Another Cracking Christensen Christmas

Star Wars star Hayden Christensen always makes sure film contracts allow him to head home to Canada for the holidays, because he can't bear to be apart from his extended family at Christmas.

The actor, who plays Anakin Skywalker, in the Star Wars prequels, admits his family's home is usually decorated so it looks just as festive as any department store.

He says, "Every Christmas is an event in my house. You get all the extended family to come to our place and it's a very festive house.

"We go over the top with the decorations and the Christmas spirit. Every year I can't wait for December to come around just for that reason."

Christensen is desperate for one of his siblings to have children, so he can dress up as Santa Claus.

He adds, "We haven't had anyone play Santa Claus in a while because the youngest attendee at Christmas is my little sister, who's 18, so it would be a little redundant if we had someone dress up.

"I was actually the last Santa Claus maybe four years ago. We were actually in New York at my grandparents, who live on Long Island and I have a little niece who was about six, and they decided I would be the best Santa Claus.

"I got all dressed up. I wore the red suit, put the beard on and put a sack over my shoulder and did the `Ho, ho, ho!' I got into character and it was one of my best performances, even if I say so myself."