An active hinge including a hood bracket for attachment to a vehicle hood and a body bracket for attachment to a vehicle body. A deploy bracket is pivotally attached to the hood bracket and the body bracket. The hood bracket is pivotable relative to the deploy bracket between a non-deployed position and a deployed position. At least one link interconnects, and is pivotally connected to the deploy bracket and the body bracket. A pawl is pivotally mounted to one of the hood bracket, the body bracket, the deploy bracket, and the at least one link. A bolt for engagement by the pawl is connected to another of the hood bracket, the body bracket, the deploy bracket, and the at least one link. An actuator is provided for disengaging the pawl from the bolt to allow the deploy bracket to move relative to the hood bracket and the body bracket.