If you’ve ever watched Pitch Perfect or A Simple Favor and found yourself wondering how a person with that much stage presence fits into such a small frame, you aren’t alone. Honestly, it’s one of the most Googled things about her. Anna Kendrick’s height in feet is officially 5'2" (157 cm). That’s the number. It’s short, sure, but in the world of Hollywood—where camera angles and "apple boxes" can make a 5-foot actress look like a giant—it’s actually a pretty significant part of her brand.
The "Scrappy Little Nobody" Reality
Kendrick literally titled her memoir Scrappy Little Nobody. She’s leaned into the "compact" thing for years. Being 5'2" puts her well below the average height for an American woman, which sits around 5'4".
But here’s the thing: being petite hasn't slowed her down. If anything, it’s made her more relatable. You’ve seen her on the red carpet standing next to co-stars who look like they’re from a different species entirely. Take the press tour for A Simple Favor. Standing next to Blake Lively, who is roughly 5'10" (without the five-inch stilettos she usually wears), Kendrick looks tiny. Like, "I might lose her in a crowded elevator" tiny.
She's joked about this constantly. In an interview with Esquire, she mentioned being "angsty" about her height when she was younger. Now? She loves it. Why wouldn’t you want to be a "little compact being"? Her words. Not mine.
Standing Tall Without the Inches
How does she look so much taller on screen? It’s basically movie magic and a lot of very strategic footwear.
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- The Heel Strategy: On the red carpet, Kendrick is almost never seen in flats. She’s a fan of Malone Souliers platform pumps and Brian Atwood heels. We’re talking four to five inches of vertical boost.
- The "Volume" Factor: Kendrick once said she has "volume" on her side. She’s got a big voice and a sharp personality. When she’s playing Beca in Pitch Perfect, you don’t think of her as the shortest person in the room—you think of her as the one in charge.
- The Couch Advantage: Fun fact—she’s mentioned that being 5'2" is a massive win for travel. She can fly coach and actually feel comfortable. Her head stays down, she puts on a hoodie, and because she’s small, people often just... miss her.
Comparison: Kendrick vs. The Rest of Hollywood
It’s easy to lose perspective on how tall 5'2" actually is until you see her next to other people.
In Pitch Perfect, she was surrounded by a mix of heights. Rebel Wilson is around 5'3", making them pretty close. But then you have Brittany Snow at 5'4" and some of the other Bellas who towered over her. It’s a classic Hollywood trope to put the "lead" on a literal box if their co-star is too tall, but Kendrick seems to embrace the gap.
She’s in good company, though. Other 5'2" stars include:
- Ariana Grande
- Kim Kardashian
- Reese Witherspoon
Basically, the 5'2" club is full of women who run entire industries.
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Why do we care so much?
People obsess over celebrity heights because it breaks the "perfection" barrier. We see these stars as larger-than-life figures on 40-foot IMAX screens. Realizing that the person who just commanded a whole musical number is the same height as your younger sister makes them feel human.
Kendrick’s height is also a big topic in the "Kibbe" body typing community (which is a whole rabbit hole on Reddit). Most stylists and fans categorize her as a "Soft Gamine" or "Theatrical Romantic" because she’s petite but has that "spitfire" energy. She’s sharp, not just in her wit but in her physical structure.
The Struggles of Being 5'2" (According to Anna)
Petite life isn’t all easy coach flights and cute heels. Kendrick has spoken about the "obligation" to look a certain way on camera. She’s mentioned the struggle of podiums at award shows—sometimes she can barely reach the microphone.
There was a moment at the Oscars years ago where she looked like she was drowning in a sea of gowns. But she handles it with that signature dry humor. She knows she’s small. She knows she looks like a "nighthawk with a cup of tea" when she’s sitting in a coffee shop booth.
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What You Can Learn from the Petite Powerhouse
If you’re on the shorter side, there’s actually a lot to take away from how Kendrick handles her 5'2" frame.
- Own the space: Height is a physical measurement, but "presence" is a choice. Kendrick takes up the room with her voice and her gaze.
- Tailoring is everything: If you notice her red carpet looks, she rarely wears floor-length gowns that swallow her. She opts for mini dresses or high-slit gowns that create an illusion of length.
- Don't fear the contrast: Standing next to a 6'0" co-star doesn't make you look smaller; it makes you look like the "dynamite in a small package" you probably are.
At the end of the day, Anna Kendrick’s height in feet is just a number on a doctor's chart. In the real world, she’s a powerhouse producer, director, and actress who proved a long time ago that you don't need to be 5'10" to be the biggest person in the room.
Next Steps for Your Wardrobe:
If you're also 5'2", start looking for "nude" heels that match your skin tone to elongate your legs, and don't be afraid to get your trousers hemmed. Most off-the-rack clothes are built for a 5'6" frame, so a quick trip to the tailor can make you look as polished as Kendrick on a press tour.