Profile of Hayden Christensen on Famous Like Me

Hayden Christensen (born April 19, 1981 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, but raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) is the actor most widely known for playing the adult Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, a role previously played by Jake Lloyd. He appeared in Canadian television programs when he was young, then diversified into American television in the late 1990s. He acquired his initial fame starring in Fox's Family Network TV series, Higher Ground (2000), showing off his acting talents as a teen who was sexually molested by his stepmother, then turning to drugs in his despair.

Christensen's critically praised portrayal of a teenager who is misunderstood in Life as a House (2001) won him the National Board of Review's award for Breakthrough Performance of the Year, but didn't receive widespread public notice. However, his far more famous performance in Attack of the Clones (2002) received mixed reviews (many critics found his characterization of the future Darth Vader as an arrogant, self-absorbed teenager off-putting). Subsequently, he garnered good reviews as journalist Stephen Glass in 2003's Shattered Glass. Finally he received favourable responses in the last Star Wars prequel Revenge of the Sith (2005), where he played a more mature, insecure Anakin gradually converting to the Dark Side.

Christensen played competitive AAA Hockey in Canada before giving it up for acting.The 6'1" actor loves architecture, lasagne and tennis and is allergic to bees.

Since Attack of the Clones, he has been persistently dogged by rumours and tabloid speculations. First he denied that he was romantically invlolved with co-star Natalie Portman. He also dismissed rumours that he was gay.

Trivia

• Has three siblings: Tove, Hejsa and Kaylen.
• Is of Danish and English (paternal side), Swedish and Italian (maternal side) heritage. His mother is American born and raised.
• Has dirty blonde hair and blue-green eyes.
• Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
• Attended Unionville High School in Unionville, Ontario, Canada. The school is best known for its arts programs.
• Competed with his sister Hejsa (the captain), brother Tove and a family friend in Eco-Challenge: Fiji Islands. The Eco-Challenge consists of a 500-kilometer (300 miles) race that included the tasks of hiking, swimming, kayaking and mountain biking their way through the Fiji archipelago. Only 23 out of 81 teams finished this race.
• One of the youngest competitors in Eco-Challenge: Fiji Islands.
• Named one of People Magazine's "50 Hottest Bachelors" (2005)
• Supports Manchester United Football Club
• He, his brother, and their friends, "kidnap" one another on each of their birthdays, drive to a location unknown to the birthday-boy, and then spend the day riding dirt-bikes.
• Was discovered when his older sister Hejsa, a former trampoline champion, was shopping around for an agent. No one was home to baby-sit him so he went along and it was suggested that he get an agent himself.
• During the closing moments of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, where Christensen was wearing the Darth Vader mask and costume, Christensen was looking through the mask's mouthpiece despite the fact a new suit was made specially for him.
• Has appeared in the 2004 Fall/Winter ad campaign for Louis Vuitton.

Partial filmography

• The Decameron: Angels & Virgins (post-production) (2006)
• Awake (2006) (pre-production)
• Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
• Shattered Glass (2003)
• Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
• Life as a House (2001)

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