Christensen was born inVancouver,British Columbia to Alie, an American speechwriter, and David Christensen, a Canadian computer programmer and communications executive.[1][2] His father is ofDanish descent, and his mother hasSwedish andItalian ancestry.[2] Christensen is one of four children, with three actor siblings: older brotherTove, older sister Hejsa, and younger sister Kaylen.[1][3] He spent summers onLong Island with his maternal grandmother, Rose Schwartz.[4]
Christensen attendedUnionville High School inMarkham, Ontario.[5] He was an athlete in high school, playing hockey competitively and tennis on aprovincial level.[4] He attended theActors Studio inNew York City; he studied as well at the Arts York drama program in high school.[6] After accompanying his older sister to her agent's office after she landed a role in aPringles commercial, he began being cast in commercials as well, including forTriaminic cough syrup in 1988.[6]
He went on to receive positive reviews for 2003'sShattered Glass, which tells the true story of journalistStephen Glass, who was discovered to be fabricating stories as a writer forThe New Republic and other publications.[13][14]Peter Travers ofRolling Stone wrote, "Hayden Christensen is sensational as Glass, finding the wonder boy and the weasel in a disturbed kid flying high on a fame he hasn't earned."[15] In 2005, Christensen made hisBroadway debut when he appeared briefly in a 10-minute play.
In 2005, he took part in the fifth annual "24 Hour Plays" benefit, which raises cash for nonprofit groups in theBig Apple.[16]
During the production ofRevenge of the Sith, Christensen asked Lucas if a special Vader suit could be constructed to fit his own body, rather than have a different actor don one of the original sets of Vader armour worn byDavid Prowse.[18] Lucas agreed, and a suit was engineered to fit Christensen's frame, even including extensions to allow for the actor to attain Vader's 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) height. His voice as the "robotic" Vader, however, was dubbed over byJames Earl Jones, who first made the voice famous in the original trilogy.[19]
In one of the most controversial changes made to theStar Warsoriginal trilogy,[20] Christensen was inserted into the 2004 DVD release ofReturn of the Jedi, where he replacedSebastian Shaw as the force ghost of the redeemed Anakin Skywalker.[21][22] Lucas wanted Anakin's inner person to return to who he was before he turned to the dark side.[23] Christensen insisted this was done without his knowledge, an act that was confirmed byLucasfilm itself in the featurette "Return of the Jedi: What has changed?" as seen on the official website to commemorate the 2006 DVDs.[24]
Christensen's performance in bothEpisode II andIII received generally mixed reviews from critics,[25][26][27][28] although contemporary reviews note that his performance was mostly affected by Lucas' directing and the dialogue, and has since seen positive reappraisal in retrospect.[29] In 2022, when reflecting on the prequel trilogy and the reappraisal, Christensen said, “It’s like those films had a gestation period, where they needed a little time to ferment in the public psyche. The reception that the films have now, it’s very heartwarming.”[30]
In 2010, Christensen suedUSA Network over allegations that they stole his idea for the TV showRoyal Pains. The suit alleges that Christensen met with USA to pitch a similar series entitledHousecalls. During the meeting, Christensen alleges, he was never informed that a similar program was in development.[43][44] Although a federal judge at first dismissed Christensen's lawsuit in 2011, in June 2012, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals reversed this decision and remanded the case back to the district court for further proceedings, in what was considered a legal victory for Christensen.[45][46]
In 2019, Christensen returned to the role of Anakin Skywalker, providing a voice cameo of the character's voice inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.[52] Christensen also received a voice credit as Anakin Skywalker jointly alongsideMatt Lanter for the penultimate episode of the final season of the animated television seriesStar Wars: The Clone Wars entitled "Shattered" despite the fact the dialogue used for the episode spoken by Christensen was reused archival audio fromRevenge of the Sith.[53] On October 22, 2021, it was reported that Christensen would also reprise the role for the Disney+ seriesAhsoka.[54]
In May 2022, Christensen reprised his role ofAnakin Skywalker / Darth Vader for theObi-Wan Kenobi limited series onDisney+.[55][56] His portrayal earned positive reviews from critics, noting a huge improvement from his performance in the prequel trilogy.[57] He appeared in the documentary specialObi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return which premiered on September 8, 2022,Disney+ Day.[58] In 2023, Christensen appeared in four episodes ofAhsoka and was digitally de-aged.[59] He was first seen wearing his outfit fromRevenge of the Sith and later another outfit similar to the one Anakin wore in the early series ofThe Clone Wars. His portrayal earned more positive reviews.
On 19 April 2025, during one of the panels at Star Wars Celebration Japan, Christensen said that he would reprise his role in the second season ofAhsoka.[60] On 25 April 2025, Christensen andSamuel L. Jackson surprised the audience at a screening of theRevenge of the Sith 20th anniversary re-release in Los Angeles. Christensen told the audience that he had "so many amazing memories of making"Revenge of the Sith.[61]
He has been attending several conventions as part ofStar Wars Celebration as a guest since 2017.[62][63][64] In April 2019, Christensen met Matt Lanter at Star Wars Celebration Chicago and said to him, "I love what you guys are doing. Thanks for keepingStar Wars alive."[65]
In 2007, Christensen began dating actress Rachel Bilson, with whom he starred in the movieJumper. They became engaged on December 25, 2008.[66][67] In mid-2010, they broke up, but began dating again a few months later.[68][69][70][71] On October 29, 2014, Bilson gave birth to their daughter.[72] Christensen and Bilson separated in September 2017.[73]
In 2007, Christensen bought a farm nearUxbridge, Ontario.[74][75] He noted in 2008 that he had been renovating the property himself and devoting time to learning about "livestock, crops, and agricultural machinery".[74] In November 2013, Christensen collaborated with Canadian fashion chainRW&Co to release a men's clothing line inspired by his farm.[76]
^Johnson, Derek. "Star Wars fans, DVD, and cultural ownership: an interview with Will Brooker; Interview",Velvet Light Trap, September 22, 2005, pg. 36–44.
^Star Wars Trilogy: Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (DVD). 20th Century Fox. 2004.
^Westbrook, Bruce (December 15, 2015)."Revenge of the Sith review".Houston Chronicle.Archived from the original on March 22, 2007. RetrievedSeptember 30, 2005.
^"Hello There: Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return Documentary Coming on Disney+ Day".starwars.com. August 22, 2022.Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. RetrievedSeptember 8, 2022.The revealing chronicle from Lucasfilm and Supper Club features never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes footage, new interviews with Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker)
^"Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025". StarWars.com. February 19, 2025. RetrievedApril 20, 2025.This is where the fun begins as Hayden Christensen, who first portrayed Anakin Skywalker as the young Jedi apprentice in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, joins in the festivities.
^"Matt Lanter: The Animated Anakin".Star Wars Insider Presents The Dark Side Collection. Titan. December 2024. p. 81.
Hiscock, John (May 13, 2005)."Skywalker comes down to earth".The Daily Telegraph. London.Archived from the original on January 11, 2022. RetrievedJuly 1, 2008.
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