Mary Astor, precisely 5ft 5 ½ (166.4 cm) tall, brought versatile elegance to Hollywood's golden age, her height distinguishing her among petite co-stars who averaged 5ft 1 or 2 inches. In her 1971 autobiography, she reflected on feeling like a 'freak' at her exact stature, standing taller than most leading ladies yet harmoniously opposite male actors around 5ft 7 or 8. A 1936 article noted her at 5ft 5 in stocking feet, underscoring her poised, reality-infused presence.
- Iconic roles in The Maltese Falcon, Meet Me in St. Louis, The Palm Beach Story, Little Women, The Great Lie, Beau Brummel, The Prisoner of Zenda, Dodsworth, and Across the Pacific.
- Praised by director Lindsay Anderson for her illuminating depth and special attraction.