Hayden Christensen
Hayden Christensen (born April 19, 1981) is a Golden Globe-nominated Canadian actor. He appeared in Canadian television programs when he was young, then diversified into American television in the late 1990s. He moved on to minor acting roles before being praised for his role of Sam in Life as a House. He gained international fame playing the young adult Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars films.
Early life
Christensen was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to David Christensen (a Canadian software programmer) and Alie Nelson (an American corporate speechwriter). His father is of Danish and English descent and his mother is of Swedish and Italian descent. He has one brother and two sisters.
Raised outside Toronto, Ontario, Christensen attended Baythorn Public School for his public schooling as well as Unionville High School in Unionville, Ontario, Canada. He was "discovered" when his older sister Hejsa, a former trampoline champion, was shopping around for an agent after she landed a role in a Pringles potato chips commercial.
Career
1993-2000
Christensen's first acting role was on the television series Family Passions, which aired on Canadian television in September of 1993. The following year he acquired a minor role in John Carpenter's In the Mouth of Madness. In 1995 he had minor roles in Street Law and television films Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story and Harrison Bergeron.
In 1996 he had a small role in the television film No Greater Love, then went on to appear in an episode of Forever Knight. The following year, he appeared in Goosebumps, most noticeably in the two-part episode Night of the Living Dummy III, where he played 12-year-old Zane.
In 1998 he had a minor role in the film The Hairy Bird (also known as Strike!). The following year he had a major role in the television film Free Fall as well as a minor role in The Virgin Suicides.
He acquired his initial fame while starring in Fox's Family Network TV series, Higher Ground in 2000, portraying a teen who was sexually molested by his stepmother, who then turned to drugs in his despair.
2001-2005
While Christensen's critically acclaimed portrayal of a misunderstood teenager in Life as a House (2001) earned him Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations as well as the National Board of Review's award for Breakthrough Performance of the Year, the performance didn't receive widespread public notice.
His star-making role as Anakin Skywalker (who was previously played by Sebastian Shaw and Jake Lloyd) in Attack of the Clones (2002) made him a star. Although his performance was met with mixed reviews, he did however become very popular, being named in both People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People and Teen People Magazine's 25 Hottest Stars under 25.
He went on to receive good reviews for 2003's Shattered Glass, which tells the true story of journalist Stephen Glass, who was discovered fabricating stories as a writer for The New Republic, a national political magazine.
More favorable critical response came Christensen's way with the final Star Wars film Revenge of the Sith (2005), in which he plays a more mature, insecure Anakin, who gradually converts to the Dark Side, finally sent off the edge by the lies of Emperor Palpatine. Christensen also reprised the role of Anakin Skywalker for the controversial 2004 DVD release of Return of the Jedi: Special Edition, where he replaced actor Sebastian Shaw as the Jedi spirit of Anakin Skywalker.
2006
Christensen was the subject of part of London photographer Sam Taylor-Wood's photographic series called Crying Men (2002-04), which also features 26 other actors in private moments of reflection. He was named one of People Magazine's 50 hottest bachelors of 2005 and was chosen by Teen People as one of the 25 hottest stars under 25 in 2005.
Christensen will soon be seen in Guilty Pleasures, opposite Mischa Barton. The film, based on The Decameron, is about a group of people who escape the Black Plague epidemic by hiding out in a Tuscan Villa in Italy. He will also star in Awake, with Jessica Alba, which tells the story of a man who remains awake but paralyzed during surgery.
Personal life
Interests
Christensen played competitive AAA hockey and tennis in Canada before giving up both for acting. He enjoys architecture, lasagna, pizza and is allergic to bees.
Relationships
Since Attack of the Clones, Christensen has been persistently targeted dogged by rumors and tabloid speculations. He has repeatedly told people that he is not romantically involved with co-star Natalie Portman and is notoriously protective of his private life. This behavior may have contributed to numerous rumors of him being gay, which Hayden denies. One in particular was a rumor that connected him to actor Trevor Blumas.
In early 2006, Hayden was spotted in Toronto kissing and hugging Sienna Miller in a car close to Hayden's house. They are both currently shooting Factory Girl in Toronto. Both have said there is no romantic relationship between them.
Selected filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Poker Night | Stan Jeter | Pre-production |
| 2007 | Crash Bandits | Jack McBride | Pre-production |
| 2006 | Factory Girl | Danny Quinn | Post-production |
| 2006 | Awake | Clay | Post-production |
| 2006 | Guilty Pleasures | Lorenzo | Post-production |
| 2005 | Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith | Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader | |
| 2004 | Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi | Anakin Skywalker (footage with Hayden Christensen playing this role was shot and added to the DVD release 2004, He took Sebastian Shaw's place as the spirit of Anakin Skywalker at the celerbation on Endor) |
|
| 2003 | Shattered Glass | Stephen Glass | |
| 2002 | Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones | Anakin Skywalker | |
| 2001 | Life as a House | Sam Monroe | |
| 2000 | Trapped in a Purple Haze | Orin Krieg | Television film |
| 1999 | The Virgin Suicides | Joe Hill Conley | |
| 1998 | Strike! | Tinka's Date |