Guide Note

Actress and singer Hayden Panettiere started her career at a very young age in commercials and soap operas. Her film career includes roles in Remember the Titans starring Denzel Washington and Racing Stripes featuring the voice of Dustin Hoffman.

Fast Facts

1. Born: August 21, 1989
2. Birthplace: Palisades, New York
3. Active: 1994-present
4. Supports PETA
5. Vegetarian
6. Provided a voice in A Bug's Life
7. Current Role: Claire Bennet on NBC's Heroes

Hayden Leslie Panettiere was born in Palisades, New York on August 21, 1989. She is the daughter of former soap opera actress Lesley R. Vogel and fire department lieutenant Alan L. "Skip" Panettiere. Her younger brother Jansen is also an actor.

When Panettiere was five months old, she began modeling and at eleven months, appeared in television commercials. The first commercial she appeared in was for Playskool.

In 1994, Panettiere landed a role playing Sarah Roberts on One Life to Live. Then in 1996 she played Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light.

In 2006, Panettiere was offered the role of Claire Bennet on the NBC series Heroes. Her character is a high school cheerleader with regenerative healing powers.

Panettiere has appeared in many feature film as well as some made for tv movies. She provided the voice for Dot in the Disney movie A Bug's Life and starred in the 2006 cheerleading movie Bring It On: All or Nothing.

On October 31, 2007, Panettiere tried to put a stop to the annual dolphin hunt in Taiji, Wakayama. Her and five other surfers were involved in a confrontation with a Japanese fisherman. The confrontation forced them to return back to the United States. An arrest warrant was issued for Panettiere in Japan.

She is also a vegetarian and a supporter of PETA.