Hayden Christensen was born on 19 April 1981 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He is a young Canadian actor who has gone relatively unnoticed in the United States up until the announcement that he was signed as Anakin Skywalker in the next 2 Star Wars prequels. Although the United States has had little exposure to Hayden, he is far from being just a beginner.

Christensen started out as a child actor at the ripe age of 13 in various TV dramas since 1994. His biggest break before Star Wars was being casted in the Fox Family network's "Higher Ground" where Hayden plays Scott Barringer; a character who turned to drugs after being seduced by his stepmother. In "Higher Ground," Hayden plays one of the central characters and gets a lot of exposure.

At the end of April 2000, as readings with Natalie Portman at Skywalker Ranch came to a close, outbreaks of possible Anakins were leaked to the public from different sources and attention seemed to center on a relatively unknown actor named Hayden Christensen. For example, the industry standard news magazine VARIETY stated, "The buzz swirling around Hollywood Wednesday was that the force will be with Hayden Christensen, a young actor whom Lucas is close to naming to play Anakin Skywalker." Also, 4FILMMAKERS is jumped the gun and stating, "The role of Anakin Skywalker will be played by Hayden Christensen."

Filmography

• Jumper (2008)
• Virgin Territory (2007)
• Awake (2007)
• Factory Girl (2006)
• 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)
• "Higher Ground" (22 episodes, 2000)
• Trapped in a Purple Haze (2000)
• "The Famous Jett Jackson" (1 episode, 1999)
• The Virgin Suicides (1999)
• "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" (1 episode, 1999)
• "Real Kids, Real Adventures" (1 episode, 1999)
• Free Fall (1999)
• Strike! (1998)
• "Goosebumps" (2 episodes, 1997)
• "Forever Knight" (1 episode, 1996)
• No Greater Love (1996)
• Harrison Bergeron (1995)
• Street Law (1995)
• Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story (1995)
• In the Mouth of Madness (1995)
• "Family Passions" (1993)

Awards

• MTV Movie Award Best Villain "Star Wars: Episode III-Revenge of the Sith" 2006
• ShoWest Male Star of Tomorrow 2005
• Movieline Breakthrough of the Year Award (Male) "Life as a House" 2001
• National Board of Review Breakthrough Male Performer "Life as a House" 2001