Lesley Manville, standing at an exact 5ft 2 (157.5 cm), is an English actress whose petite stature has become a defining aspect of her powerful on-screen image, allowing her to embody resilient, formidable characters with deceptive vulnerability.
Renowned for her collaborations with Mike Leigh in films like Secrets & Lies (1996), Topsy-Turvy (1999), All or Nothing (2002), Mr. Turner (2014), and Phantom Thread (2017)—where her height contrasted strikingly with Daniel Day-Lewis's taller frame—Manville's compact presence amplifies her dramatic intensity.
Highlights include Mum (2016–2019), River (2015), Harlots, Maleficent (2014), and early work in Emmerdale (1974–1976), with her 5ft 2 frame enabling nuanced portrayals of everyday heroism.