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IMDbPro

Hayden Christensen

  • Actor
  • Producer
  • Executive
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000146
Hayden Christensen
"Obi-Wan Kenobi," a limited series, is now streaming only on Disney+
Play trailer0:31
Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
81 Videos
99+ Photos
Hayden Christensen was born April 19, 1981 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His parents, Alie and David Christensen, are in the communications business. He is of Danish (father) and Swedish and Italian (mother) descent. Hayden grew up in Markham, Ontario, with siblings Kaylen, Hejsa, and Tove. Hayden set out to become an actor when a chance encounter at the age of eight placed him in his first commercial, for Pringles. When he was thirteen, he had starring roles in several dramatic television series.

His biggest break was a major part in the Fox Family Network's Higher Ground (2000). On the series, Hayden showed off his acting talent as a teen who was sexually molested by his stepmother, and turns to drugs in despair. Later, he appeared in the television movie Trapped in a Purple Haze (2000), where he co-starred with his friend Jonathan Jackson. Hayden also had a role in the film The Virgin Suicides (1999).

On May 12, 2000, it was announced that Christensen would star as Anakin Skywalker in the prequels Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005). The star was chosen by director George Lucas because he felt that Hayden had raw talent and good chemistry with actress Natalie Portman. Lucas stunned the movie world by picking the then-unknown actor after he had turned down such big names as Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonathan Jackson, as well as 400 other candidates.

His role as the troubled, misunderstood teenager Sam Monroe in Irwin Winkler's Life as a House (2001) won him 'Breakthrough Performance of the Year' from the National Board of Review. The film also placed him as a nominee for 'Best Supporting Actor' at both the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Hayden then starred in Shattered Glass (2003), quoted by some of the real Stephen Glass' colleagues as giving an eerie and uncanny portrayal.

Since his Star Wars days, Hayden has headlined several action films, including Jumper (2008) and Takers (2010).

When not working, he enjoys spending quality time with his family (such as big brother Tove), hanging out with his friends, and exploring other hobbies such as the blues, jazz and piano.

Hayden was in a relationship with actress Rachel Bilson from 2007 to 2017. The two have a child, born in 2014.
BornApril 19, 1981
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornApril 19, 1981
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000146
  • Unlock contact info on IMDbPro
  • Awards
    • 10 wins & 21 nominations

See 'Star Wars' Stars In and Out of Costume

See 'Star Wars' Stars In and Out of Costume

Check out our gallery of stars from the Star Wars saga in character and in real life.
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Photos

Photos467

Hayden Christensen in Part III (2022)
James Earl Jones and Hayden Christensen in Part III (2022)
Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
Hayden Christensen and Anna Galiena in Virgin Territory (2007)
Hayden Christensen and Anna Galiena in Virgin Territory (2007)
Mischa Barton and Hayden Christensen in Virgin Territory (2007)
Hayden Christensen in Virgin Territory (2007)
Hayden Christensen, David Walliams, and Riccardo Merra in Virgin Territory (2007)
Mischa Barton and Hayden Christensen in Virgin Territory (2007)
Mischa Barton and Hayden Christensen in Virgin Territory (2007)
Mischa Barton and Hayden Christensen in Virgin Territory (2007)
Mischa Barton and Hayden Christensen in Virgin Territory (2007)

Known for

Samuel L. Jackson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Frank Oz, Ian McDiarmid, and Hayden Christensen in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
7.6
  • Anakin Skywalker
  • 2005
Samuel L. Jackson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Anthony Daniels, Frank Oz, Kenny Baker, Hayden Christensen, and Temuera Morrison in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
6.6
  • Anakin Skywalker
  • 2002
Hayden Christensen and Rachel Bilson in Jumper (2008)
Jumper
6.1
  • David Rice
  • 2008
Hayden Christensen and Peter Sarsgaard in Shattered Glass (2003)
Shattered Glass
7.2
  • Stephen Glass
  • 2003

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor

  • Ahsoka
    • Anakin Skywalker, Darth Vader
    • Post-production
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2023
  • Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen in Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
    Obi-Wan Kenobi
    • Darth Vader
    • Anakin Skywalker
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2022
  • Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Keri Russell, J.J. Abrams, Lynn Robertson Bruce, Hassan Taj, Oscar Isaac, Brian Herring, Jimmy Vee, Dave Chapman, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Kelly Marie Tran, Robin Guiver, Daisy Ridley, Lee Towersey, Joonas Suotamo, and Naomi Ackie in Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
    Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker
    • Anakin Skywalker (voice)
    • 2019
  • Harvey Keitel and Hayden Christensen in The Last Man (2019)
    The Last Man
    • Kurt
    • 2019
  • Hayden Christensen and Emma Roberts in Little Italy (2018)
    Little Italy
    • Leo Campo
    • 2018
  • Bruce Willis and Hayden Christensen in First Kill (2017)
    First Kill
    • Will
    • 2017
  • Kate Bosworth and Hayden Christensen in 90 Minutes in Heaven (2015)
    90 Minutes in Heaven
    • Don Piper
    • 2015
  • Nicolas Cage and Hayden Christensen in Outcast (2014)
    Outcast
    • Jacob
    • 2014
  • Adrien Brody, Hayden Christensen, Tory Kittles, and Akon in American Heist (2014)
    American Heist
    • James Kelly
    • 2014
  • K-os: Zambony
    • Security
    • Music Video
    • 2010
  • Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey (2010)
    Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey
    • Jammer (voice)
    • 2010
  • Hayden Christensen in Vanishing on 7th Street (2010)
    Vanishing on 7th Street
    • Luke
    • 2010
  • Matt Dillon, Hayden Christensen, Idris Elba, Jay Hernandez, Paul Walker, Michael Ealy, T.I., and Chris Brown in Takers (2010)
    Takers
    • A.J.
    • 2010
  • Ethan Hawke, Natalie Portman, Christina Ricci, Andy Garcia, John Hurt, Robin Wright, James Caan, Julie Christie, Drea de Matteo, Carlos Acosta, Orlando Bloom, Hayden Christensen, Bradley Cooper, Chris Cooper, Irrfan Khan, Shia LaBeouf, Maggie Q, Shu Qi, Anton Yelchin, Rachel Bilson, and Olivia Thirlby in New York, I Love You (2008)
    New York, I Love You
    • Ben (segment "Jiang Wen")
    • 2008
  • Hayden Christensen and Rachel Bilson in Jumper (2008)
    Jumper
    • David Rice
    • 2008
  • Mischa Barton, Hayden Christensen, and Kate Groombridge in Virgin Territory (2007)
    Virgin Territory
    • Lorenzo
    • 2007

Producer

  • The Tank (2017)
    The Tank
    • executive producer
    • 2017
  • Standoff (2016)
    Standoff
    • executive producer
    • 2016
  • Svetlana Khodchenkova in Lady of Csejte (2015)
    Lady of Csejte
    • executive producer
    • 2015
  • Elijah Wood, Jorge Garcia, Alison Pill, Rainn Wilson, Leigh Whannell, Jack McBrayer, and Nasim Pedrad in Cooties (2014)
    Cooties
    • executive producer
    • 2014
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos81

Hayden Christensen Calls the Bacta Tank a "Spa Day for Vader"
Clip 2:55
Hayden Christensen Calls the Bacta Tank a "Spa Day for Vader"
Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen Discuss 'Nerve-Racking' Return in "Obi-Wan"
Clip 2:24
Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen Discuss 'Nerve-Racking' Return in "Obi-Wan"
What Happens to Obi-Wan Kenobi Between Star Wars Trilogies?
Clip 3:11
What Happens to Obi-Wan Kenobi Between Star Wars Trilogies?
Everything We Know About the Future of Star Wars
Clip 6:03
Everything We Know About the Future of Star Wars
The Evolution of Anakin Skywalker
Clip 3:23
The Evolution of Anakin Skywalker
Vanishing on 7th Street
Clip 0:46
Vanishing on 7th Street
Outcast
Clip 1:14
Outcast
Takers
Clip 1:22
Takers
Takers
Clip 1:04
Takers
Takers
Clip 1:07
Takers
Takers
Clip 1:15
Takers
New York, I Love You
Clip 1:19
New York, I Love You

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative name
    • Hayden Christiansen
  • Height
    • 6′ (1.83 m)
  • Born
    • April 19, 1981
    • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  • Children
    • Briar Rose Christensen
  • Parents
      Alie Christensen
  • Relatives
      Kaylen Christensen(Sibling)
  • Other works
    Starring in the West End play "This Is Our Youth" in London, England with Anna Paquin and Jake Gyllenhaal.
  • Publicity listings
    • 9 Interviews
    • 15 Articles
    • 5 Pictorials
    • 62 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Was discovered when his older sister, Hejsa Christensen, a former trampoline champion, was shopping around for an agent. No one was home to baby-sit him so he went along and it was suggested that he get an agent, himself.
  • Quotes
    Actors are observers. They're trying to have an understanding of human sensibility. And how do you have that accurate observation if you regard yourself as someone of great importance? When you're the one constantly being observed, because they view you as a celebrity? It's all wrong.
  • Nicknames
    • Den
    • H

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