Anakin Skywalker has been portrayed by several actors across different stages of the character's life in the Star Wars franchise:
- Hayden Christensen played the adult Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005). He also reprised the role in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) and Ahsoka (2023). Christensen is the actor most closely associated with the character of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in the prequel trilogy
- Jake Lloyd portrayed the young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). Lloyd was a child actor when he took on the role and later retired from acting, citing difficulties including bullying
- Matt Lanter provided the voice of Anakin Skywalker in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and other animated projects, adding depth to the character through voice acting
- Sebastian Shaw portrayed Anakin Skywalker as a Force ghost in the original Return of the Jedi (1983), representing the redeemed Anakin after his death
In summary, Jake Lloyd played young Anakin, Hayden Christensen played the adult Anakin in live-action prequels, Matt Lanter voiced Anakin in animation, and Sebastian Shaw appeared as Anakin's Force ghost in the original trilogy. Hayden Christensen is the most recognized actor for the role of Anakin Skywalker in the main prequel films
