Top 10 Surprisingly Short Celebrities

You may know this actress from her ass-kicking role in David Fincher’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” or even a more subdued performance in 2015’s “Carol.” However, before Rooney Mara ever became a “name,” she was already part of a well-to-do family with roots and connections to both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants. But while Rooney Mara now stands out among her footballing family, she does so at a mere five foot, three inches.

This action star has been listed at 5’10” here and there, but Jeremy Renner is just a little bit smaller than he - or at least his people - would like you to believe. If you look at him in films like “S.W.A.T”, “The Hurt Locker” or “The Bourne Legacy” you'd think you're looking at a pretty big dude, right? Well, not necessarily, as he’s only about 5’8,” despite the seemingly towering presence that he’s capable of emitting at times. And that’s partially what makes him such a talented actor – as he can step into the shoes of a big-time character and make us believe that he’s a physical giant.

This pop diva exploded onto the scene with powerful vocals in the late ‘90s, and as the years passed, her curvy physique and outlandish stage clothes unsurprisingly drew plenty of attention. But if you stand face-to-face with Christina Aguilera, you’ll notice a startling fact: she’s tiny. Standing just 5'2'' (with some sources stating she’s 5’1’’), she's nearly pocket size. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with being vertically challenged, it is surprising given the hugeness of her voice.

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, otherwise known as Lady Gaga, is actually shorter than X-Tina, if only by one inch at most. Part of the Gaga persona is her larger-than-life personality and dynamic stage presence, both of which heighten each spectacular note. So when Gaga has so much going on theatrically and vocally, one may not realize how much (or rather how little) space she actually takes up. Of course, in the realm of pop culture, she takes up plenty, and with good reason, but it’s truly hard to believe that she’s just a little over 60 inches tall – sounds like she was born that way.

There are a lot of things about Tom Cruise that are surprising, but here’s one particular fact that just may blow your mind. Tom Cruise, the star of the “Mission Impossible” franchise and countless box office sensations, clocks in at just 5'7''. Cruise is soshort, in fact, that even despite his impressive athleticism, it's unlikely any professional sports team would let him take the field. Some people get to be athletes, some can only pretend to be their agent. Life is a cruel mistress, but Tom seems to have made the best of it. We don’t think he’s at home crying; especially considering his net worth’s been estimated at $480 million!

Part dramatic heath-throb, part badass action star, this Scottish actor has that stern type of look that you don’t typically correlate with shorter individuals. James McAvoy's intense brooding and devilish ways distract from his vertically challenged body. 5’7” isn’t all that uncommon – but it's just that he is such a boss in “Wanted” that it just doesn’t seem to make sense. Wesley Gibson seems like a guy that could maybe dunk a basketball, but in reality, James McAvoy would surely get owned by the rim, if he can even get up there.

We hate to break it to you, casual Sylvester Stallone fan, but as much as “Rocky Balboa” may have plenty of muscles and very little body fat, he’s still a relatively short, short human being. It’s just a fact, and it’s one that movie executives probably thought about back in the day when Sly walked into their office and had to sit on top of two books just to see them eye to eye. Who knows, maybe the machismo alone seemingly adds a couple two-three inches. And that could be why Google lists his height at 5’10”, but further investigation seems to suggest he’s anywhere between 5’7” and 5’9”! In the end though, it doesn’t really matter – ‘cause whatever it may be, would you tell Sylvester Stallone that he’s too short for a role?!

Kanye may be busy collecting nicknames, but have you noticed that none of them include the word “Big”? That’s because Yeezy’s shorter than Spud Webb, or about a full foot smaller than Air Jordan –if you believe some sources. We'd hate to throw a stereotype around, but there just may be a little short man syndrome going on here. No matter how much Kanye boasts and informs the masses of his pure genius, he’s still too short to go on the big boy rides at the local fair. Alright, we’re obviously kidding about that last one, but he IS most often listed as being either 5’6” or 5’8” on the interwebs.

With all due respect to the vast filmography of Mr. Robert Downey Jr., many associate him with as Iron Man – NOT 1985’s “Weird Science” or his tenure on SNL. While Tony Stark as a character isn’t necessarily based in pure bravado like his colleagues, it seems like he’s one that can stare any villain directly in the eye, and not somebody that must hurl insults while looking upwards and trying to squeeze his 5’8” frame into a metal suit. But that’s the reality of Robert “Tony 'Iron Man' Stark” Downey Jr - four inches shorter than “Captain” Chris Evans, and seven inches shorter than Thor actor Chris Hemsworth.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Shakira
5’2”

Martin Scorsese
5’3”


Bruno Mars
5’5”

Jon Stewart
5’5”-5’7”

Mark Wahlberg
5’8”

Jada Pinkett Smith
5’0”

You may not see it in the music videos, or you may not even realize it at a live show, but Prince is one small dude. Lyrically, he’s provocative, and he’s long exuded a magnetic presence, whether it be in photos, videos, or even on the big screen. He’s not the bulkiest of pop stars, but he’s certainly one of the most respected. Oh, and at 5’2”, he’s also one of the tiniest, even when compared to some of the ladies on our list. But like his music, Prince transcends common notions about what he’s supposed to be, height included.

Do you agree with our list? Which celebrity height surprises you? For more large and in charge Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.