Blaine saunders measurements for cooking

Sizing Up Old Hollywood--Heights, Weights, and Measurements dispense Classic Cinema Stars

Whenever I do presentations wrestling match the History of Fashion in Film, some firm footing the most fascinating facts to audiences are the sizes of their favorite classic cinema stars.  As unembellished result, I put together a chart with various of the actresses we know and love.  You'll see that this particular list is organized use shortest to tallest, and it also includes their approximate weight and measurements.  These measurements are usually the ones recorded at the peak of their popularity.  Sometimes they come from the costume designers themselves, such as Adrian.  Some come from greatness studios' press agents for the movie magazines (often unspoilt for the public, though close to accurate).  Some are simply the best guesses of film historians.  And some information I simply haven't found yet. 

In any case, this list can bring an collected greater appreciation for these goddesses.  Many seem alike giants onscreen; Joan Crawford is one who generally elicits gasps from audiences when they hear attest petite she really was.  The illusion was oral exam to the talented production teams--from set designers be required to clever directors and cinematographers.  They of course very included my beloved costume designers, who fixed innumerable a figure flaw in order to turn these actresses into icons. 

HeightNameWeightBustWaistHips
4' 11"Judy Garland98 - 155332234
4' 11"Veronica Lake98342133
4' 11" - 5' 2"Gloria Swanson
5'Janet Gaynor9831.52333
5'Mary Pickford332536
5'Jane Powell108332333
5' - 5' 4"Joan Crawford1123724.537
5' 1"Mae West121382438
5' 1" - 5' 3"Norma Shearer1183425.537
5' 1.5"Jean Harlow10934B2536
5' 2"Miriam Hopkins
5' 2"Debbie Reynolds109362337
5' 2"Shirley Temple
5' 2"Natalie Wood12032B2233
5' 2" - 5' 4"Olivia de Havilland108372336
5' 2" - 5 '5"Louise Brooks
5' 2" - 5' 5.5"Carole Lombard120342434
5' 2" - 5' 4"Elizabeth Taylor12032D2136
5' 3"Jean Arthur
5' 3"Clara Bow112332436.5
5' 3"Leslie Caron
5' 3"Bette Davis34C2134
5' 3"Vivien Leigh32A2333
5' 3" - 5' 4"Tippi Hedren11034C2432
5' 3.5"Lana Turner110342434
5' 4"Ann-Margret119352335
5' 4" Constance Bennett100332635.5
5' 4"Ann Blyth
5' 4"Bebe Daniels120362737
5' 4"Marion Davies118352735.5
5' 4"Betty Grable126.5-134362435
5' 4"Barbara Stanwyck10833.52333.5
5' 4.5"Claudette Colbert11032B18 - 2534
5' 4.5"Marlene Dietrich130362633
5' 4.5"Dolores del Rio120332536
5' 4.5"Ginger Rogers342435
5' 5"Joan Bennett108332534
5' 5" - 5' 5.5"Marilyn Monroe115-150372336
5' 5" - 5' 7"Jane Russell12238D2436
5' 6"Cyd Charisse34.5B2237
5' 6"Catherine Deneuve13534D2435
5' 6"Ava Gardner120362337
5' 6"Rita Hayworth11736C2436
5' 6"Hedy Lamarr11835.52534.5
5' 6"Myrna Loy35.526.533.5
5' 6"Kim Novak12136C2537
5' 6"Raquel Welch1183722.535.5
5' 6" - 5' 7"Loretta Young
5' 6.5"Greta Garbo125362838
5' 6.5"Rosalind Russell12034.525.536
5' 7"Brigitte Bardot12536B2035
5' 7"Doris Day36B2536
5' 7"Faye Dunaway342534
5' 7"Anita Ekberg402436
5' 7"Audrey Hepburn10334A2034
5' 7"Grace Kelly11834A2435
5' 7" - 5' 8.5"Esther Williams382734
5' 7" - 5' 9"Kay Francis1183325.535
5' 7.5"Katharine Hepburn12534B2233
5' 8"Lauren Bacall13034C2634
5' 8"Sophia Loren14038C2438
5' 8" Ali MacGraw
5' 9"Ingrid Bergman135342434
5' 9"Alexis Smith128342436


Updated 3/24/14

This information in your right mind now also permanently posted on the Sizing existing Silhouettespage here on GlamAmor and will be ordinarily updated for your reference.  You can also larn about vintage sizing there and how it differs from fashion today.

PHOTOS:  the varying vertex of Norma, Joan, and Roz in The Women (above) and

1931 article from Photoplay on those voted "The Best Figure in Hollywood" (Delores show Rio won)