Birthdate: April 19, 1984
Birthplace: Vancouver, British Columbia
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Siblings: Tove (29), Hesja (28), Kaylen (18)
Parents: Allie (in Communications) and David (in computers)
Hair Color: dark blond
Eye Color: blue
Descent: Danish, Italian, and Swedish
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 159 lbs
Sports: Tennis, football, kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, triathlons, soccer, snowboarding and skiing
High School: Unionville High School (graduated 1999)
Favorite Foods: pizza and his mother's pasta
Listens to: Our Lady Peace, Outkast, many styles of music
Other talents: Can play blues and jazz on the piano

Hayden Christensen was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on April 19, 1981 to Allie and David Christensen. He lived there with siblings Hesja (now 29), Tove, (28), and Kaylen (17) before the family moved to the Thornhill area of Toronto, Ontario in 1987. Hesja became Junior World Trampoline Champion and appeared in a commercial, and while tagging along, young Hayden was asked if he'd like to be in commercials. He agreed, and his career began to grow slowly.

As a young teen, Hayden appeared in TV movies such as No Greater Love and on the soap opera Family Passions. In school he impressed teachers with his acting abilities as well as his athletic talent; he played AAA hockey for six years and was named as one of the Top 20 Under 18 in Ontario for tennis (Hayden ended up turning down a college tennis scholarship to act in Star Wars). Other sports he participates in include kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, triathlons, soccer, snowboarding and skiing.

Having once described acting as "the shy man's revenge," Hayden has certainly gotten revenge through a variety of challenging and insightful characters. One of Hayden's biggest breaks in the acting world came when he landed the part of troubled teen Scott Barringer on FoxFamily's short-lived but heartfelt drama Higher Ground. Though the show failed to find its audience, Hayden's poignant portrayal of a drug-addicted, sexually abused teen was enthralling enough to catch the notice of George Lucas. One of over 200 auditionees for the part of Anakin (which, according to rumor, included stars such as Joshua Jackson and Leonardo DiCaprio), Hayden expected little more than the experience of flying down to Skywalker Ranch. Much to his amazement, he landed the part, along with the name recognition in the industry to attract more scripts.

One of these scripts included the drama Life as a House. In this film, Hayden played a Sam Monroe, the rebellious son of a dying architect (Kevin Kline). Hayden had to dye his hair, don piercings and slim down to become the lanky character, subsisting on a diet of "vitamins, water, and an occasional salad" to lose his athletic build. His emotional performance was well-received by critics, and he was even nominated for a 2002 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama. Other awards Hayden has received included Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actor by the National Board of Review in 2001 for Life as a House and Young Hollywood Award: One to Watch, Male, in 2001.

In April 2002, Hayden switched from the silver screen to the stage, playing the role of Dennis in the acclaimed play This is Our Youth by Kenneth Lonergan. His stint alongside Anna Paquin and Jake Gylenthaal lasted eight weeks at the Garrick Theatre in London, where he recieved rave reviews for his performance as a 1980s-era rich Manhattan drug-dealing teen.

After Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones hit theaters in May 2002, Hayden's face graced magazine covers, t-shirts, and even action figures. No longer able to walk the streets in anonymity, Hayden has gone from a pint-sized commerical kid to one of Hollywood's most promising young stars. In addition to the last installment of Star Wars, Hayden's other projects include Nailed Right In, The Other Side of Simple and Shattered Glass.