Hayden Christensen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hayden Christensen
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Christensen at GalaxyCon Columbus in 2024
|
|
| Born | April 19, 1981 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
|
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Partner(s) | Rachel Bilson (2007–2017) |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives |
|
Hayden Christensen (born April 19, 1981) is a Canadian actor famous for playing one of the most iconic characters in movie history: Anakin Skywalker, who becomes the powerful Darth Vader. He starred in the Star Wars movies Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005).
Christensen returned to his famous role in the Disney+ TV shows Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) and Ahsoka (2023), thrilling a new generation of fans. He started acting on Canadian television when he was 13 and later moved to American TV. He has also starred in movies like Life as a House (2001), Jumper (2008), and Little Italy (2018).
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Acting
Hayden Christensen was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His father, David Christensen, is a computer programmer of Danish heritage, and his mother, Alie, is a speechwriter with Swedish and Italian roots. Hayden is one of four children and has an older brother, Tove, an older sister, Hejsa, and a younger sister, Kaylen.
He grew up in Markham, Ontario, and was a talented athlete in high school, playing hockey and tennis. His journey into acting started by chance. After his older sister got a part in a Pringles commercial, Hayden went with her to her agent's office. Soon, he was also appearing in commercials, starting at a young age.
Career Journey
Christensen's first acting role was in 1993 on a TV show called Family Passions. He was only 12 years old. Throughout the 1990s, he appeared in several TV shows and movies, including Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark?
His big break in television came in 2000 with the show Higher Ground. He played a troubled teenager, and his performance got him noticed. In 2001, his role as a misunderstood teen in the movie Life as a House earned him nominations for major awards like the Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Becoming a Star Wars Legend
In May 2000, it was announced that Christensen would play the adult Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequel movies. He was chosen from over 1,500 actors. Director George Lucas said he picked Christensen because he could show the character's journey to the Dark Side.
For Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Christensen asked for a special Darth Vader suit to be made just for him. Lucas agreed, and a new suit was built to fit Christensen's body perfectly. While he wore the suit, the famous deep voice of Vader was still provided by actor James Earl Jones.
Christensen's performance as Anakin was met with mixed reviews at first. However, over time, many fans and critics have come to appreciate his portrayal. Christensen himself said, “The reception that the films have now, it’s very heartwarming.” For his role in Episode III, he won the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.
Other Movie Roles
_(cropped).jpg)
Between his Star Wars roles, Christensen starred in other films. In Shattered Glass (2003), he played a journalist who was caught making up stories, and his performance was highly praised.
After Star Wars, he starred in several movies. In Jumper (2008), he played a young man who could teleport. He also appeared in the action movie Takers (2010) and the romantic comedy Little Italy (2018).
Return to the Star Wars Galaxy
Years after the prequel movies, Christensen returned to the Star Wars universe. He had a voice cameo as Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
In 2022, he put on the black suit again to play Darth Vader in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi. His performance was celebrated by fans and critics. He then appeared in the 2023 series Ahsoka, where he played Anakin in flashback scenes, looking younger with the help of digital technology. His return to the role has been a huge success, and he often appears at Star Wars Celebration events to meet with fans.
Personal Life
In 2007, Christensen began dating actress Rachel Bilson, his co-star from the movie Jumper. They were engaged in 2008. In 2014, their daughter was born. The couple separated in 2017.
Christensen owns a farm near Uxbridge, Ontario, which he bought in 2007. He enjoys working on the farm himself and learning about crops and livestock. In 2013, he even launched a men's clothing line inspired by his farm.
He is a big fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team. He has also been involved in charity work, including campaigns to help fight AIDS in Africa.
Selected Filmography
Here are some of Hayden Christensen's most well-known movies and TV shows:
- Goosebumps (1997) - TV Series
- Higher Ground (2000) - TV Series
- Life as a House (2001) - Film
- Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) - Film
- Shattered Glass (2003) - Film
- Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) - Film
- Jumper (2008) - Film
- Takers (2010) - Film
- Little Italy (2018) - Film
- Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) - TV Miniseries
- Ahsoka (2023) - TV Series
