ayden Christensen may not have received an Oscar nomination for his work in Life As A House, but his performance made moviegoers and studio executives alike take notice.   Christensen, who was born in Vancouver but raised in Toronto, was nominated for a Golden Globe for the role but lost out to veteran actor Jim Broadbent for Iris. In Life As A House, Christensen plays Sam, a young man who has to come to terms with his own identity and with the fact that his estranged father (Kevin Kline) is dying of cancer.   "I really was affected by the story and I thought that it was told with a lot of truth," Christensen reflected during a recent interview in Toronto while promoting the film. "It's rare to find a character that goes through such an amazing transformation at that age and it's rare to find a part where you can have so much to work with and play with. I was really looking for something to sink my teeth into and recreate myself."   As well, getting the chance to work with Oscar-winning actor Kevin Kline was one of the highlights for Christensen.   "When I first met him it was sort of surreal because he's very welcoming and wants to make you feel at ease so that your main focus is the work, and not sitting next to Kevin Kline," says Christensen. "He definitely helped me find my character and pushed me when I needed to be pushed. You can't ask for that kind of guidance from an actor, especially one who has to portray such an amazing change himself. I felt very privileged."     Believe it or not, the Oscar-winning actor felt the privilege was all his. "I started to pinch myself occasionally because I remembered what I was at that age," says Kline with a chuckle. "Hayden is so gifted and so smart, so focused and so unspoiled."   Even Christensen's Life As A House co-star Jena Malone was impressed with the up-and-coming actor. "I think the thing about Hayden is that there is all this hype and buzz around him because of Star Wars and yet you meet him and he's this completely down to earth kid," she says. "It was great to meet a fellow young actor who just wants to actually be in it because it's something that drives him instead of all the bull of the business."     While life might seem hairy for Christensen at the moment, he is psyching himself up mentally for what is going to happen when Star Wars: Episode 2 is released in May. George Lucas chose the virtually unknown actor over 400 others to play teenage Anakin Skywalker in the next two films. There is already buzz about his performance, and his on-and off screen chemistry with co-star Natalie Portman.   "It was the most amazing summer of my life. Hey, I got to work with George Lucas, who in my opinion is a genius and a great storyteller. To be a part of Star Wars, that is so epic and has such a cultural following, I just felt pretty special," beams Christensen. "You know everyone on that set was just beside themselves to be there. There was definitely a good energy flowing."   Plus learning to actually use a light-saber when reporting to work every day wasn't too shabby.   "It was like re-living my childhood fantasy! I always used to play light-sabers with my friends as a kid. It was so cool to learn how to handle one for the movie."   Christensen is trying to keep his mind Jedi-free for the next few months. He will be seen on stage in London's West End and he also recently got himself an apartment in Los Angeles in order to start up a production company with his brother Tove.   Despite all of his success, Christensen remains calm, cool and collected. He still spends most of his time at home in Thornhill, Ontario, with his parents and younger sister and credits his family and friends for keeping him grounded.   "I think that I am naturally a pretty level- headed guy and I don't really ever get overconfident. But if I ever slip up they are there to put me in my place. They tease me plenty and make me aware of who I am and whom I'm with. I'm really not that special." - Bonnie Laufer-Krebs