Anna Helene Paquin was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on July 24, 1982. Both of Anna Paquin's parents are educators; her Canadian father, Brian, is a phys-ed teacher, while her New Zealand-born mother, Mary, teaches English. Anna Paquin has two older siblings: her brother Andrew, born in 1977, and sister her Katya, born in 1980. When Anna was 4 years old, the Paquins moved to New Zealand, although they still returned regularly to visit the Canadian side of the family.
It was in New Zealand in the early 1990s that Anna Paquin became an actress by a remarkable fluke. 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 ad was run announcing an open audition. Anna Paquin's sister read the ad and went to try out with a friend; Anna tagged along because she had nothing better to do. When Jane Campion met Anna Paquin, whose only acting experience had been as a skunk in a school play, she was blown away. The director later recalled: "It is rare to find someone so young with such an instinct for performance."
It was in New Zealand in the early 1990s that Anna Paquin became an actress by a remarkable fluke. 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 ad was run announcing an open audition. Anna Paquin's sister read the ad and went to try out with a friend; Anna tagged along because she had nothing better to do. When Jane Campion met Anna Paquin, whose only acting experience had been as a skunk in a school play, she was blown away. The director later recalled: "It is rare to find someone so young with such an instinct for performance."
Why Is She Famous?
Anna Paquin became instantly famous when she won an Oscar at the age of 11 for her performance in The Piano (1993). Although she continued to act in small yet prestigious roles as she grew up and finished school, she is best-known these days for playing Rogue in the popular X-Men movies as well as starring as a sexy vampire in the new TV series True Blood.
Success
Anna Paquin's win of the 1993 Best Supporting Actress Oscar at age 11 is a rare and remarkable accomplishment. Equally impressive is the fact that Anna has continued to build an acting career since then without losing sight of her family -- whose members are scattered between the South Pacific and the Canadian Prairies -- or her education, as she is studying English at Columbia University.
For a long time, Anna Paquin was known simply as the little girl from The Piano, even after she did equally stellar work in films like Fly Away Home (1996). However, Anna Paquin remained in the limelight with appearances in high-profile projects like Amistad (1997), Finding Forrester (2000) and 25th Hour (2002).
In 2000, 2003 and 2006, Anna Paquin won herself a new fan base with her sensitive yet action-packed role as Rogue in the X-Men series. She continued raking in the fans when she was cast as the lead in the television show True Blood.
For a long time, Anna Paquin was known simply as the little girl from The Piano, even after she did equally stellar work in films like Fly Away Home (1996). However, Anna Paquin remained in the limelight with appearances in high-profile projects like Amistad (1997), Finding Forrester (2000) and 25th Hour (2002).
In 2000, 2003 and 2006, Anna Paquin won herself a new fan base with her sensitive yet action-packed role as Rogue in the X-Men series. She continued raking in the fans when she was cast as the lead in the television show True Blood.
Sexiness
Even if it might not be Anna Paquin's style to vamp it up, she still has enough beauty and intelligence to make her eminently attractive. There's a vulnerability to her that only adds to her allure; at the same time, though, Anna Paquin has the emotional grounding that would make her an ideal companion.
Anna Paquin's emergent sexuality has been put to good use in her more recent roles. Her portrayal of a vampire in the TV show True Blood and playing an enticing-yet-vulnerable teen in Spike Lee's 25th Hour are two examples, but perhaps one of her sexier characters was Rogue, one of the X-Men who discovers she has superpowers when she receives her first kiss.
Anna Paquin's emergent sexuality has been put to good use in her more recent roles. Her portrayal of a vampire in the TV show True Blood and playing an enticing-yet-vulnerable teen in Spike Lee's 25th Hour are two examples, but perhaps one of her sexier characters was Rogue, one of the X-Men who discovers she has superpowers when she receives her first kiss.
Quotes
"Honestly, if you're trying to get past a bouncer, distract them with how cute your puppy is and they won't ask any questions."
- Anna Paquin, on how she used to get into nightclubs.
- Anna Paquin, on how she used to get into nightclubs.
