Not many beautiful women keep growing after 5'5''. Anjelica Huston towers over us all!