Hayden Christensen

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 ' and ', 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.

Related Topics:
April 19 - 1981 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Canada - Toronto, Ontario - Anakin Skywalker - Jake Lloyd - Canadian television programs - American - 1990s - Fox - Sexually molested - Drugs

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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.

Related Topics:
Life as a House - National Board of Review - Darth Vader - Stephen Glass - 2003 - Shattered Glass

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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.

Related Topics:
Hockey - Architecture - Lasagne - Tennis - Allergic - Bee

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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.

Related Topics:
Attack of the Clones - Natalie Portman

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