Anna Paquin

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Anna Paquin
Anna Paquin Comic-Con 2012.jpg
Paquin at the San Diego Comic-Con International, July 2012
Born Anna Helene Paquin
(1982-07-24) 24 July 1982 (age 30)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Occupation Actress
Years active 1993-present
Spouse(s) Stephen Moyer (m. 2010)
Children 2

Anna Helene Paquin (/ˈpækwɪn/; born 24 July 1982) is a Canadian-born New Zealand film, television and theatre actress. Paquin's first critically successful film was The Piano, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1994 at the age of 11 – the second youngest winner in history.[1] She later appeared in a number of successful films, including Fly Away Home, She's All That, Almost Famous and the X-Men franchise.

Paquin is well known for her role as Sookie Stackhouse in the HBO series True Blood, for which she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama in 2008.

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Early life [edit]

Paquin was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, the daughter of Mary Paquin (née Brophy), an English teacher and native of Wellington, New Zealand, and Brian Paquin, a high school physical education teacher from Canada. Paquin has two older siblings: a brother, Andrew, a director, born in 1977, and a sister, Katya, born in 1980,[2][3] who is the partner of the Green Party of New Zealand co-leader Russel Norman.[4] Paquin's family moved to New Zealand when she was four. She attended the Raphael House Rudolf Steiner School until she was eight or nine.[5] Her musical childhood hobbies in New Zealand included playing the viola, cello and piano. She also participated in gymnastics, ballet, swimming and downhill skiing, though she did not have any hobbies related to acting.[6][7]

While in New Zealand, Paquin attended Hutt Intermediate School from 1994 to 1995. Having begun her secondary education in Wellington at Wellington Girls' College, she completed her high school diploma at Windward School in Los Angeles, after moving to the US with her mother following her parents' divorce in 1995.[8] She graduated from Windward School in June 2000 and completed the school's community service requirement by working in a soup kitchen and at a special education centre. She studied at Columbia University for one year, but has since been on a leave of absence to continue her acting career.

Career [edit]

Child actress [edit]

It was in New Zealand in 1991 that Paquin became an actress by chance. 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 advertisement was run announcing an open audition. Paquin's sister read the ad and went to try out with a friend; Paquin herself tagged along because she had nothing better to do. When Campion met Paquin—whose only acting experience had been as a skunk in a school play—she was very impressed with the nine-year-old's performance of the monologue about Flora's father, and she was chosen from among the 5000 candidates.[7]

When The Piano was released in 1993 it was lauded by critics, won prizes at a number of film festivals, and eventually became a popular film among a wide audience. Paquin's debut performance in the film earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at the age of eleven, making her the second-youngest Oscar winner in history after Tatum O'Neal.[7] The Piano was made as a small independent film and wasn't expected to be widely known, and Paquin and her family did not plan to continue in the acting circles.[6] However, she was invited to the William Morris Agency, and she kept receiving offers for new roles. She systematically refused them, but she did appear in three commercials for the phone company MCI (now Verizon) in 1994.[9] She later made a series of television commercials for Manitoba Telecom Systems in her birth city of Winnipeg.[10] She also appeared as a voice in an audio book entitled The Magnificent Nose in 1994.

In 1996, she appeared in two films. The first role was as young Jane in Jane Eyre. The other was a lead part in Fly Away Home playing a young girl who, after her mother dies, moves in with her father and finds solace in taking care of orphaned goslings.[11]

As a teenager, she had roles in films, including A Walk on the Moon, Amistad, Hurlyburly, She's All That and Almost Famous.

X-Men and beyond [edit]

Paquin at 25th Annual Paley Television Festival, April 2009

Paquin returned to worldwide prominence with her role as the mutant superheroine Rogue in the Marvel Comics movie X-Men in 2000,[1] its sequel X2 in 2003, and its third instalment, X-Men: The Last Stand, in 2006.

Between 2006 and 2007, she starred in, as well as executive-produced Blue State. The film is made by Paquin Films, a production company formed by both her and her brother, Andrew Paquin.[12] In November 2006, she completed the film Margaret, which was released in 2011. She played Elaine Goodale in HBO's made-for-TV film Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, based on Dee Brown's best-seller.

Paquin was cast as waitress Sookie Stackhouse in the HBO series True Blood in 2008, her first role in a TV series. The show is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris, set in the fictional town of Bon Temps, Louisiana. While working on True Blood, she started dating co-star Stephen Moyer and later married him in 2010.

In 2009, Paquin played Irena Sendler, a Polish woman hailed as a heroine of the Holocaust, in The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler, a CBS TV film biographical film based on the book Mother of the Children of the Holocaust: The Irena Sendler Story, by Anna Mieszkowska. The film was made in Latvia, and was a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation for the network.[13]

In 2010, Paquin's film The Romantics, a romantic comedy with Josh Duhamel and Katie Holmes, was released in the US at selected cinemas in September. She played a cameo role in Scream 4, alongside Kristen Bell in 2011.[14] She also played the voice of Kristin on an episode of Phineas and Ferb.

Upcoming projects for her in 2012 included Straight A's, co-starring Ryan Phillippe, and Free Ride with Cam Gigandet. Also Black Wings Has My Angel, alongside Tom Hiddleston, set to start shooting in autumn 2012, and released in 2013. Paquin will reprise her role as Rogue in the upcoming film X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Personal life [edit]

Paquin with husband and True Blood costar Stephen Moyer, 2009

On 5 August 2009, Paquin announced her engagement to her True Blood co-star Stephen Moyer, whom she had been dating since filming the series pilot in 2007.[15][16] They married on 21 August 2010 at a private residence in Malibu, California.[17] The couple have fraternal twins, a boy and a girl, born in September 2012.[18][19] Through her marriage to Moyer, Paquin also has a stepson, Billy (born 2000), and a stepdaughter, Lilac (born 2002).[20] Paquin and Moyer reside in Venice, Los Angeles.[21]

On 1 April 2010, Paquin came out as bisexual in a public service announcement for the Give a Damn campaign as part of the True Colours Fund, an advocacy group organised by Cyndi Lauper dedicated to LGBT equality.[22] The True Colours Fund was created to “inspire and engage everyone, especially straight people, to become active participants in the advancement of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality”.[23] The video features Anna Paquin stating, "I'm Anna Paquin. I'm bisexual, and I give a damn".[24] When asked about her participation in the video, Paquin responded by saying, "It wasn't like it was a big secret, it was just a cause I cared about and privately supported, but not one that I had ever had an opportunity to speak out about in a way that would be useful. Obviously I know that one person's voice doesn't necessarily do that much, but I just wanted to do my bit."[25] In May 2012, in a Us Weekly interview Paquin shoots down the popular notion that bisexuality is a choice. "My sexuality is not made up, for a bisexual, it's not about gender. That's not the deciding factor to who they're attracted to," stated Paquin.[26]

Anna also supports other charities and foundations such as the Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.[27]

Filmography [edit]

Film [edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Piano, TheThe Piano Flora McGrath
1996 Jane Eyre Young Jane Eyre
1996 Fly Away Home Amy Alden
1997 Amistad Queen Isabella
1998 Hurlyburly Donna
1999 Walk on the Moon, AA Walk on the Moon Alison Kantrowitz
1999 She's All That Mackenzie Siler
1999 All the Rage Annabel Lee
1999 Castle in the Sky Sheeta/Princess Lusheeta
2000 X-Men Rogue / Marie
2000 Almost Famous Polexia Aphrodisia
2000 Finding Forrester Claire Spence
2001 Buffalo Soldiers Robyn Lee
2002 Darkness Regina
2002 25th Hour Mary D'Annunzio
2003 X2 Rogue / Marie
2003 Laputa: Castle in the Sky Sheeta
2004 Steamboy James Ray Steam (voice)
2005 Squid and the Whale, TheThe Squid and the Whale Lili
2006 X-Men: The Last Stand Rogue / Marie
2007 Mosaic Maggie (voice) Video
2007 Blue State Chloe Hamon
2007 Trick 'r Treat Laurie
2010 Romantics, TheThe Romantics Lila Hayes
2010 Open House Jennie
2011 Carrier, TheThe Carrier Kim Short film
2011 Scream 4 Rachel
2011 Margaret Lisa Cohen
2013 Straight A's Katherine
2013 Free Ride Christina Post-production
2013 Black Wings Has My Angel Virginia Pre-production
2014 X-Men: Days of Future Past Rogue / Marie Pre-production

Television [edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Member of the Wedding, TheThe Member of the Wedding Frankie Adams TV film
2007 Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee Elaine Goodale TV film
2008–present True Blood Sookie Stackhouse Lead role (61 episodes)
2009 Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler, TheThe Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler Irena Sendler TV film
2011 Phineas and Ferb Kristen (voice) Episode: "The Curse of Candace"

Theatre credits [edit]

Year Title Role Venue
2001 The Glory of Living Lisa MCC Theater
2002 This is Our Youth Jessica Goldman Garrick Theatre
2003 Manuscript Elizabeth Hawkins Falmouth Academy
2003 Drug Buddy Wendy Manhattan Theatre Club
2004 Roulette Jenny Ensemble Studio Theatre
2004 The Distance From Here Shari MCC Theater
2004 The 24 Hour Plays, South Of The Border Maylene MCC Theater
2005 After Ashley Julie Bell Vineyard Theatre
2005 Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead Marcy Westside Theatre
2006 The 24 Hour Plays, The Blizzard Jenny MCC Theater

Awards [edit]

Awards and Nominations
Year Award Category Work Result
1993 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards Best Supporting Actress The Piano Won
1994 Academy Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role Won
Chicago Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards Best Supporting Actor - Female Won
Golden Globe Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture Nominated
National Society of Film Critics Best Supporting Actress Nominated
1997 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress Fly Away Home Nominated
Young Artist Award Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama Film Nominated
1998 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a TV Movie/Pilot/Mini-Series - Leading Young Actress The Member of the Wedding Nominated
1999 Young Artist Award Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama Film A Walk on the Moon Nominated
2000 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress Nominated
2001 Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Actress - Science Fiction X-Men Nominated
MTV Movie Awards Best On-Screen Team Nominated
Saturn Award Best Performance by a Younger Actor Nominated
Online Film Critics Society Best Ensemble Cast Performance Almost Famous Won
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture Nominated
2003 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Chemistry (with: Shawn Ashmore) X2 Nominated
2004 MTV Movie Awards Best Kiss (with: Shawn Ashmore) Nominated
2005 Gotham Awards Best Ensemble Cast The Squid and the Whale Won
2007 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee Nominated
2008 Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Nominated
Satellite Award Best Actress – Drama Series True Blood Won
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee Nominated
2009 Golden Globe Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama True Blood Won
Satellite Award Best Ensemble - Television Series Won
Saturn Award Best Actress in Television Nominated
Scream Awards Best Horror Actress Won
Teen Choice Awards Choice Summer TV Star: Female Nominated
2010 Golden Globe Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler Nominated
Golden Globe Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama True Blood Nominated
People's Choice Awards Favorite TV Drama Actress Herself Nominated
Satellite Award Best Actress – Drama Series True Blood Nominated
Saturn Award Best Actress on Television Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Summer TV Star: Female Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Fantasy/Sci-Fi Nominated
2011 Chicago Film Critics Association Best Actress Margaret Nominated
International Cinephile Society Award Best Actress Won
Village Voice Film Poll Best Actress Won
Saturn Award Best Actress on Television True Blood Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Fantasy/Sci-Fi Nominated
2012 London Film Critics' Circle Actress of the Year Margaret Won
Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Fantasy/Sci-Fi True Blood Nominated

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b Crisell, Luke (21 May 2007). "Rogue Star". New York Magazine. Archived from the original on 23 May 2007. Retrieved 21 May 2007. 
  2. ^ "X Appeal". The Guardian (London). 6 August 2000. Retrieved 21 May 2007. 
  3. ^ "Anna Paquin Biography (1982–)". filmreference.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2007. Retrieved 31 December 2007. 
  4. ^ Vance, Andrea (2 November 2011). "Hanging out with the political Wags". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2 November 2011. 
  5. ^ "X Patriate Anna Paquin". The New Zealand Herald. May 2003. Retrieved 31 December 2007. 
  6. ^ a b Verhaeghe, Melanie (Summer 1994). "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star". Homemakers magazine 
  7. ^ a b c Dutka, Elaine (11 January 1994). "A Young Star is Born in the Piano". Los Angeles Times. 
  8. ^ Hobson, Louis B. (2 September 1996). "Real-Life Acting Difficult for Paquin". Calgary Sun. 
  9. ^ "Verizon and MCI Close Merger, Creating a Stronger Competitor for Advanced Communications Services". New York: Verizon Communications. 5 January 2006. 
  10. ^ "Anna Paquin to be MTS's Celebrity Spokesperson Academy Award Winning Actor Stars in MTS Commercials Beginning Today". CNW Group. Winnipeg. 6 October 1997. Retrieved 29 August 2011. 
  11. ^ Lambert, Pam (16 April 1996). "Paquicking it in". People. 
  12. ^ Halle, Karina (25 August 2006). "Anna Paquin: filmmaker and risk-taker". Independent Filmmakers Alliance Newsletter. Retrieved 23 April 2010. 
  13. ^ "Academy Award And Recent Golden Globe Award Winner Anna Paquin Stars in 'The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler,' A New "Hallmark Hall Of Fame" Presentation to Be Broadcast Sunday, 19 April on the CBS Television Network". CBS press release via TheFutonCritic.com. 12 May 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2010. 
  14. ^ Clark, Cindy (25 August 2010). "Anna Paquin and Kristen Bell to appear in 'Scream 4'". USA Today. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  15. ^ "True Blood's True Romance", TV Guide, 24 February 2009
  16. ^ Silverman, Stephen M. (5 August 2009). "Anna Paquin & Stephen Moyer Are Engaged! – Engagements, Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer". People. Retrieved 23 April 2010. 
  17. ^ Chiu, David (22 August 2010). ""True Blood" Co-Stars Get Hitched". WNBC. Retrieved 22 August 2010. 
  18. ^ Michaud, Sarah; Jordan, Julie (11 September 2012). "Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer Welcome Twins". People. Retrieved 11 September 2012. 
  19. ^ "It's a Baby Boy and a Girl for Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer!". Life & Style. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012. 
  20. ^ Haynes, Lorien (July 19, 2009). "Interview with a Vampire". New York Post. Retrieved 20 July 2009. 
  21. ^ "Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer Get Married!". Us Weekly. 21 August 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010. 
  22. ^ Singh, Anita (1 April 2010). "True Blood star Anna Paquin comes out as bisexual". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 April 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2010 
  23. ^ Official True Colors Fund website
  24. ^ "Anna Paquin: I'm Bisexual (VIDEO)". The Huffington Post. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2012. 
  25. ^ "Anna Paquin: Why I Came Out As Bisexual". The Huffington Post. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2012. 
  26. ^ Beth Anne Macaluso (3 May 2012). "Pregnant Anna Paquin: My Bisexuality Is Not "Made Up"". usmagazine.com. 
  27. ^ "Anna Paquin's Charity Work bio". Look To The Stars. 

External links [edit]

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