You see her on the red carpet and the first thing that hits you isn’t the Chanel gown or the porcelain skin. It’s the height. She towers. It’s a presence that feels almost architectural. For decades, fans have been asking the same question: nicole kidman how tall is she actually?
People get obsessed with celebrity measurements because they want to know if the "magic of Hollywood" is just clever camera angles. With Nicole, there’s no hiding it. She is a legitimate 5 feet 11 inches. That's about 1.80 meters for those of you on the metric system.
Honestly, she's basically a giant in an industry where the average male lead is famously self-conscious about his inseam.
The Audition Lie
Think about being 13 years old and already hitting 5'9". Most kids are worried about braces or bad skin, but Kidman was dealing with being "storky." That was her nickname. Mean, right? It gets worse. When she started out, casting directors weren't exactly supportive. They told her point-blank she wouldn't have a career because she was too tall.
She wanted a part in Annie so bad. This was back in Australia. They were measuring kids at the door with a literal stick. The cutoff was 5'2". Nicole was already 5'4". She basically had to beg and plead just to get in the room to sing four lines. She didn’t get the part. Obviously.
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To survive those early years, she started lying. She’d tell people she was 5'10.5". Just that half-inch difference was her way of trying to fit through the door. It’s wild to think an Oscar winner felt the need to shrink herself just to get a callback.
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We have to talk about the shoes. You’ve seen the photos from the 90s. When she was married to Tom Cruise, the height difference was the elephant in the room at every premiere. Tom is roughly 5'7". Nicole, at 5'11", was usually in flats to try and level the playing field.
There’s that famous, slightly petty (but relatable) quote from her after the divorce: "I can wear heels now."
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Then came Keith Urban. He’s about 5'10". Still shorter than her, but they don't seem to care. You’ll see them on the red carpet and she’s rocking four-inch stilettos, making her nearly 6'3". It’s a vibe. It shows a level of confidence that took her years to build.
The Physical Toll
Being that tall isn't all glamour and "long lines." Nicole has been open about the fact that her stature has caused real physical issues.
- Knee Problems: Decades of standing on sets and performing have led to chronic knee pain.
- Back Strain: Imagine trying to look "small" in a scene with a shorter co-star for 12 hours a day.
- The "Giraffe" Factor: She still gets sent massive heels for events and often asks for kitten heels instead because she doesn't want to feel like a "giraffe" in a room full of people.
Why the Height Matters for Her Acting
In Big Little Lies, her height was a tool. It made her character, Celeste, look like a statue—perfect, elegant, but also vulnerable in a way that felt more tragic because of her physical presence. In The Northman, she used it to look imposing and regal.
She’s stopped trying to hide. She realizes now that the thing they told her would kill her career is actually what makes her look like a "movie star" in the classical sense.
If you’re a tall woman feeling out of place, Nicole’s advice is basically her "superpower" speech. She tells her daughters that it doesn’t matter what people say "no" to. The resilience to keep standing tall—literally—is what counts.
Actionable Insight for the Tall and Insecure:
If you’re struggling with your height like Nicole did, start by auditing your wardrobe. Instead of hiding in flats, try a structured heel that emphasizes your posture rather than just your height. Most importantly, stop "shrinking" your neck in photos. Lean into the space you occupy. If Hollywood's most successful "giraffe" can win five Golden Globes while being "too tall," your height isn't the hurdle you think it is.