Hayden Christensen, who entered the world on April 19, 1981, is a distinguished actor in the realm of cinema, hailing from Vancouver, situated in British Columbia. He is most recognized for his depiction of the adult Anakin Skywalker in both the motion pictures titled Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. Moreover, Christensen took on the role of Darth Vader in the saga's concluding prequel, embodying the character both with and without the iconic suit. Later, he lent his voice to Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker, which served as the final installment of the Skywalker Saga. He also contributed by writing the foreword for The Art and Making of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Further expanding his involvement, he reprised his role as Darth Vader in Obi-Wan Kenobi, alongside James Earl Jones, who once again provided the character's voice. Additionally, he returned to portray Anakin Skywalker in Ahsoka.
Born on April 19, 1981, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Hayden Christensen embarked on his acting journey. He auditioned for the part of the adult Anakin Skywalker without anticipating that he would secure it. George Lucas, the director, discovered the actor from a state of comparative anonymity. For Christensen, being chosen for the role marked the realization of a long-held aspiration.
Shortly after Lucas selected him, Christensen experienced nervousness upon arriving at a soundstage located in Sydney, Australia. Upon entering the hair-and-makeup area, he encountered Ewan McGregor for the first time, who greeted Christensen as if they had known each other for many years. McGregor then embraced Christensen and welcomed him into the Star Wars family. McGregor played a crucial role in facilitating Christensen's adaptation to the massive, droid-factory-like infrastructure of the Star Wars universe. Christensen, being a passionate actor, approached the scenes with considerable commitment and vitality. This passion extended to the lightsaber rehearsals with McGregor, which Christensen described as the most enjoyable aspect, likening it to "playing with your friend every day." Christensen found it challenging to suppress making sound effects while wielding a lightsaber in the scenes.
During the scene in Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones where Skywalker converses with Watto, the script presented the dialogue in English, with the parenthetical note "in Wattanese." The day before filming, Christensen inquired with Lucas about the desired sound of the language, to which Lucas responded that the actor was free to invent it, provided it did not resemble English or any other established language. Subsequently, Christensen devoted the night before filming to devising Wattanese. Lucas expressed his belief that Christensen delivered an outstanding performance as Skywalker, countering criticism by suggesting that audiences might not have appreciated the character within the narrative.
In the final two installments of the prequel trilogy, Christensen stood out as the sole actor portraying a Jedi who was not permitted to personalize his character's lightsaber. This restriction stemmed from the design of Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber in Episode II, which was intentionally crafted to evoke Darth Vader's lightsaber from the original trilogy. Conversely, in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, Anakin's lightsaber was conceptualized to mirror the lightsaber that Obi-Wan Kenobi bestows upon Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope—canonically, the very same lightsaber.
Christensen briefly donned the Vader costume towards the conclusion of Episode III. The actor encountered challenges in maneuvering within the suit, finding it exceedingly inflexible. Upon informing Lucas of this difficulty, the director posited that the suit's wear should evoke a sense of mechanical and unnatural movement. Christensen perceived the completion of Revenge of the Sith as the culmination of his involvement with Star Wars. The prequels faced considerable criticism from audiences, which Christensen found disheartening due to his deep affection for the films and his significant personal investment in them.
For the DVD release of the original trilogy, Christensen's visage was digitally superimposed onto the physique of Sebastian Shaw in the role of Anakin's Force ghost. Shaw's facial features during the unmasking scene underwent subtle modifications to more closely resemble an older Christensen. Additionally, Shaw's eyebrows were digitally erased to reflect Anakin's post-burned alive appearance on Mustafar. Christensen asserts that this alteration occurred without his prior knowledge, a fact corroborated by Lucasfilm in the featurette "Return of the Jedi: What has changed?" published on the official website to commemorate the 2006 DVDs.
His portrayal of Anakin Skywalker propelled him to stardom. Despite the mixed reception of his performances in both films, he garnered significant popularity, earning recognition in People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" and "50 Hottest Bachelors," as well as Teen People magazine's "25 Hottest Stars under 25." A Singaporean publication also lauded him as the "Prettiest Villain" for his depiction of Darth Vader before the events on Mustafar. He was awarded a Razzie for Worst Supporting Actor in 2003 and 2005 for his appearances as Anakin. In 2006, Christensen received the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain for his role in Revenge of the Sith.
Following the release of Revenge of the Sith in 2005, Christensen's visits to Skywalker Ranch were motivated by the "sense of peace and escape" he experienced there. He then decided to take a respite from Hollywood and acquired a farm in the Canadian countryside. Skywalker profoundly influenced Christensen's life, both in his professional endeavors and personal experiences.
Kathleen Kennedy, the president of Lucasfilm, clarified that Christensen was not considered for the role of Darth Vader in the 2016 anthology film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story because the scene involving Vader pursuing the rebels "was simply a highly specific action sequence." While Christensen was not involved in any discussions regarding Rogue One, he expressed admiration for the film's portrayal of the character, deeming it brilliant.
In 2017, for the 40th anniversary celebration of Star Wars, he made an appearance on stage at Celebration Orlando alongside George Lucas and Ian McDiarmid, and was interviewed by Andi Gutierrez on The Star Wars Show LIVE!.
During the development of the Obi-Wan Kenobi television series, the decision was made to include Vader, with Christensen reprising his role. Joby Harold, the writer, emphasized the importance of Christensen's involvement in the project, citing his significant contribution to the character. In the autumn of 2019, Deborah Chow, the director, personally visited Christensen's farm to present her vision for the series. Chow discussed the project and her aspirations for it, assuring that Vader would introduce a fresh perspective that could reshape how fans perceive Vader and Kenobi's duel in A New Hope. Christensen expressed his enthusiasm for the concept and his eagerness to return to Star Wars and reunite with McGregor. Chow noted the intensity of having such an iconic character on set when Christensen first arrived, and she felt privileged to direct and film new scenes with him. Christensen described the experience of donning the suit again as surreal and "cathartic in a way," emphasizing the character's enduring significance to him over the years. He characterized playing Vader as an emotionally resonant experience. Christensen fondly recalled the first time he saw McGregor as Kenobi as a particularly memorable moment. He thoroughly enjoyed portraying Vader in the series and felt honored to have the opportunity to return. Chow expressed her satisfaction with working alongside Christensen, praising his exceptional talent.
Christensen expressed that delving into Vader's mindset and emotional state was "a lot of fun." He consistently contemplated the Anakin Skywalker aspect of Vader. The actor appreciated the chance to further develop Vader's character and looked forward to revealing a "glimpse into the experience of being Darth Vader." Many of Christensen's discussions with Chow revolved around his desire to "convey this feeling of strength, but also coupled with imprisonment," which he found to be a compelling dynamic to explore. In preparation for reprising his role as Vader, Christensen reviewed all of the Star Wars films, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Star Wars Rebels, and he also read a selection of comics. He found the animated series to be engaging and appreciated the exploration of the characters' relationships. Additionally, he engaged in lightsaber practice with Ross Kohnstam, McGregor's stunt double.
Christensen wore a Vader costume that was notably hot and heavy, but it incorporated an under-layer with a liquid cooling system. Between takes, Christensen connected to a device that circulated the liquid, aiding in cooling him down. Christensen noted that the mechanical aspect of the suit enhanced his embodiment of Vader. The costume also featured tinted helmet lenses. Olga Sokolova, a choreographer and specialist in Vader's movements, ensured that Christensen's movements and gait were accurate within the suit. This was done to maintain the authenticity of Vader's movements and the fans' perception of the character. It took Christensen nine months to gain 25-30 pounds to properly fit into the suit. Due to the challenges of filming certain scenes in the suit, Dmitrious Bistrevsky and Tom O'Connell also wore the suit for specific sequences. When Christensen delivered Vader's lines on set, he drew inspiration from James Earl Jones' delivery and intonation. Jones also provided Vader's voice, with his line readings incorporated during post-production.
The initial scene filmed with Christensen involved his portrayal of Anakin Skywalker in a vision experienced by Kenobi in the third episode. This scene was filmed on location, and McGregor insisted on being present on set to support Christensen's return to the role. Christensen also portrayed a helmet-less Vader in a bacta tank within the series. Recognizing that the actor would need to hold his breath while submerged in water, the crew arranged for him to work with a dive instructor to improve his breath-holding capabilities. Christensen was restricted from breathing through the regulator. Christensen described the tank as a tranquil and meditative environment. A team of make-up artists dedicated four to five hours to applying make-up to Christensen for his portrayal of Vader in those scenes. He collaborated closely with Doug Chiang, the executive creative director of Lucasfilm, who provided input on the overall aesthetic. Christensen and McGregor engaged in lightsaber training for the flashback sequence depicting Skywalker and Kenobi training in the fifth episode. Both actors had dots applied to their faces for the de-aging technology.
On December 10, 2020, Kathleen Kennedy announced Christensen's return to the role of Darth Vader in the Obi-Wan Kenobi television series during the Disney Investor Day presentation. He participated in an interview for Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return, a documentary chronicling the making of the series.