'''Hayden Christensen''' (born April 19, 1981) is a Golden Globe-nominated 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''. He gained international fame playing the young adult Anakin Skywalker in the ''
Star Wars'' films.
Early life
Hayden Christensen was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to David Christensen (a Canadian software programmer) and Alie Nelson (an American corporate speechwriter). His father is of Danish and English descent and his mother is of Swedish and Italian descent. He has one brother and two sisters.
Raised in Thornhill, Ontario,outside Toronto, Christensen attended Baythorn Public School for his public schooling as well as Unionville High School in Unionville, Ontario, Canada Where he attended the Arts York Program for drama. He was "discovered" when his older sister Hejsa, a former trampoline champion, was shopping around for an agent after she landed a role in a Pringles potato chips commercial.
Career
1993–2000
Christensen's first acting role was on the television series ''Family Passions'', which aired on Canadian television in September of 1993. The following year he acquired a minor role in John Carpenter's ''In the Mouth of Madness''. In 1995 he had minor roles in ''Street Law'' and television films ''Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story'' and ''Harrison Bergeron''.
In 1996 he had a small role in the television film ''
No Greater Love'', then went on to appear in an episode of ''Forever Knight''. The following year, he appeared in ''Goosebumps'', most noticeably in the two-part episode ''Night of the Living Dummy III'', where he played 12-year-old Zane.
In 1998 he had a minor role in the film ''The Hairy Bird'' (also known as ''Strike!''). The following year he had a major role in the television film ''Free Fall'' as well as a minor role in ''
The Virgin Suicides''.
He acquired his initial fame while starring in Fox's Family Network TV series, ''Higher Ground'' in 2000, portraying a teen who was sexually molested by his stepmother, who then turned to drugs in his despair.
2001–2005
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'', the performance didn't receive widespread public notice. For his part in the show, Christensen lost 25 pounds through a special diet. He eventually gained the weight back during the
