Celebrity Profile: Hayden Christensen of Star Wars

Hayden Christensen is becoming the it boy of the summer.

Even so, Christensen's "it" factor may not be a temporary thing. His long line of experience dates back to his childhood showing that he has been in the acting game long before his days of dueling light sabres.

On April 19, 1981, Hayden Christiansen was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to David and Alie Christensen. Later on, his parents and his brother and two sisters moved to Toronto, where he spent the majority of his life.

With a thriving communications business in the family name, Christensen set against the kindred business and caught the acting bug at the early age of 8 when he was cast in a Pringles commercial.

Although Christensen has been recently associated with the devilish Darth, his career in acting has been in effect for a little over a decade. In 1993, Christensen got his first role in the family feuding Canadian
soap opera, "Family Passions."

From there, he slowly started to build his acting résumé with various parts in TV movies and series. His efforts in Canadian entertainment crossed over to American soil when he managed to grab a small role in Sofia Coppola's daunting film, The Virgin Suicides in 1999.

It wasn't until 2000 that he garnered his "big break" as the troubled teen, Scott Barringer in the Fox Family series, "Higher Ground." The
dramatic role tested Christensen's acting abilities by giving him the arduous task of portraying a drug laden delinquent who was once molested by his step mother.

His role in the Fox series opened up even more television movie opportunities by means of Trapped in a Purple Haze where he maintained his previous roles by being a part of a band of rebellious teens. From one disenchanted teen role to another, he went on to do the acclaimed motion picture Life As a House in 2001.

This time, his role as a teen was even more in-depth as he acted alongside a stellar cast that included Kevin Kline and Kirstin Scott Thomas. His portrayal of the difficultly unapologetic teenager, Sam Monroe caught eyes of critics everywhere as he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award as best supporting actor.

The nominations received an even greater compliment when the same role won him the National Board of Review's award for Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actor.

The quiet success of Christensen was soon positively disrupted
when George Lucas chose him to play Anakin Skywalker in the final two chapters of the Star Wars epic film novel: Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.

Among the 400 candidates in contention for the coveted role, Christensen supposedly snagged the role from more prominent celebrities of the time like Leonardo DiCaprio and
Ryan Phillippe.

His role as Anakin has unequivocally served as his claim to
fame. Be that as it may, he still managed to squeeze in another role amidst his blockbuster, sci-fi extravaganzas.

In 2003, he starred in the independent film, Shattered Glass. Based on a true story, the film tells the story of Stephen Glass, young
journalist who fabricated stories for The New Republic. Straying away from the Star Wars spotlight, Christensen starred opposite Peter Sarsgaard and indie film queen, Chloë Sevigny.

The film reminded us that he was still capable of taking on more pensive roles and that his abilities go beyond his role of Anakin.

Christensen strives to prove that there will be life for him after the illustrious Star Wars saga is finished. He recently started his own production company called Forest Park Pictures and has two films in the works.

Next year, he will star in The Decameron with The O.C.'s Misha Barton. Based on 100 stories by 14^th century author, Giovanni Boccaccio, the film is set in Italy and tells the story of a secluded band of people who comfort each other during the Black Plague.

He also is set to star in Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson's film, Sixty-six, which is based on his first novel by the same name. The film tells the story of five men and their struggling transitions during the turbulent time of the '60's.

Hayden Christensen's preconceived plans for his post-Star
Wars life are promising and will eventually enable the pop cultured public to look beyond his iconic roles of Anakin Skywalker and now Darth Vader. Without a doubt, he is definitely a developing, talented young actor that we can only expect to see more from.