Person Biography:
Hayden Christensen was born on April 19, 1981, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to Alie and David Christensen, who own a communications business. His parents have Danish, Swedish, and Italian ancestry. Hayden grew up in Markham, Ontario, with three siblings, Kaylen, Hejsa, and Tove.
Hayden's early interest in acting led him to appear in his first commercial at the age of eight. He later landed starring roles in several dramatic television series when he was just 13. His breakout role came in the Fox Family Network's Higher Ground in 2000, where he played a teenager who was sexually molested by his stepmother and turned to drugs.
Hayden also appeared in the television movie Trapped in a Purple Haze in 2000, alongside his friend Jonathan Jackson. He had a role in the film The Virgin Suicides in 1999. In 2000, it was announced that Hayden would star as Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.
Hayden's performance as the troubled teenager Sam Monroe in Irwin Winkler's Life as a House in 2001 earned him the 'Breakthrough Performance of the Year' award from the National Board of Review. He was also nominated for 'Best Supporting Actor' at the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
After his Star Wars days, Hayden starred in several action films, including Jumper in 2008 and Takers in 2010. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, friends, and exploring his hobbies, such as blues, jazz, and piano.
Hayden was in a relationship with actress Rachel Bilson from 2007 to 2017, and they have a child born in 2014.
