Tilda Swinton’s height is significantly above the average for English women. Standing at 5ft 10 (177.8 cm) and with a peak height of 5ft 10 ½ (179.1 cm), she surpasses the UK average female height, which is approximately 5ft 3in (160 cm).
Tilda Swinton poses with her even taller son, Xavier Swinton Byrne, at the “Memory” screening during the 20th Marrakech International Film Festival on November 27, 2023, in Marrakech, Morocco (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
Elevating the Screen With Heels
In her own words, she has sometimes even claimed to be 5′ 11″ tall. In an interview with The Sun, Tilda Swinton highlighted her tall stature, especially when wearing high heels, which made her tower over George Clooney.
I like being around him [George Clooney], feel very easy with him and did so from day one on the film set of Michael Clayton. In the film, I wore high heels so as I am 5ft 11in, I was towering above him. I bent my knees a bit so we could look the same height. He pretended that he liked the fact I am tall.
A Unique Ethereal Presence
Vanity Fair describes Tilda Swinton as possessing a unique and ethereal presence, highlighted by her pale skin, blue eyes, and highly intelligent manner of speaking.
Her tall, slender, androgynous appearance enables her to play various menacing roles effectively.
Tilda Swinton in a Chanel dress attends the closing night party for the 59th New York Film Festival at Hauser Lounge on October 8, 2021, in New York City (Credit: Lev Radin / Shutterstock)
Tilda Swinton’s US shoe size of 9.5 converts to a UK size of 7.5, a European size of 40, and a Japanese size of approximately 25 cm.
Actress Tilda Swinton shows off her feet in high heels at the “We Need To Talk About Kevin” Photocall during the 64th Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 12, 2011, in Cannes, France (Credit: Denis Makarenko / Shutterstock)
Tilda Swinton: Androgyny and Gender Fluidity
Famous for playing androgynous angels (Constantine) and non-binary sorcerers (Doctor Strange), Tilda currently lives with playwright John Byrne, the father of her two children, Xavier and Honor Swinton Byrne.
Her toyboy lover, Sandro Kopp, a German-born artist almost two decades younger than Tilda, also sometimes lives with them.
Often believed to be gay or transgender, Tilda Swinton is dating her much younger boyfriend, Sandro Kopp (Credit: WENN)
When asked about their relationship in 2008, Tilda told Daily Mail that her open marriage is quite normal.
“What is true is that John and I live here with our children and Sandro is sometimes here with us, and we travel the world together. We are all a family.”
In an interview with The WIP, she said she identifies as gender fluid but is “probably a woman.”
“I don’t know if I could ever really say that I was a girl – I was kind of a boy for a long time. I don’t know, who knows? It changes”.
The Iconic Encounter: Tilda Swinton and David Bowie
Tilda starred in Bowie’s music video for “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)” and also paid tribute to him as a celebrated glam-rock singer named Marianne Lane in the 2015 psychological drama film “A Bigger Splash,” which references David Bowie’s glam alter ego Ziggy Stardust.
The music video for “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)” premiered in February 2013 and stars David Bowie and English actress Tilda Swinton as his wife
The two doppelgängers first met when David Bowie called Tilda to ask if she’d star in the music video for “The Stars (Are Out Tonight).”
“The moment happens when the phone rings and it’s someone who calls themself David Bowie, and you never stop pinching yourself,” she told The Daily Beast.
“It was the easiest thing in the world. I was talking recently with a friend of mine who’s determined to never meet her heroes, and I have another friend who’s been horribly disillusioned a couple of times. But I’ve had a wonderful ride with meeting people who have been my North Stars, and Bowie’s definitely one of them. He feels like my cousin; like the cousin I never had.”
Tilda Swinton’s Unconventional Shoe Choices
In September 2011, the always classy Tilda Swinton took us by surprise with her fashion shoe choice at the “We Need to Talk About Kevin” premiere at the 2011 Toronto Film Festival.
Tilda Swinton mesmerizes in Haider Ackermann, blending avant-garde elegance with a daring twist at the ‘We Need To Talk About Kevin’ premiere, Toronto Film Festival, 2011
The slicked-back hair, the colorless makeup, and the Haider Ackermann trench/robe jacket were all expected, but the shoes? Those are black satin pumps with a large bow detail at the heel.
Tilda Swinton wears a trench/robe jacket at the 2011 Toronto Film Festival premiere of “We Need To Talk About Kevin” in Toronto on September 9, 2011 (Credit: Lu Chau / WENN)
I wish I could include a close-up to show how much those shoes contrast with the rest of Tilda Swinton’s look. They don’t only contrast with Tilda’s look but also clash with her entire public persona!
Tilda Swinton elevates her look with satin bow pumps (Credit: Lu Chau / WENN)
Can you see the White Witch of Narnia or the conniving angel Gabriel wearing these shoes?
Tilda Swinton’s shoes are these Lanvin satin bow pumps. These shoes are so out-of-character for her, but I think I’ve become an even bigger fan of her just because she wore them.
Lanvin’s Satin Bow Pumps: A Statement of Sophistication and Style