Dame Joan Plowright, standing at exactly 5ft 4 (162.6 cm), was a petite powerhouse in British theatre and film. Her compact stature enhanced her commanding stage presence, allowing her to portray formidable characters with intensity in productions like Equus.
Known for roles in Tea with Mussolini, Jane Eyre, Dennis the Menace, and The Spiderwick Chronicles, her 5ft 4 frame contrasted sharply with taller co-stars, adding depth to her versatile performances. A 1964 biography yearbook noted her as 'five feet four,' underscoring her enduring physical poise across seven decades. Made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2004, she retired as a legendary actress.