See 25 Photos of Young Hayden Christensen, 20 Years After 'Revenge of the Sith'

At just 19 years old, Hayden Christensen's life took an unprecedented turn, one that many young men can only dream of. He got the call that informed him that he was George Lucas' chosen one to play Star Wars' Anakin Skywalker, who (spoilers) becomes Darth Vader. (Cue the "Imperial March Theme" by John Williams.) Lucas saw Christensen as someone who could embody the complexities that a role like this demands, someone who could portray the hero and said hero's fall for the seduction of the Dark Side. On screen, he became a hero and heartthrob.

Before his big break, Christensen was born in Vancouver, Canada, in 1981 and, like many, dreamt of making it in Hollywood. His first big acting gig was in 1993 when he was 12 years old with a supporting role in the German-Canadian television series Family Passions. He went on to appear in the 1997 Goosebumps TV series, 1997's The Virgin Suicides, and 2001's Life As A House. Unbeknownst to him, these roles were stepping stones to auditioning for George Lucas and being entrusted with a role in the Star Wars franchise that would define his career no matter what. 

The Canadian actor was catapulted into the limelight after the premiere of Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones in 2002, the second film in the prequel trilogy (and the sequel to Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace). He was elevated to heartthrob status and even had his co-star and former L'OFFICIEL cover star Natalie Portman, who portrayed Padmé Amidala, blushing. He reprised his role as Anakin in the third and final prequel installment, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, in 2005. His commitment to the role is admirable and demonstrates his understanding of what the Star Wars legacy is. 

His Star Wars bubble burst, however, when critics destroyed the movies in their reviews. It has taken over two decades for people to give the prequel films the credit they deserve. The 44-year-old Anakin actor is having a renaissance of his own and feeling the love of Star Wars fans who grew up watching the prequels, and he has more exciting projects coming up in the Star Wars universe. After all, in 2022, Christensen received another life-changing phone call, this time asking him to return to the galaxy far, far away as Darth Vader in Disney+'s Obi-Wan limited series.

As the twentieth anniversary of Revenge of the Sith approaches May 19, what better time is there than now to take a look back at Hayden Christensen's early career and young photos?  Click through the gallery below to reminisce and see the Canadian actor everywhere from the Met Gala to industry party red carpets.