With his boyish good looks and warm smile you'd never have Hayden Christensen down as the darkest force in the galaxy.

 

But the 24-year-old star is about to undergo one of the most dramatic transformations in screen history when he finally dons the infamous black cloak and helmet to become Darth Vader.

Audiences all over the world have been waiting with bated breath for the unmistakable asthmatic tones of the fearsome villain in the third and final Star Wars prequel, Revenge Of The Sith, opening on Thursday May 19.
But no one is more excited than Hayden himself, who has finally crossed over to the dark side after his stint as eager young Jedi apprentice Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones.

"This is what I had been waiting for," he says with a huge grin. "Anakin more or less makes a deal with the Devil and becomes Darth Vader and roams like the grim reaper.

"That was the side of Anakin that I was always very excited about. It was really nice because it also justified a lot of the sensibilities relating to Anakin that I had a difficult time with, like his whining quality," he adds with a smile.

"Now I know it stems from a frustration that he is so consumed by, as people will see in this film."
Though the young star received mixed reviews for his debut as Anakin in Attack Of The Clones, he says his leading role in last year's critically acclaimed movie Shattered Glass means he's returning to Star Wars with renewed confidence.

"I was just a year out of high school when I did Episode II. This time I was not so in awe of everything and a little more acclimatised to Anakin's skin."
For Anakin's credible descent into evil, the normally slender Hayden had to undergo some tough physical transformations. Not only are the normally twinkling blue eyes unrecognisable behind the sinister Vader helmet but the young star was put through his paces with a three-month long gruelling workout regime.

"The film is pretty much an action sequence from beginning to end," he explains. "So, aside from the lightsaber fights it was very physically demanding. But I was up for the task. They wanted me to bulk up for the part.
"I went from 160lbs to 185lbs but I was in the best shape of my life because I worked out with a trainer in Sydney and was on a strict diet, eating six meals a day and on every protein weight-gain supplement that man has created. I could eat anything because I was working out five or six hours a day.
"It was the most physically demanding film role I've ever done."

However, the hardy star, reckons it's all worth it for the fight to end all fight scenes when the mighty Darth finally takes on Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) in the thrilling climax of the film.
"It's as epic as a lightsaber fight has ever been," reveals Hayden enthusiastically. "It's more grand in its duration and the length of geography covered. It was a good three months of preparation trying to learn the choreography for the fight."

However, that's as much as Hayden is giving away about the galactic battle scenes. Every member of cast and crew have been ordered not to reveal too much and the levels of secrecy surrounding the latest film would make MI5 proud.
"All the scripts were all numbered and only so many were given out and they're all on photocopy-proof paper," says Hayden. "But it was all done with an air of trust.

"Putting people off about what happens has became a bit of a skill that I've learned - to talk about something without actually revealing any details," he adds with a knowing smile.
The talented young Canadian actor has also skilfully learned to deflect any intrusion into his own life away from the camera.
Though he's now one of the most famous young actors in the universe he's so far managed to keep an incredibly low profile and merely shrugs off reports that he's dating his co-star Natalie Portman or persistent rumours that he's gay.

Star Wars creator George Lucas (top, centre) and stars of the film, left to right; Christopher Lee, Hayden Christensen, Samuel L Jackson and Ian McDiarmid

"My perspective is that if it's not true, then I'm OK with it. I get a laugh out of it," he responds.
He does admit though that in the past five years his life, ever since he first made his appearance as Anakin Skywalker, his life has changed completely.
"It's all been such a surreal experience," he says. "I still have a hard time grasping the effect that this film and George Lucas has had on my life.

"When you have 10-year-old kids who can't differentiate between Anakin and the actor who's playing Anakin you make their fantasy tangible and to be part of that is a real privilege," he smiles.

And as for fears that he'll forever be known as the darkest being in the galaxy, Hayden's not too concerned.

"I don't think I will be typecast because I love reinventing myself. And if I am remembered as Anakin for the rest of my life I don't think that's such a bad thing," he says with a very unthreatening boy-next-door smile.

 

nuts4facts
Real Name:	Hayden Christensen
Birthdate:	April 19, 1981
Significant Other:	Single
Career High:	Donning the black helmet to become Darth Vader one of the most iconic characters in movie history
Career Low:	Being awarded the Razzie award for Worst Supporting Actor, for Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones
Famous For:	That dark cape, those yellow eyes, that helmet, not to mention the lightsaber
Words of Wisdom:	After landing the role of Anakin Skywalker: "I was walking around with this big smile on my face and everyone was like, 'Why are you so happy?'. I was like, 'You'll find out soon enough'."