If you’ve ever watched The Queen’s Gambit and thought, "Wow, she’s basically a giant," you aren’t alone. Anya Taylor-Joy has this weird, almost supernatural ability to take over a room without actually being seven feet tall. It’s a trick of the light, the camera, or maybe just that intense stare that makes everyone else in the frame look like they're standing in a hole.
Honestly, the internet can't seem to agree on how tall she actually is. You’ll see 5'8" on one site and 5'6" on another. It's confusing.
The Real Numbers: Anya Taylor-Joy Height
Let's cut through the noise. Most official industry sources and modeling agencies—where she got her start after being scouted outside Harrods—list Anya Taylor-Joy height at 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm).
However, if you hang out in the corners of the internet where people obsessively measure celebrity posture, like CelebHeights, you’ll find a more conservative estimate of 5'6.5" (169 cm).
Why the gap?
Hollywood is notorious for "height inflation." Actors often add an inch or two to their resumes to land roles. But with Anya, it’s less about lying and more about her "vertical line." In the world of fashion and body typing (like the Kibbe system), she is often classified as a "Dramatic." This means her bone structure is long, narrow, and sharp.
Even if she’s technically a moderate height, she looks tall. She has long limbs, a small head, and a slender frame that makes her appear much more statuesque than she might be in person.
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The "Tall Energy" Phenomenon
You ever meet someone who is 5'5" but they have "big person" energy? Anya is the queen of that.
- The Model Background: Being scouted as a model usually requires a certain height threshold. While 5'8" is the standard minimum for runway, her unique look allowed her to bypass some of the stricter rules.
- The Wardrobe: She is almost always in sky-high platforms or sculptural Dior heels. At the premiere of The Northman, she stood next to Alexander Skarsgård, who is a literal 6'4" Viking. Even then, she didn't look tiny because she knows how to use her silhouette.
- The Eyes: It sounds weird, but her wide-set eyes and sharp features draw the viewer’s focus upward, creating an illusion of length.
Comparisons that put things in perspective
If you want to know how tall she really is, look at her next to her co-stars.
In Split and Glass, she stands next to James McAvoy. James is about 5'7". When they’re in flat shoes, they are almost eye-to-eye. That pretty much debunks the 5'10" rumors some fans throw around.
Then there’s her husband, Malcolm McRae. He’s roughly 6'0". When they’re walking down the street in London, she usually comes up to his forehead. Again, this puts her firmly in that 5'7" to 5'8" range. Not a giant, but definitely not "short" by any standard definition.
Why Do People Care So Much?
It's about the "Aura."
Anya has talked before about how she was bullied as a kid for her looks—specifically for having wide-set eyes. She’s mentioned in interviews that she didn't think she was pretty enough to be an actor. It’s kind of wild to think about now, considering she’s a global fashion icon, but that "alien-chic" look is exactly what makes her height feel so imposing.
Her presence is curated. Whether she's playing a chess prodigy or a post-apocalyptic warrior in Furiosa, she uses her limbs to tell a story. She has a background in ballet, which taught her how to stretch her body and take up space.
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When she moves, she moves with "automatic vertical." That’s a fancy way of saying she looks like she’s on a runway even when she’s just buying a coffee.
What This Means for Your Style
If you’re someone who is 5'6" but wants that 5'10" Anya Taylor-Joy energy, there are actually a few takeaways from how she carries herself.
- Monochrome is your friend. Wearing one color from head to toe (or matching your shoes to your trousers) creates an unbroken line that makes you look taller.
- Posture is 90% of the battle. Because of her dance training, Anya never slumps. She keeps her neck elongated, which adds "visual height."
- Pointed shoes. You’ll notice she often wears pointed-toe heels. This extends the line of the leg by a couple of inches.
Basically, Anya Taylor-Joy height is a mix of genetics and really good styling. She might not be a WNBA player, but she has mastered the art of looking like the tallest person in the room.
If you’re trying to figure out your own "visual height," try taking a photo from a lower angle—that’s the classic Hollywood trick Anya’s cinematographers use to make her look like a goddess among mortals.
Next Steps for the Fashion-Obsessed
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Check your own proportions in a full-length mirror. If your limbs look long relative to your torso, you likely have a "long vertical line" like Anya, meaning you can pull off oversized, dramatic silhouettes that would swallow someone else. Look for high-waisted cuts to emphasize this and lean into the "tall energy" regardless of what the measuring tape says.