From Gary Barlow to Pete Wicks – the celeb hotties who are secret off-screen shorties
FINDING someone tall, dark, and handsome might top many women’s wish lists.
When picturing the typical ‘heartthrob,’ most of us imagine chiselled jaws, rugged good looks, and that undeniable confidence that seems to come with being six feet or taller.
But hold onto your hats – some of Hollywood’s most desirable men don’t fit this mould at all.
This week, Gary Barlow fans were left gobsmacked after discovering his true height.
In a family snap standing next to his 6ft 2in son Daniel, 24, the Take That singer, who stands at 5ft 7in, only reached his son’s shoulders.
But that hasn’t stopped Gary from being the crush of many fans, as they regularly leave love hearts in the comment section of his photos.
Sex and relationship expert Annabelle Knight believes there are plenty of gorgeous “short kings” which are proof that height doesn’t hold you back, and many have often been cast as leading men, action stars, or romantic leads.
She says: “Men who own their stature have a unique charm and allure, partly because they know that being a bit shorter doesn’t make them any less of a catch.
“Most women are looking for a partner who makes them feel safe and supported.
“They’re looking for a connection, and if they find it, they’ll quickly move past any height hang-ups they might have.”
According to Statista, the average height of a man in the UK is 5ft 9in.
And surprisingly, there are many other Tinseltown and A-list hunks who don’t surpass this height.
Barry Keoghan
Standing at 5ft 8in, is Irish actor Barry Keoghan, 32, whose accolades include a BAFTA Award, along with nominations for an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards.
And when it comes to finding love, he certainly hasn’t struggled in that department.
Barry, who has starred in Saltburn and modelled for Burberry, often attracts a host admirers, including his girlfriend and blonde bombshell Sabrina Carpenter.
Before that, he was in a relationship with Alyson Sandro for three years before their split was reported in 2023.
Kit Harington
Kit Harrington never let his 5ft 8in height stand in the way of his career, especially when it came to playing the “reluctant” hero Jon Snow in Game of Thrones.
At 37, he certainly got hearts racing with his “brooding charisma” as Jon Snow.
Often, it boils down to confidence and social expectation
Annabelle Knight
And let’s be honest, he hasn’t had any trouble attracting women either.
Having modelled for Jimmy Choo Man, surrounded by female legs, and married to the stunning Scottish actress Rosie Leslie, Kit shows that height is just a number when it comes to being a total heartthrob.
Tom Holland
He’s dating one of the most beautiful actresses in the industry, which proves that Tom Holland hasn’t let his height get in the way when it comes to bagging his dream woman.
Tom, the “dashing Spider-Man,” is in a relationship with the stunning 5ft 10in Zendaya.
Previously speaking about the height difference on Zendaya pointed out how “normal” it was.
She said: “My mum is taller than my dad. My mum’s taller than everyone.”
Relationship and sex therapist Annabelle Knights says: “Despite his shorter stature, he’s a total knockout with fans – and with his girlfriend.”
Jeremy Allen White
He’s 5ft 7in tall, but he has certainly earned his reputation as a hunk.
Known for his role as Lip Gallagher on the hit TV show “Shameless,” Jeremy’s rugged charm, piercing blue eyes, chiselled features, and intense performances have won him a legion of fans.
Whether he’s playing a troubled genius or gracing the red carpet, Jeremy Allen White continues to captivate audiences with his undeniable charisma.
And since splitting from his wife Addison Timlin in 2023, the actor hasn’t been without female attention.
More recently he’s been spotted kissing his The Bear co-star Molly Gordon as the pair are dating.
Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart, 45, has taken Hollywood by storm, even turning his 5ft 5in height into a career advantage with his hilarious jokes about it.
People love Kevin for so many reasons that go far beyond his height.
This incredibly talented comedian has starred in top films like Get Hard, Jumanji, and Central Intelligence.
He’s also married to the stunning Eniko Hart, who stands at 5ft 7in and confidently rocks heels around him.
Why I prefer my men short
SINGLE writer Samantha Rea, 42, from West London says short men are the epitome of sexiness unlike tall blokes who simply don’t cut it in the bedroom…
Shorter guys are the ones who pack the most sex appeal and when I’m standing in front of the man in my life, I want to look into his eyes – not his shirt pocket.
Then there’s the sex. It’s better with short guys because, being the same height, everything matches up, if you know what I mean.
With tall guys, it doesn’t, so there are more logistics involved in getting jiggy. In bed with one ex, who was over 6ft, I constantly had to shuffle down, so he didn’t headbutt the headboard in missionary.
I’m 5 ft 6, and I like a man who’s about my height – or at least my height when I’m wearing heels.
I’ve had boyfriends who’ve been over 6ft, and even on tiptoes I’ve had to crane my neck to kiss them. There’s nothing sexy about neck ache, and it’s impossible to be in the moment when all I want to do is call a chiropractor about the pain I’m in from my misaligned spine.
With shorter guys, who are more my height, there’s no craning when I want to kiss them. Instead, our lips line up as if we’re meant to be.
When a man my height pulls me close, I can feel his cheek against mine, and the warmth of his breath by my ear.
But this intimacy isn’t there with tall guys. When a six-footer ex-boyfriend used to wrap his arms around me, my face would be crushed against the zip on his jumper. It was painful and awkward, and I feared being left with an indentation on my cheek.
But it’s more than just logistics – I think there’s something about short guys that’s inherently hot.
Picture stubble-faced sex god Danny Mac, who played lady-magnet Dodger in Hollyoaks before taking his talent to Strictly. At 5ft 7 he’s a perfect package – and I hear he might be making a return to soapland!
Then there’s square-jawed Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones. At 5ft 6, even his eyebrows are a testiment to the abundance of testosterone he’s packing.
And of course there are the handsome Hollywood A-listers, Al Pacino and Tom Cruise, who are reportedly 5ft 6 and 5ft 7, respectively. I would not say no to either of them.
I could fill a little black book with the names of all the pocket rockets I fancy, and I think it’s something to do with body language.
Tall men are always hunched over. They stoop down as they walk through doorways to avoid hitting their heads. They’re hunched in the car when they’re driving, and they’re hump-backed as they bend down to kiss you. Their posture looks permanently apologetic and downtrodden. That isn’t sexy – and, of course, no-one fancies Quasimodo.
Short men, on the other hand, stand strong and proud, with their shoulders back and their spines straight. Their posture radiates confidence and self-belief – and who doesn’t fancy a man who backs himself?
So I say, long live the short and VERY sexy king!
Bruno Mars
Bruno, who is 5ft 5in, is certainly a love magnet, espiecially thanks to his undeniable charm and smooth vocals.
Songs like “Just the Way You Are,” “Grenade,” and “Versace on the Floor” have cemented his status as a romantic icon.
His exes are stunnas too.
The 39-year-old has previously been romantically linked to Rita Ora between 2009 to 2011.
But since 2011, the singer has been a long-term relationship with the beautiful model and actress Jessica Caban, 42.
Pete Wicks
Pete is no stranger to melting hearts, and it’s proven by is track record of stunning girlfriends.
The long-haired, heavily tattooed reality star even earned himself the nickname TV’s biggest Lothario.
Most women are looking for a partner who makes them feel safe and supported
Annabelle Knight
The 5ft 10in Strictly Come Dancing Contestant has dated Megan Mckenna, Jess Wright.
More recently rumoured to be dating the stunning Maura Higgins.
Zac Efron
Back in 2018, Zac, who stands at 5ft 10in, topped Teen magazine’s “50 hottest Guys In Hollywood” list.
The hunk, who has played a variety of roles, including the “hot guy” in the 2015 movie We Are Your Friends, and Baywatch.
As well as his fans adoring him, Zac hasn’t struggled in the girlfriend department either as he has dated some notable names, including Vanessa Hudgens, Lily Colins and Michelle Rodriguez.
So it seems good things really do come in small packages.
Taboo topic
But why has a man’s height become such a taboo topic if they aren’t standing over six feet?
Annabelle has seen firsthand how many men, both everyday guys and celebrities alike, feel pressure to “stretch” the truth when it comes to their height.
She says: “A lot of men will go out of their way to claim a couple of extra inches – and it’s not hard to see why.
“Our society, especially in the dating world, still prizes height as a marker of strength and virility, even though height has absolutely nothing to do with someone’s charisma, personality, or worth as a partner.
Many women are still raised with the notion that a man ‘should’ be taller than his partner
Annabelle Knight
“Often, it boils down to confidence and social expectations.
“Taller men are statistically perceived as more powerful and dominant, and some men feel that if they don’t meet the six-foot-plus benchmark, they’re at a disadvantage.
“Even in the celeb world, where image and confidence are key, men under that mythical six-foot line might feel the urge to boost their measurements.
“It’s not a vanity issue, but more a matter of wanting to live up to the classic ‘leading man’ stereotype, which ironically does nothing to help the cause of shorter guys in real life.”
Developing the “ick”
However, while it’s easy to say that personality matters more than height, some people might feel let down if a date appears shorter than expected and develop the “ick.”
Annabelle says: “This is a genuine psychological response all to do with what we have been conditioned to expect from a partner combined with what we have been primed to expect.
“In a nutshell – it’s expectation not aligning with reality.
“Many women are still raised with the notion that a man ‘should’ be taller than his partner – a notion ingrained by centuries of gender stereotypes, so it’s easy to see why this can be the case.
“But if you dig a bit deeper, it’s probably the confidence that height is associated with that actually appeals to people – not height itself.
“The fact that some women might momentarily hesitate based on height alone doesn’t mean that short kings are short on admirers.
“They’re loved, respected, and lusted after by partners who recognise that height is just a number.”
The Hollywood hunks have proven exactly this as they are endlessly adored and make a strong case for why society’s ‘height obsession’ is actually “just really outdated.”
Annabelle says: “When we take a step back, it all boils down to one simple truth…What’s attractive isn’t height; it’s self-assurance and someone who stands tall in their own skin.
“So, next time you catch yourself swooning over Zac Efron or wondering how Gary Barlow manages to be so loved, remember: it’s not their height, it’s their self-confidence and personality – far sexier qualities than any set of measurements could ever be.”
Celebrity couples with height differences
- Zendaya (5’10”) and Tom Holland (5’8″)
- Cameron Diaz (5’9″) and Benji Madden (5’6″)
- Eniko Parrish (5’7″) and Kevin Hart (5’4″)
- Gwendoline Christie (6’3″) and Giles Deacon (6′)
- Tina Fey (5’5″) and Jeff Richmond (5’2″)
- Nicole Kidman (5’11”) and Keith Urban (5’10”)
- Helen Lasichanh (5’11”) and Pharrell Williams (5’9″)
- Erin Darke (5’7″) and Daniel Radcliffe (5’5″)