Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Harmonia (A) on May 06, 2003 at 21:11:30

In Reply to: Hooray for Hollywood -- VERY FUNNY (not by me) posted by clarkjohnsen on April 30, 2003 at 09:04:50:

I've gotten used to actors and stars being smaller in real life. I'm always thilled whne a favorite actor or singer turns out to be "life sized", lol.

I was quite startled, at a press conference for the Who back in the seventies, when Roger Daltry (who'd been sitting down at a table) stood up and only reached my shoulders. Normal male torso, incedibly short legs. No more than 5'2". There were a lotta short Brit rockers I interviewed, Alex Harvey was about 5'2", Peter Gabriel is about 5'5". I was inordinately pleased that Bryan Ferry was six or six one, and Ray Davies seemed about six feet.

Some actors have turned out to be taller than I expected...I knew John Cusack is tall, but I was still a bit surprised by his height the first time I bumped into him (literally). Cusack is easily six two or three. Tim Robbins I had to literally lookup to. He must be six five or six. Charlie Sheen, OTOH, is shortish maybe 5'8" tops.

I always assumed Derek Jacobi (I CLudius, Brother Cadfael) was a little guy, but he's probably 5'10", a nice suprise. (I saw him at a horse show, of all things. He was quite nice.) Ian McKellen in a six footer, and he's quite funny and outspoken in person. William Shatner shows horses, including at one event I manage. I've met him many times, and I suppose he's 5'10" in his shoes. His personality is just like what you'd expect. ; )

Al Pacino is tiny, and terribly intense. Saw him in a Manhatten bar years ago. Very intimidating.

One thing I've noted with selebs is how much heavier video and film makes people look. That old adage that says a camera adds 5 pounds to a person's frame is way off...it's more like 10 to 20 pounds. If a person appears to be of average weight & build in a movie, I guarantee that same person is thin in real life. And if the person looks skinny on the screen, he or she is likely wraithlike off screen.