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.

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.

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.

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 filming for a later film, Star Wars Episode III.

His role as Anakin Skywalker (who was previously played by Sebastian Shaw and Jake Lloyd) in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) made him a star. Although his performance was met with mixed reviews, he became very popular, being named in both People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People and Teen People Magazine's 25 Hottest Stars under 25. Rumors began circulating that Christensen was gay. He openly denied the accusations, which have since quieted.

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, a national political magazine.

More favorable critical response came Christensen's way with the final Star Wars film Revenge of the Sith (2005), in which Anakin gradually converts to the dark side, finally transformed by the lies of Emperor Palpatine into Darth Vader. Christensen also reprised the role of Anakin Skywalker for the controversial 2004 DVD release of Return of the Jedi: Special Edition, where he replaced actor Sebastian Shaw as the Jedi spirit of Anakin Skywalker; Christensen insists that this was done without his knowledge.

Christensen was the subject of part of London photographer Sam Taylor-Wood's photographic series called Crying Men (2002-2004), which also features 26 other actors in private moments of reflection. He was named one of People Magazine's "50 Hottest Bachelors" of 2005 and was chosen by Teen People as one of the "25 hottest stars under 25" in 2005.

Christensen will soon be seen in Virgin Territory, opposite Mischa Barton. 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. He will also star in Awake, with Jessica Alba, which tells the story of a man who remains awake but paralyzed during heart surgery. He will also be starring in Factory Girl with Sienna Miller and Guy Pearce as a character based on the legendary Bob Dylan.

On July 22, 2006 at Comic-Con Samuel L. Jackson announced that Christensen would be starring with him in the upcoming film Jumper, the story of a young man who discovers he has the ability to teleport. Christensen would join Jackson, Jamie Bell and Teresa Palmer in the cast. Doug Liman (Mr. and Mrs. Smith) is attached to direct the sc-fi thriller.

Christensen played competitive AAA hockey and tennis in Canada before giving up both for acting. He enjoys architecture, lasagna, pizza and is allergic to bees.

Since Attack of the Clones, Christensen has been persistently targeted with rumors and tabloid speculations about a possible romantic involvement with Natalie Portman. He has openly stated that he did not have any previous relationship with his co-star beyond friendship; however, he is notoriously protective of his private life.

He reportedly dated actress Sienna Miller after her very public break-up from Jude Law in late 2005. The relationship fizzled soon after filming for Factory Girl ended. Prior to this, he was photographed frolicking with German-Canadian model Lola Skye on a beach in Barbados and had a brief relationship with Italian socialite Araba Dell'utri.