A highly precocious, dark-haired actress, Anna Paquin gave an extraordinary, Oscar-winning performance as the fiercely articulate daughter—and voice—of a feisty mute woman (Holly Hunter) in Jane Campion’s sensuous film “The Piano” (1993). Just eleven years old at the time, Paquin was (to date) the second youngest person to ever win an Academy Award. Easily embarrassed when talking about her success or fame, the young woman kept her statuette in the back of a closet for years so as not to make non-acting friends and family feel uncomfortable.

Paquin proved that her outstanding debut was no fluke when she earned raves for her portrayal of the young Jane (played as an adult by Charlotte Gainsbourg) in Franco Zeffirelli’s adaptation of “Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre” (1996). But her biggest role since winning the Oscar was as the daughter of a man (Jeff Daniels) who teaches geese to migrate with the aid of ultra-light planes in Carroll Ballard’s “Fly Away Home” (also 1996). The actress who has never had an acting lesson followed that role up with a cameo appearance as the young Queen of Spain in Steven Spielberg’s historical drama “Amistad” (1997).

In 1998, Paquin traded in her corset for more contemporary lingerie and played a sexy scene stealer in a pivotal supporting role opposite Sean Penn and Kevin Spacey in the Hollywood satire “Hurlyburly”. The following year, she donned cut off shorts and a halter top to play Diane Lane and Liev Schreiber’s rebellious hippie chick daughter in the 1960s drama “A Walk on the Moon”. That same year, she also had a small part in the frothy teen romance “She’s All That”, playing Freddie Prinze Jr.’s younger sister with a knack with makeup. Not wanting to be typecast in typical teenage or period roles, Paquin followed with terrific turns as the genetic mutant Rogue in the big-screen version of Marvel Comic’s “X-Men” and as a soulful groupie in love with Jason Lee’s 1970s rocker in Cameron Crowe’s “Almost Famous” (both 2000). She also held her own with acting heavyweights F. Murray Abraham and Sean Connery in the inspirational drama “Finding Forrester”, the story of an unlikely friendship between a reclusive novelist and a gifted scholar-athlete.

In 2002, Paquin was cast in Spike Lee’s crime drama feature “The 25th Hour,” starring Edward Norton as a man who is forced to reevaluate his life before serving a seven year jail sentence. The next year saw Paquin revive her X-Men role, Rogue, in the successful sequel, “X2: X-Men United” (2003), considered by some to be equal to, if not better than, its predecessor. Paquin next appeared in a debacle known as “Buffalo Soldiers” (2003), a military satire starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scott Glenn that was held back from release after the events of September 11th. When it finally did see the light of day, “Buffalo Soldiers” died a quick and painless death at the box office. Meanwhile, the actress starred as Regina, an American teenager who moves with her family into an old house in the remote countryside of Spain, in director Jaume Balaguero’s second stab at the horror genre, “Darkness” (2004). Though filmed in 2001, it was released in the United States in December 2004 to poor reviews and mediocre box office. She next shacked up with her college writing professor (Jeff Daniels) after his separation and eventual divorce in Noal Baumbach’s widely praised and Oscar-nominated “The Squid and the Whale” (2005). Paquin then revived Rogue for the third installment of the series, “X-Men: The Last Stand” (2006), directed by Brett Ratner. This time, the mutants face a peculiar choice after a cure for mutations is found: retain their uniqueness and remain isolated from society or give up their strange powers and become human.

Facts

Birth Name: Anna Helene Paquin
Date of Birth: 24 July 1982
Place of Birth: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Height: 5’5″
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Parents: Brian and Mary Paquin
Siblings: Andrew and Katya Paquin
Animals: 2 cats, 1 dog
Hobbies: rugby, running, playing the piano, gymnastics, swimming, reading and knitting