Armistead met Tammy in the 1980s, and they quickly became close friends. Standing just 31 inches tall, she still is, recognized as the shortest ever actress in the world. Armistead has described her as having “a bit of a Bette Midler personality in a little person’s body.” She was the life of every gathering she attended. After they met, she went on to play E.T. in Steven Spielberg’s film—or more accurately, one of the people inside the E.T. suit who helped bring the character to life. She longed to be an actress who was truly seen, but sadly had trouble finding a role that let her vibrant personality shine. It certainly does, however, in the novel Maybe the Moon, through the character of Cadence Roth.
So come along for a heartfelt Dispatch that shares more about the woman behind Maybe the Moon—and how she worked her way into Armistead’s heart.
