Anna Paquin

Anna Paquin

Birth name: Anna Helene Paquin
Born: July 24, 1982
Age: 41
Birthplace: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Biography

Anna Helene Paquin (/ˈpækwɪn/; born July 24, 1982) is a Canadian-born New Zealand actress. Born in Manitoba and brought up in Wellington, New Zealand, Paquin studied at Hutt Intermediate School and the Wellington Girls' College in New Zealand before moving to Los Angeles during her youth where she studied at Windward School and went on to complete a year at Columbia University before leaving post-secondary to focus on her acting career. As a child, she beat out 5000 candidates for the role of Flora McGrath in Jane Campion's romantic drama film The Piano (1993), despite having had little to no acting experience prior to getting the role. For her performance, she received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at the age of 11, making her the second-youngest Academy Award winner in Oscar history.

Paquin went on to become a successful child actress, receiving multiple Young Artist Award nominations for her roles in Fly Away Home (1996), The Member of the Wedding (1997), and A Walk on the Moon (1999), and was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for appearing in Cameron Crowe's comedy-drama film Almost Famous (2000). She played mutant superheroine Rogue in the X-Men franchise (2000-present) and she was nominated for a Saturn Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance in the first installment of the franchise.

Paquin is also known for playing the lead role of Sookie Stackhouse in the HBO vampire drama television series True Blood (2008-2014). For her performance in the series, Paquin won the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama in 2009 and was nominated for an additional Golden Globe Award in 2010, as well as three Saturn Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2010. Among other accolades, Paquin has been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her work on the 2007 television film Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and a Golden Globe Award for her work on the 2009 television film The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler. Paquin has been married to actor Stephen Moyer since 2010, with whom she has two children.

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Early life

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: Andrew (born 1977), a director, and Katya (born 1980), whose partner is the Green Party of New Zealand's former co-leader Russel Norman. 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. 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.

While in New Zealand, Paquin attended Hutt Intermediate School (1994-95). 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 U.S. with her mother following her parents' divorce (1995). 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

Child actress

Director Jane Campion was looking for a little girl to play a main 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; this inspired Paquin to also audition. 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.

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 the 1993 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at the age of 11, making her the second-youngest Oscar winner in history, behind Tatum O'Neal. 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. 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 in 1994. She later made a series of television commercials for Manitoba Telecom Systems in her birth city of Winnipeg. 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.

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, True Blood and beyond

Paquin played the mutant superheroine Rogue in the Marvel Comics movie X-Men in 2000, its sequel X2 in 2003, and its third installment, 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. 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. In 2007, she played the role of Laurie in the horror film Trick 'r Treat, which was released in 2009.

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.

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. She also played the voice of Kristin on an episode of Phineas and Ferb.

Paquin reprised her role as Rogue in the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past, but most of her scenes were cut out for the theatrical release. An alternate version of the film with all of Paquin's scenes reinstated was released as The Rogue Cut on 14 July 2015. Paquin voiced Ramsey in Disney•Pixar's film, The Good Dinosaur. She will also play Nancy Holt, the wife of a Confederate soldier, in the remake of Roots.

Personal life

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. They married on 21 August 2010 at a private residence in Malibu, California. Paquin and Moyer have a son, Charlie, and a daughter, Poppy, who are fraternal twins born in September 2012. Through her marriage to Moyer, Paquin also has a stepson, Billy (born in 2000), and a stepdaughter, Lilac (born in 2002). The family resides in Venice, Los Angeles, California.

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 organized by Cyndi Lauper dedicated to LGBT equality. 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". The video features Anna Paquin stating, "I'm Anna Paquin. I'm bisexual, and I give a damn". 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." In May 2012, in an Us Weekly interview Paquin rejected the 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.

Paquin also supports other charities and foundations such as the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Elton John AIDS Foundation, and The Art of Elysium.

Filmography

Film

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 II of Spain
1998 Hurlyburly Donna
1999 Walk on the Moon, AA Walk on the Moon Alison Kantrowitz
1999 She's All That Mackenzie Siler
1999 It's the Rage Annabel Lee
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 Blue State Chloe Hamon
2007 Mosaic Maggie Voice
2007 Trick 'r Treat Laurie
2010 Romantics, TheThe Romantics Lila Hayes
2010 Open House Jennie
2011 Scream 4 Rachel Cameo
2011 Margaret Lisa Cohen
2011 Carrier, TheThe Carrier Kim Short film
2013 Straight A's Katherine
2013 Free Ride Christina
2014 X-Men: Days of Future Past Rogue / Marie Cameo
2015 X-Men: Days of Future Past - The Rogue Cut Rogue / Marie
2015 The Good Dinosaur Ramsey Voice

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Member of the Wedding, TheThe Member of the Wedding Frankie Adams Television movie
2007 Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee Elaine Goodale Television movie
2008-14 True Blood Sookie Stackhouse Lead role; 80 episodes
2009 Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler, TheThe Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler Irena Sendler Television movie
2011 Phineas and Ferb Kristen (voice) Episode: "The Curse of Candace"
2013 Susanna Katie Lead role; 6 episodes (Webseries)
2016 Roots Nancy Holt Lead role

Theatre credits

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 and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
1994 Academy Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role The Piano Won
1994 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress The Piano Won
1994 Golden Globe Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture The Piano Nominated
1997 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress Fly Away Home Nominated
1997 Young Artist Award Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama Film Fly Away Home 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 A Walk on the Moon Nominated
2000 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Motion Picture Almost Famous Nominated
2001 MTV Movie Awards Best On-Screen Team X-Men Nominated
2001 Saturn Award Best Performance by a Younger Actor X-Men Nominated
2001 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture X-Men Nominated
2003 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Chemistry X2 Nominated
2004 MTV Movie Awards Best Kiss X2 Nominated
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 Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee Nominated
2008 Satellite Award Best Actress - Drama Series True Blood Won
2008 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
2009 Satellite Award Best Ensemble - Television Series True Blood Won
2009 Saturn Award Best Actress in Television True Blood Nominated
2009 Teen Choice Awards Choice Summer TV Star: Female True Blood 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
2010 Golden Globe Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama True Blood Nominated
2010 People's Choice Awards Favorite TV Drama Actress N/A Nominated
2010 Satellite Award Best Actress - Drama Series True Blood Nominated
2010 Saturn Award Best Actress on Television True Blood Nominated
2010 Scream Award Best Horror Actress True Blood Won
2010 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series True Blood Nominated
2010 Teen Choice Awards Choice Summer TV Star: Female True Blood Nominated
2010 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Fantasy/Sci-Fi True Blood Nominated
2010 Saturn Award Best Actress on Television True Blood Nominated
2011 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Fantasy/Sci-Fi True Blood Nominated
2012 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Fantasy/Sci-Fi True Blood Nominated

[ Source: Wikipedia ]


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