You probably first noticed it during those iconic "circle" scenes in That '70s Show. While everyone else was slumping in their lawn chairs, Donna Pinciotti looked like she could genuinely take Eric Forman in a wrestling match. And she probably could. Honestly, Laura Prepon's height has always been the "eleventh character" in every show she’s ever booked.
She isn't just "tall for an actress." She is a legitimate 5'10" (that’s about 178 cm for the metric fans out there).
In Hollywood, 5'10" is a bit of a strategic nightmare. Most leading men aren't exactly towering giants, and there's this weird, unspoken rule about women not being taller than their romantic interests. But for Prepon, her height became a signature part of her "tough girl" persona. Whether she was playing the feminist neighbor in Point Place or a calculating drug smuggler in Litchfield, her physical presence did half the acting for her.
Height Laura Prepon vs. The Rest of the Cast
If you ever thought Mila Kunis looked exceptionally tiny on That '70s Show, it wasn't just camera angles. Mila stands at about 5'4". That is a massive seven-inch gap.
The producers had a real logistical headache trying to keep them both in the same frame without it looking like a "Bring Your Daughter to Work" day. To fix this, they literally had Mila Kunis wear massive platform shoes for years. When that didn't work, they just made the two of them sit down. A lot. Most of the heartfelt Jackie-and-Donna chats happened on the edge of a bed or at the kitchen table because it was the only way to get their heads at the same level.
Then there was Topher Grace. He's roughly 5'9", making him technically shorter than Prepon. It was a refreshing change for 1998 television to see the "girl next door" actually be the one who could reach the top shelf.
The "Stretch" Nickname in Orange Is the New Black
When she moved on to Orange Is the New Black, her height was actually written into the script. Her character, Alex Vause, was frequently called "Stretch" by other inmates. It was a nod to the reality of her frame.
In prison scenes, where everyone is wearing flat, thin-soled Vans or boots, there is nowhere to hide. You can't put a leading man on a "half-apple" crate when you're filming in a cramped bunk bed.
- Laura Prepon: 5'10"
- Taylor Schilling (Piper): 5'8"
- Natasha Lyonne (Nicky): 5'3"
Being 5'10" put her in the same height bracket as legends like Charlize Theron and Tilda Swinton. It's a height that commands "gravitas," as she once mentioned in an interview. You don't play the "damsel in distress" when you're eye-to-eye with the villain.
The Modeling Years and the "It Factor"
Before she was Donna, Prepon was a model. No surprise there. She worked in Paris, Milan, and Brazil.
She's been very vocal about how her height made her feel like an outsider growing up in New Jersey. She was the youngest of five kids, and while her sisters were average height, she just kept growing. Her eldest sister, who worked at Glamour, was the one who pushed her into modeling.
📖 Related: Min Ho From XO Kitty: What Most Fans Get Wrong About Sang Heon Lee
But modeling wasn't the end goal. Laura hated the "silent" nature of it. She wanted to talk. She wanted to direct. Interestingly, she eventually did both, directing several episodes of OITNB and That '90s Show. Her physical stature probably helped on set, too. There’s something about a 5'10" director that makes people listen when they yell "action."
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Stats
If you search for "height Laura Prepon," you’ll see some sites claiming she’s 5'9" or even 5'11". People get weirdly obsessed with these numbers.
She has personally confirmed the 5'10" mark on Twitter. She doesn't shy away from it. Even when she’s seen on red carpets with her husband, Ben Foster (who is about 5'9"), she usually leans into it. She’ll wear heels that put her well over six feet. It’s a power move.
Shoe Size Matters Too
For the record, she wears a US size 10 shoe. When you're that tall, you need a solid base. It's one of those things she’s joked about in the past—finding cute shoes that don't make her look like she's walking on stilts is a struggle every tall woman understands.
📖 Related: Alina Habba Sizzling Outfit: Why Her Fashion Choices Are Breaking the Internet
Why Her Height Matters in 2026
We've moved past the era where every actress has to be a petite 5'2" starlet. Prepon was a bit of a pioneer in that regard. She proved that you could be the "hot girl" and the "tall girl" at the exact same time without the height being a joke.
Her career trajectory shows that "fitting the mold" is overrated. She leaned into her deep voice, her red hair (well, black hair later on), and her height to create a brand that was distinctly hers.
How to Style Like a Tall Icon
If you’re rocking the Prepon-style 5'10" frame, here’s how she does it:
- Tailored Silhouettes: She loves a well-cut blazer. Long limbs look great in structured clothes.
- Monochrome: You’ll often see her in all-black. It creates a seamless line that emphasizes her height rather than breaking it up.
- Confidence over Camouflage: She doesn't slouch to match her shorter co-stars. Stand up straight.
If you’re looking to emulate her look or just curious about how she maintains that "statuesque" vibe, check out her wellness books like The Stash Plan. She talks a lot about how her body type requires a specific approach to nutrition and energy. Being tall means having a different metabolic "engine," and she’s spent years figuring out how to fuel it properly while working 14-hour days on set.