Hayden Christensen

Hayden Christensen

Christensen during Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith premiere, May 2005.
Born April 19, 1981 (1981-04-19) (age 29)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Occupation Actor
Years active 1993–present

Hayden Christensen (born April 19, 1981) is a 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, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. He gained international fame portraying the young Anakin Skywalker (Darth Vader) in the second and third films of the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Christensen was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, the son of Alie, a speechwriter for the heads of large companies, and David Christensen, a computer programmer and communications executive. His father is of Danish descent and his mother has Swedish and Italian ancestry.[1] Christensen has an older brother and sister, Tove and Hejsa, and a younger sister, Kaylen.[2][3][4] Raised outside Toronto in Thornhill, Ontario, Christensen attended E.J. Sand Public School, Baythorn Public School and Unionville High School in Unionville, Ontario, Canada. He was an athlete in high school, playing hockey competitively and tennis on a provincial level.[5]

He spent summers in Long Island with his maternal grandmother, Rose Schwartz,[5] and attended the Actors Studio in New York as well as the Arts York program for drama at his high school. He was "discovered" when his older sister Hejsa, a former trampoline champion, was shopping around for an agent after he landed a role in a Pringles commercial.[5][6]

Career

1993–2005

Christensen's first acting role was on the television series Family Passions, which aired on Canadian television in September 1993, when he was 12.[7] The following year he acquired a minor role in John Carpenter's In the Mouth of Madness.[7] From 1995 through 1999, he appeared in several movies and television shows, including Harrison Bergeron, Forever Knight, Goosebumps, The Virgin Suicides, and Are You Afraid of the Dark?.[7] He acquired wider notice while starring in Fox's Family Network television series Higher Ground in 2000, portraying a teen who was sexually molested by his stepmother, and then turned to drugs in his despair.[7][8]

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,[9][10][11] the performance didn't receive widespread public notice.[8] For his part in the movie, Christensen lost 25 pounds through a special diet.[12] He eventually gained the weight back during the filming for Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.[13][14] In 2002, Christensen made his London theater debut co-starring with Jake Gyllenhaal and Anna Paquin in This Is Our Youth.[15]

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.[16][17] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone writes "Hayden Christensen is sensational as Glass, finding the wonder boy and the weasel in a disturbed kid flying high on a fame he hasn't earned."[18] In 2004, Christensen appeared as a model in Louis Vuitton's advertising.[19] In 2005, Christensen made his Broadway debut when he appeared briefly in a 10-minute play. He was among the big name actors and actresses taking part in the fifth annual "24 Hour Plays" benefit, which raises cash for nonprofit groups in the Big Apple.[20]

Star Wars

On May 12, 2000, Christensen announced that he would be starring as Anakin Skywalker in the next two prequels Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005). Director George Lucas had turned down such big names as Leonardo DiCaprio and Ryan Phillipe for the role, as well as 1,500 other candidates.[21]

Lucas is quoted as saying that he chose Christensen because he "needed an actor who has that presence of the dark side" that was essential to solidify the story that Lucas was trying to tell: The tragic fall of Anakin Skywalker and the rise of Darth Vader. In the final two films of the prequel trilogy, Christensen was the only actor portraying a Jedi who was not allowed to customize his character's lightsaber.[22] This was because in Attack of the Clones, Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber was built to be reminiscent of Darth Vader's lightsaber in the original trilogy, while in Revenge of the Sith, Anakin's lightsaber was designed to match the lightsaber that Obi-Wan Kenobi gives to Luke Skywalker, in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

Christensen, during the production of Revenge of the Sith, asked Lucas if a special Vader suit could be constructed to fit his own body, rather than have a different actor don one of the original sets of Vader armor worn by David Prowse.[23] Lucas agreed, and a suit was engineered to fit Christensen's frame, even including extensions to allow for the actor to attain Vader's 2.02 meter. His voice as the "robotic" Vader, however, was dubbed over by James Earl Jones, who first made it famous in the original trilogy.[24]

Stock footage of Christensen was used in the controversial 2004 DVD release of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, where he was inserted in place of actor Sebastian Shaw.[25] This was an unpopular change for many.[26][27] Christensen insists this was done without his knowledge, an act that is confirmed by Lucasfilm itself in the featurette "Return of the Jedi: What has changed?" as seen on the official website to commemorate the 2006 DVDs.[25]

Christensen's role as Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars made him a star.[28] Although his performance was met with mixed reviews by critics (earning him the Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor in both Episodes II and III) [29][30] he became very popular among audiences, being named in both People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People and Teen People's 25 Hottest Stars under 25.[2] Christensen continued to work a little more with Star Wars: He was the basis of Anakin Skywalker's fighting style in the video game adaption of Revenge of the Sith and reprised his role of Anakin uncredited via archive sounds in the video game Lego Star Wars: The Video Game and LEGO Star Wars: Revenge of the Brick.

2006–present

Between 2006 and 2007, he starred in Awake, with Jessica Alba, which tells the story of a man who remains awake but paralyzed during heart surgery,[7][31] and in Factory Girl, opposite Sienna Miller and Guy Pearce.[7][32] Christensen next starred with Samuel L. Jackson, Jamie Bell and Rachel Bilson in the film Jumper, the story of a young man who discovers he has the ability to teleport; the film was released on February 14, 2008.[33][34] Bilson and Christensen co-starred again in the same segment of the film New York, I Love You.[35] Christensen also appeared opposite Mischa Barton in Virgin Territory, which was released directly-to-DVD in North America in August 26, 2008.[36] 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.[37]

Christensen was slated to appear in an adaptation of William Gibson's seminal cyberpunk novel, Neuromancer, set for a 2009 release, but has since been removed from the IMDB cast list.[38][39] Christensen appeared in the crime drama Takers released in the United States on August 27, 2010. Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey will be the fourth film in which Christensen will co-star again with Samuel L. Jackson.[40] In October 2009 he started shooting the horror film Vanishing on 7th Street, directed by Brad Anderson, alongside Thandie Newton and John Leguizamo.[41][42] Christensen recently has been cast in the role of Joe Lassiter in David R. Ellis's upcoming film, The Genesis Code.[43][44]

Christensen performed a public service announcement for Do Something's Teens for Jeans Campaign in 2008.[45] He was also named as the face of Lacoste's newest fragrance, Lacoste Challenge.[46] Featured in RED’s new Lazarus Effect Campaign, which is intended to increase awareness for its efforts to fight AIDS in Africa.[47][48]

In 2010 Christensen sued USA Network over allegations that they stole his idea for the TV show Royal Pains. The suit alleges that Christensen met with USA to pitch a similar series entitled "Housecalls", during the meeting Christensen alleges that he was never informed that a similar program was in development.[49][50]

Personal life

In 2007, Christensen began dating actress Rachel Bilson, whom he had met the previous year while filming Jumper. They became engaged on December 25, 2008.[51][52] In August 2010, they have officially called off their engagement and ended their relationship.[53][54] Previously, Christensen dated actress Sienna Miller for three months in 2006.[55]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1995 In the Mouth of Madness Paper Boy
Street Law Young John Ryan Limited release
1998 The Hairy Bird Tinka's Date
1999 The Virgin Suicides Jake Hill Conley
Free Fall Patrick Brennan Limited release
2001 Life as a House Sam Monroe Young Hollywood Award One to Watch - Male
National Board of Review - Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actor
Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture
Nominated - Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture
Nominated - Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Breakthrough Performance
2002 Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones Anakin Skywalker Cannes Film Festival - Male Revelation
Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor
Nominated - Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor
Nominated - Saturn Award - Cinescape Genre Face of the Future Award
Nominated - Chicago Film Critics Association Awards - Most Promising Performer
Nominated - Teen Choice Awards - Choice Movie Actor: Action/Adventure
Nominated - Teen Choice Awards - Choice Chemistry (Shared with:Natalie Portman)
2003 Shattered Glass Stephen Glass Las Palmas Film Festival - Best Actor (Shared with:Peter Sarsgaard)
Nominated - Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama
2004 Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (2004 re-release) Anakin Skywalker Replaced original actor (stock footage of head only)
2005 Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Anakin Skywalker/ Darth Vader ShoWest - Male Star of Tomorrow
MTV Movie Award for Best Villain
Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor
Nominated - Saturn Award - Best Actor
Nominated - MTV Movie Award for Best Fight (Shared with:Ewan McGregor)
Nominated - Teen Choice Awards - Choice Movie Actor: Action/Adventure
Nominated - Teen Choice Awards - Choice Movie Bad Guy
2006 Factory Girl Billy Quinn Also credited as Musician
2007 Awake Clay Beresford Jr.
Virgin Territory Lorenzo de Lamberti Limited release
2008 Jumper David Rice Nominated - MTV Movie Award for Best Fight (Shared with:Jamie Bell)
2009 New York, I Love You Ben
2010 Takers A.J. (The Builder)
Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey Jammer (voice) (post-production)
2011 Vanishing on 7th Street Luke (post-production)
Television
Year Show Role Notes
1993 Family Passions Skip McDeere Soap opera
1995 Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story Fletcher Television film
Harrison Bergeron Eric Television film
1996 No Greater Love Teddy Winfield Television film
Forever Knight Andre Episode: Fallen Idol
1997 Goosebumps Zane Two episodes
1999 Real Kids, Real Adventures Eli Goodner Episode: Paralyzed: The Eli Goodner Story
Are You Afraid of the Dark? Kirk Episode: The Tale of Bigfoot Ridge
The Famous Jett Jackson Steven Episode: Popularity
2000 Trapped in a Purple Haze Orin Krieg Television film
Higher Ground Scott Barringer Television drama

References

  1. ↑ Leith, William (2002-03-13). "A force to be reckoned with". Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2002/03/13/bfhayd.xml. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Hayden Christensen: Actor". People. 2002-05-13. http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20136997,00.html. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  3. ↑ Hiscock, John (2005-05-13). "Skywalker comes down to earth". Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3641972/Skywalker-comes-down-to-earth.html. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  4. ↑ "Hayden Christensen Biography". Yahoo!. http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800421140/bio. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Lee, Linda (2001-10-21). "Film: Up and Coming - Hayden Christensen; Life as the Latest Bearer of the Force". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D05E1DB163EF932A15753C1A9679C8B63. Retrieved 2007-12-12. 
  6. ↑ Goldman, Andrew (2002-03-10). "Space Boy". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/10/magazine/space-boy.html?pagewanted=2. Retrieved 2010-05-04. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 "Hello Magazine Filmography - Hayden Christensen". Hello Magazine. http://www.hellomagazine.com/profiles/haydenchristensen/?view=jobs. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Welch, David (2002-05-20). "The cast and crew of the latest Star Wars flick aren't cloning around". Sci Fi. http://www.scifi.com/sfw/interviews/sfw8458.html. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  9. ↑ "HFPA - Awards Search". Golden Globes. http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/member/29029. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  10. ↑ "8th Annual SAG Awards Nominees". SAG Awards. http://www.sagawards.org/8_award_nom. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  11. ↑ "National Board of Review of Motion Pictures - Awards 2001". NBRMP. http://www.nbrmp.org/awards/past.cfm?year=2001. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  12. ↑ "'Star Wars' Star Ordered to Pile on the Pounds". Wenn.com. IMDb. 2002-12-05. http://www.imdb.com/news/ni0062876/. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  13. ↑ Monahan, Mark (2002-11-05). "Top five Star Wars characters". Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2002/05/11/bffive11.xml. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  14. ↑ Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. [DVD]. 20th Century Fox. 2005. 
  15. ↑ Loveridge, Lizzie (March 2002), "A CurtainUp London Review: This is Our Youth", CurtainUp.com.
  16. ↑ Ebert, Roger (2003-11-07). "Shattered Glass Review". Chicago Sun-Times. Roger Ebert.com. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031107/REVIEWS/311070305/1023. Retrieved 2008-07-27. 
  17. ↑ Schembri, Jim (2005-05-20). "Darth wish". Melbourne: The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/news/Film/Darth-wish/2005/05/19/1116361654630.html. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  18. ↑ Travers, Peter (2003-10-23). "Shattered Glass Review". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5947837/review/5947838/shattered_glass. Retrieved 2008-07-27. 
  19. ↑ "Hayden Christensen Smartens up for Louis Vuitton". Contactmusic.com. http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/story/hayden-smartens-up-for-louis-vuitton#. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
  20. ↑ "The 24 Hour Plays 2005". IBDB. http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=407377. Retrieved 2010-05-18. 
  21. ↑ "Robin Gurland - Don't Call Her; She'll Call You". Star Wars.com. http://www.starwars.com/episode-ii/bts/profile/f20020128/index.html. Retrieved 2010-05-17. 
  22. ↑ "Trivia for Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones". IMDb. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0121765/trivia. Retrieved 2010-07-30. 
  23. ↑ "Star Wars - Lucas Made Vader Suit Extra Awkward". Contact Music. http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/story/lucas-made-vader-suit-extra-awkward. Retrieved 2010-07-30. 
  24. ↑ "Hayden Christensen Talks About "Revenge of the Sith"". Movies About. http://movies.about.com/od/starwars3/a/starwars100605.htm. Retrieved 2010-05-17. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Star Wars Trilogy: Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. [DVD]. 20th Century Fox. 2004. 
  26. ↑ Johnson, Derek. "Star Wars fans, DVD, and cultural ownership: an interview with Will Brooker; Interview," Velvet Light Trap, 22 September 2005, pg. 36–44.
  27. ↑ Ebert, Roger (2005-05-01). "Anakin's fans strike back". Chicago Sun-Times. Roger Ebert.com. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050501/ANSWERMAN/505010302. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
  28. ↑ "Hello Magazine Profile - Hayden Christensen". Hello Magazine. http://www.hellomagazine.com/profiles/haydenchristensen/?. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  29. ↑ "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) Awards". IMDB.com. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0121765/awards. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  30. ↑ "Razzie Awards: 2006". IMDB.com. 2006-03-04. http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Razzie_Awards/2006. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  31. ↑ Scheck, Frank (2007-12-03). "Awake: Bottom Line: Sleep won't be an option". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film/reviews/article_display.jsp?JSESSIONID=KKTYHQvY8VpBVtqmN5lrkmvTPLVSF6MM6jQn1FJnxGhWHfS1z11Q!422802220&&rid=10263. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  32. ↑ Howell, Peter (2007-02-09). "'Factory Girl': Time's up". TheStar. http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/179873. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  33. ↑ Kiefer, Peter (2006-12-17). "Oh My God, Can You Rent the Colosseum?". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/17/movies/17kief.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  34. ↑ "Christensen Onboard Jumper?". Moviehole. 2006-07-22. http://www.moviehole.net/news/20060722_news_from_comic_con_christense.html. Retrieved 2006-07-24. 
  35. ↑ "Bilson and Christensen Reteam For New York Love Story". Contact Music. http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/bilson-christensen-reteam-for-new-york-love-story_1066847. Retrieved 2010-07-30. 
  36. ↑ "Virgin Territory". Tribute.ca. http://www.tribute.ca/movies/Virgin+Territory/13419. Retrieved 2010-07-30. 
  37. ↑ Foster, Dave (2008-06-26). "Virgin Territory (R2) in August". DVD Times. http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=68131. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  38. ↑ Bartyzel, Monika (2008-01-09). "Hayden Christensen is William Gibson's Neuromancer?!". Cinematical. http://www.cinematical.com/2008/01/09/hayden-christensen-is-william-gibsons-neuromancer/. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  39. ↑ Neuromancer at the Internet Movie Database
  40. ↑ Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey at the Internet Movie Database
  41. ↑ "Hayden Christensen is 'Street' smart". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i34ed7d659fd0296317532a02cf2c984f. Retrieved 2009-10-02. 
  42. ↑ "Hayden Christensen is 'Vanishing on 7th Street'". Cinematical. http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/27/hayden-christensen-is-vanishing-on-seventh-street/. Retrieved 2010-05-18. 
  43. ↑ McClintock, Pamela (2010-05-07). "Christensen cracks 'Code'". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118018908.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1. Retrieved 2010-05-10. 
  44. ↑ "Christensen Deciphers The Genesis Code". Empire. http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=27831. Retrieved 2010-05-17. 
  45. ↑ "Hayden Christensen Promotes Teens for Jeans". Do Something. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvUVLGFMWzo&feature=channel_page.html. Retrieved 2008-01-07. 
  46. ↑ "Hayden Christensen’s New “Challenge”: Face of Lacoste Fragrance". People. http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2009/06/15/hayden-christensens-new-challenge-face-of-lacoste-fragrance/. Retrieved 2010-05-18. 
  47. ↑ Christensen, Hayden (2010-07-31). "Hayden Christensen on “The Lazarus Effect”". CNN. http://larrykinglive.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/24/hayden-christensen-on-%E2%80%9Cthe-lazarus-effect%E2%80%9D/. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  48. ↑ "The Lazarus Effect Campaign". Join Red. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKrtG724Cek. Retrieved 2010-05-10. 
  49. ↑ "Hayden Christensen claims USA stole his idea for 'Royal Pains'". The Hollywood Reporter. http://thresq.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/07/hayden-christensen-sues-usa-network-over-royal-pains.html. Retrieved 2010-07-11. 
  50. ↑ "Christensen sues USA Network over 'stolen' TV series". New York Post. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/royal_rip_off_tv_suit_cCNfmnBjntxxuvleZs6D9K. Retrieved 2010-05-30. 
  51. ↑ "Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen are engaged". People. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20259778,00.html. Retrieved 2009-04-20. 
  52. ↑ "Christensen Proposed Over Christmas". Contact Music. http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/christensen-proposed-over-christmas_1095480. Retrieved 2010-07-11. 
  53. ↑ Shira, Dahvi (August 9, 2010). "Hayden Christensen & Rachel Bilson Call Off Engagement". People Magazine. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20408970,00.html. Retrieved August 10, 2010. 
  54. ↑ "Rep: Rachel Bilson, Hayden Christensen's Wedding Officially "Off"". Us Weekly. August 9, 2010. http://www.usmagazine.com/healthylifestyle/news/rep-rachel-bilson-hayden-christensens-wedding-officially-off-201098. Retrieved August 10, 2010. 
  55. ↑ "Sienna Miller gets cosy with Hayden Christensen". Glamour Magazine. http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/celebrity/celebrity-news/2006/01/26/shes-seen-the-light. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 

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