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Anna Paquin Profile |
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Birth Date: July 24, 1982
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Birth Place: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Birth Name: Anna Helene Paquin
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Height: 5'5"
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Biography |
Anna Helene Paquin was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada,
on July 24, 1982. Both of Anna's parents are educators; her
Canadian father, Brian, is a phys-ed teacher, while her New
Zealand-born mother, Mary, teaches English. Anna has two
older siblings: brother Andrew, born in 1977, and sister
Katya, born in 1980. When Anna was 4 years old, the Paquins
moved to New Zealand, although they still returned regularly
to visit the Canadian side of the family.
It was in New Zealand in the early 1990s that Anna became an
actress by a remarkable fluke. Director Jane Campion was
looking for a little girl to play a key role in The Piano,
set to film in New Zealand, and a newspaper ad was run
announcing an open audition. Anna's sister read the ad and
went to try out with a friend; Anna tagged along because she
had nothing better to do. When Campion met Anna -- whose
only acting experience had been as a skunk in a school play
-- she was blown away. The director later recalled: "It is
rare to find someone so young with such an instinct for
performance."
Anna was cast to play the role of Flora McGrath, the young
daughter of a Scottish mail-order bride -- played by Holly
Hunter -- who was sent to New Zealand to be married. Then
10-year-old Anna had the most dialogue in the film since her
character served as her mute mother's interpreter.
Ironically, the film's violence and nudity earned it an R
rating, so Anna couldn't even watch it in its entirety when
it was released.
But the critics certainly watched the whole thing and were
bowled over by Anna's fiercely nuanced performance. The Film
Critics Circle of Australia named her Best Supporting
Actress, as did the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.
However, the greatest acclaim came when Anna was awarded the
1993 Best Supporting Actress Oscar, becoming the
second-youngest person to win an Academy Award (Anna was
only a few months older than the record-holder, Tatum
O'Neal, had been when she won).
In 1995, Anna's parents divorced and Anna moved in with her
mother. She continued acting while attending an all-girls
school in New Zealand, starring in the uplifting Fly Away
Home (1996) and appearing as the young Jane in Jane Eyre
(1996). Before long, Anna moved to Los Angeles to pursue a
more active career.
During her teen years, she had notable roles in such films
as Amistad (1997), Hurlyburly (1998), A Walk on the Moon
(1999), All the Rage (1999), Almost Famous (2000), and
Finding Forrester (2000). In the summer of 2000, she played
Rogue in the much-anticipated X-Men movie, and would later
appear in its 2003 sequel.
Anna toned down her burgeoning film career in the fall of
2000, when she began attending Columbia University, majoring
in English. During her school days, Anna's film output
slowed: she appeared only in Buffalo Soldiers (2001), 25th
Hour (2002) and X-Men 2 (2003). However, she branched out
into theater, performing onstage in The Glory of Living,
This is Our Youth, and Roulette.
In 2004, Anna shared a Drama Desk Award nomination for
Outstanding Ensemble Performance in the play The Distance
From Here, and she was also a presenter at the Tony Awards.
Her next project is the film The Squid and the Whale, due
out in 2005. |
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Other
Information |
She is a vegetarian.
While filming the movie Amistad in Montreal during the
summer, she made a sidetrip to Toronto to film 5 TV
commercials for the telephone company of her old hometown in
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She delivers the commercials in
a variety of costumes in her Canadian accent rather than her
New Zealand one. [1997]
She keeps her Oscar in her bedroom closet so her friends
won't see it and feel the need to comment on it.
She enjoys photography.
Family moved to New Zealand when Anna was 4.
Has a brother, Andrew (a film producer, with whom she is
working on 'Blue State') and a sister, Katya.
She plays the cello.
Father, Brian, is a physical education teacher. Mother,
Mary, is an English teacher.
Her parents are divorced.
Hobbies: rugby, running, playing the piano, singing,
gymnastics, swimming, downhill skiing, reading, and knitting
Enjoys listening to alternative music
When she was younger, she wanted to be the Prime Minister of
New Zealand, or a lawyer
Is the first New Zealander to receive an Oscar for best
supporting actress, and is the second-youngest Oscar winner
ever
She still hasn't seen all of The Piano (1993).
Is a fan of the Beatles
She has 2 cats and 1 dog
Speaks French
Graduated from Windward School in West Los Angeles,
California in June 2000; she completed the school's
community service requirement by working in an LA soup
kitchen and at a special education center.
Favorite color is green.
One of Teen People Magazine's "25 Hottest Stars under 25"
[2002]
college classmate of Julia Stiles.
Is a fan of the alternative rock band Nine Inch Nails
She was the original choice to play the character of 'Enola'
in 'Kevin Costner's "Water World [1995]." But, eventually,
the role fell to Tina Majorino.
Attending Columbia University [2005]
In 1996, when she went on the "Late Show with David
Letterman" (1993) to promote her upcoming movie Jane Eyre
(1996), David Letterman had a surprise for her. He told
Paquin to climb into a magician's box, claiming he was going
to show her a magic trick, but once she was restrained in
the box, with only her head and feet exposed, he slipped off
her shoes and tickled her feet.
When on a talk show, the host told her he would give her
$10,000 if she could shoot a basketball into a hoop. She
did, but he refused to pay. After bad press he gave her the
money which she donated to charity.
Played the daughter of Jeff Daniels in "Fly Away Home" and
then his romantic partner in "The Squid and the Whale" 9
years later. |
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