Born: August 21, 1989
Age: 35
Birthplace: Palisades, New York, U.S.
Hayden Leslie Panettiere (/ˌpænᵻˈtɪər/; ); born August 21, 1989) is an American actress, model, singer, and activist. She is known for her roles as cheerleader Claire Bennet on the NBC sci-fi series Heroes (2006-10), Juliette Barnes in the ABC musical drama series Nashville (2012-16) and Kairi in the video game series Kingdom Hearts.
A native of New York, she first appeared in a commercial at the age of 11 months. She began her acting career by playing Sarah Roberts on One Life to Live (1994-97), and Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light (1996-2000), before starring at age 10 as Sheryl Yoast in the Disney feature film Remember the Titans. Other notable roles include her portrayal of the title character in the true crime drama Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy and Kirby Reed in the slasher film Scream 4. She received two nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Series, Miniseries or Television Film, for her work on Nashville in 2012 and 2013.
Panettiere was born in and partly raised in Palisades, New York. She is the daughter of Lesley R. Vogel, a former soap opera actress, and Alan Lee "Skip" Panettiere, a fire captain. She has one younger brother, fellow actor Jansen Panettiere. Panettiere has Italian and German ancestry. Her surname means "baker" in Italian (specifically, one who makes bread and bread-related products) and her mother's maiden name means "bird" in Dutch and German. Her mother's family lives in Indiana.
After Panettiere attended South Orangetown Middle School in New York, she was homeschooled from grade nine to the completion of high school.
Panettiere first appeared in commercials at the age of 11 months, beginning with an advertisement for a Playskool toy train. She landed a role as Sarah Roberts on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live from 1994 to 1997, which was followed by Lizzie Spaulding on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light in 1996, and again from 1997 to 2000. While on Guiding Light, Panettiere's character Lizzie battled leukemia. For drawing the attention of daytime viewers to the disease, and for improving national awareness, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society gave her its Special Recognition Award.
For her performance in Lifetime Television's 1999 TV movie If You Believe, she was nominated for the Young Artist Award for Young Actress Age Ten or Under in the category of Best Performance in a TV Movie or Pilot. Panettiere appeared on Fox's Ally McBeal as the title character's daughter, played the daughter of a man transitioning to female in HBO Films' Normal, had a recurring guest role on Malcolm in the Middle and guest starred in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in two different roles. In 2004, Panettiere had her first starring role in the Disney Channel film Tiger Cruise.
Panettiere became most prominent as Claire Bennet in the NBC series Heroes, which was created by Tim Kring, as a high school cheerleader with regenerative healing powers. Thanks to her role on Heroes, she became a regular on the science fiction convention circuit, invited to attend conventions around the world in 2007, including Gen Con, New York Comic Con, and Fan Expo Canada. Panettiere has complained that her acting options are sometimes limited because "people look at as either the popular cheerleader type or just the blonde".
In early 2007, Panettiere appeared on the MTV show, Punk'd. The appearance was engineered by her mother and involved a male "fan" discussing her work with her, instigating a jealous reaction from the man's spouse. In April 2012, she hosted an episode of the new series.
In March 2012, it was announced Panettiere had been cast opposite Connie Britton on the ABC musical drama series Nashville. She portrays Juliette Barnes. In May 2012, ABC bought the pilot as a series. The pilot reunites Panettiere with Burgess Jenkins (who appears in the first few episodes) from Remember the Titans. ABC canceled the series in May 2016.
Panettiere made her feature film debut with 1998's A Bug's Life, but her first film to actually be released was the same year's The Object of My Affection, in which she appears briefly as a mermaid in the school play in the opening scene. In 1999, she portrayed the girl on a sinking sailboat in Message In A Bottle. She played the role of Coach Yoast's daughter, Sheryl, in the 2000 Disney film Remember the Titans. In 2004, she played Kate Hudson's title character's adolescent niece in Raising Helen. In 2005, she was the title character's rival in a skating contest in Ice Princess. In the same year she played the main (human) role in the film Racing Stripes as budding jockey Channing Walsh. She subsequently starred in 2006's Bring It On: All or Nothing as a cheerleader and had a supporting role as Adelaide Bourbon in the 2007 independent film Shanghai Kiss.
In June 2007, she signed with the William Morris Agency, after previously being represented by the United Talent Agency. Forbes estimated that she earned $2 million in 2007.
In 2008, Panettiere appeared in the drama Fireflies in the Garden as a younger version of Emily Watson's character, Jane Lawrence. In September 2008, she appeared in a satirical video, a mock-PSA (public service announcement) on funnyordie.com titled "Hayden Panettiere PSA: Your Vote, Your Choice". In October, Panettiere appeared in another satirical PSA video on funnyordie.com titled "Vote for McCain: He's just like George Bush, except older and with a worse temper".
In July 2009, Panettiere starred in the teen comedy I Love You, Beth Cooper. In September 2010, she was signed to star as Amanda Knox in the controversial Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy. Panettiere also provided the voice of Kate in 2010's Alpha and Omega.
In April 2011, Panettiere appeared in the Scream sequel, Scream 4, playing Kirby Reed, a role for which she received acclaim and was considered to be a highlight of the film, which received mixed reviews. The same year she replaced Anne Hathaway as the voice of Red for the animated sequel Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil. In 2012, The Forger, in which she played the role of Amber, was released direct to DVD (both this and Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil were made in 2009).
In April 2015, Panettiere joined the cast of Custody, alongside Viola Davis (both actresses appeared in 2006's The Architect, although they did not share any scenes).
Panettiere voiced Kairi in Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II. While she was replaced by Alyson Stoner in Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, she reprised her role in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and also voiced Xion in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance.
She voiced and modeled the character of Sam in Until Dawn, which was released on PlayStation 4 on August 25, 2015.
Panettiere was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1999 for A Bug's Life. In 2004, she recorded a song entitled "My Hero Is You" with a video for the Disney Channel film she starred in, Tiger Cruise, and "Someone Like You," a duet with Watt White for another film, The Dust Factory (also with an accompanying video). The next year she recorded a song entitled "I Fly" for the Disney film Ice Princess in which she also co-starred. She recorded a song for the Hollywood Records compilation Girl Next (2006) and another song entitled "Go to Girl" for Girl Next 2 (2007). Also in 2007, she recorded a cover for "Cruella De Vil" for DisneyMania 5, "Try" for the Bridge to Terabithia soundtrack and a ballad called "I Still Believe" for Cinderella III: A Twist in Time.
Panettiere's first single, "Wake Up Call", was digitally released on August 5, 2008. The clothing brand Candie's announced that it was premiering an ad campaign for the single in late July. Similarly, Candie's would also provide additional promotion for the single with a television advertisement and a music video. Sebastian Stan, who portrayed the brother of Panettiere's character in The Architect, played her boyfriend in the video.
She has recorded several songs for Nashville, which were released as singles and included on the show's soundtrack albums. In 2013, Panettiere recorded a version of "The Fabric of My Life" for a Cotton Incorporated campaign.
In late 2006, Neutrogena made Panettiere the cover girl for their new worldwide ad campaign; following in the footsteps of actresses Kristin Kreuk, Josie Bissett, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Mandy Moore, Mischa Barton, Gabrielle Union and Jennifer Freeman. In September 2007, Panettiere appeared in a Heroes-themed Got Milk? ad for which the photographs were shot by Annie Leibovitz. In February 2008, Kohl's announced that Panettiere would be their next Candie's spokesperson.
In 2009, Panettiere was one of the celebrities featured in the coffee table book Room 23, produced by Diana Jenkins and photographed by Deborah Anderson.
Panettiere dated her Heroes co-star Milo Ventimiglia from December 2007 to February 2009. She met former heavyweight world champion boxer Wladimir Klitschko in 2009 at the book launch party for mutual acquaintance Diana Jenkins' Room 23 (both appeared in the book), and they soon began dating. Panettiere was ringside for Klitschko's knockout victory over Samuel Peter on September 11, 2010. In May 2011, she announced that they had broken up amicably after two years together. Both cited the long-distance nature of their relationship as the reason, and said they would remain close friends. Panettiere confirmed reports that she and Klitschko had resumed their romantic relationship in an April 2013 interview. In October 2013, she announced her engagement to Klitschko. In 2014, Panettiere gave birth to the couple's baby, a daughter.
Panettiere followed a vegetarian diet while she starred in Heroes but has since added chicken and fish to her diet, stating that she "didn't respond well" to a vegetarian diet, and she had "low energy".
In 2015, she stated that following the birth of her daughter she experienced post-partum depression. In her September 28 appearance on Live with Kelly and Michael, she said that it's "scary and needs to be talked about". In October, Panettiere voluntarily checked into a facility for treatment, causing her to have to temporarily leave Nashville. She returned to treatment in May 2016.
In 2007, Panettiere became an official supporter of Ronald McDonald House Charities and is a member of their celebrity board, called the Friends of RMHC.
On October 31, 2007, Panettiere joined with The Whaleman Foundation to try to disrupt the annual dolphin hunt in Taiji, Wakayama, Japan. She was involved in a confrontation between Japanese fishermen and five other surfers from Australia and the United States (including former Home and Away star Isabel Lucas) of the group. The confrontation lasted more than 10 minutes before the surfers were forced to return to the beach, after which they left the country. Parts of the confrontation can be seen on the award-winning Sundance Film Festival documentary film, The Cove. The fishermen consider the condemnation as an attack on their culture.
In November 2007, she was awarded the "Compassion in Action Award" from the animal rights group PETA for her efforts to stop the dolphin hunt in Japan.
On January 28, 2008, Panettiere handed a letter of protest to the Norwegian ambassador in the U.S. arguing that Norway should stop its hunt for whales. She also delivered a letter to the Japanese ambassador calling for the end of Japan's hunting of whales. At a 2007 Greenpeace event in Anchorage, Alaska, Panettiere defended aboriginal whaling, saying that there is a difference between commercial whaling and the whaling practiced by aboriginal tribes in the U.S.
In May 2008, Panettiere was involved in an eBay auction to benefit Save the Whales Again, a campaign of The Whaleman Foundation. The auction included tickets to a fundraising dinner hosted at the Hollywood restaurant Beso, owned by Eva Longoria, and a whale watching tour, with Panettiere, off the coast of Santa Barbara. The same month, during an interview with Teen Vogue, she explained how her fame gives her a platform for her activism: "The show put me in a place to speak for things that I'm passionate about."
In September 2008, Panettiere launched her own line of calfskin leather bags for the company Dooney & Bourke. In October, she delved into the presidential election, releasing a public service announcement through the website Funny or Die. In this video, Panettiere mocked Republican candidate John McCain for his age and temper. She subsequently made clear her intention to vote for Barack Obama, and urged other young people to vote.
Panettiere also appeared in a public service announcement with DC Shadow Senator Paul Strauss endorsing voting rights for the District of Columbia. She is also a teen ambassador for the Candie's Foundation, whose mission is to prevent teen pregnancy. On May 6, 2009, she participated in a town hall meeting in New York City alongside Bristol Palin and Major League Baseball pitcher Matt Garza on the issue of teen pregnancy.
On December 6, 2013, Panettiere and her fiancé Wladimir Klitschko visited the Euromaidan-protests in Kiev (the capital of Ukraine). Wladimir's brother Vitali was one of the leading figures of these protests. She and her fiancé addressed the crowds.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1994-1997 | One Life to Live | Sarah Roberts | 25 episodes |
1996 | Aliens in the Family | Young Girl | Episode: "Too Good to Be True" |
1996 | How Do You Spell God? | Megan Blackwood | Movie |
1997 | Unhappily Ever After | Little Girl | Episode: "Little Ice Cream Shop of Horrors" |
1998 | A Will of Their Own | Miniseries | |
1998-2000 | Guiding Light | Lizzie Spaulding | 41 episodes |
1999 | Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke | Young Doris Duke | Miniseries |
1999 | Touched by an Angel | Diana | Episode: "Godspeed" |
1999 | If You Believe | Young Susan Stone / Alice Stone | Lifetime original movie |
2000 | Between the Lions | Girl with black pigtails and blue eyes | Voice role (uncredited) |
2000-2005 | Malcolm in the Middle | Jessica | 5 episodes (2.1, 4.13, 6.4, 7.5,6) |
2001 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Ashley Black | Episode: "Abuse" |
2002 | Ally McBeal | Maddie Harrington | Main role (12 episodes in season 5) |
2003 | Normal | Patty Ann Applewood | HBO original movie |
2004 | Fillmore! | Yumi (voice) | Episode: "Code Name: Electric Haircut" |
2004 | Tiger Cruise | Maddie Dolan | Disney Channel original movie |
2005 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Angela Agnelli | Episode: "Hooked" |
2005 | Lies My Mother Told Me | Haylei Sims | Lifetime original movie |
2006 | Commander in Chief | Stacy | Episode: "Wind Beneath My Wing" |
2006 | Skater Boys | Kassidy Parker No.2 | Episode: "Band of Gold" |
2006-2010 | Heroes | Claire Bennet | Main role (74 episodes) |
2006-2012 | Punk'd | Herself / guest host | 4 episodes (7.2, 8.1, 9.3) |
2007 | Robot Chicken | Cheetara / Ramona / Seuss Sister | Episode: "Endless Breadsticks" |
2010 | American Dad! | Ashley (voice) | Episode: "Stan's Food Restaurant" |
2011 | Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy | Amanda Knox | Lifetime original movie |
2012-2016 | Nashville | Juliette Barnes | Main role (80 episodes) |
2016 | Chopped Junior | Herself / guest judge | Episode: "Cuteness Overload" |
2016 | Lip Sync Battle | Herself | Episode: "Hayden Panettiere vs. Eva Longoria" |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | The Object of My Affection | Mermaid | |
1998 | A Bug's Life | Dot | Voice role |
1999 | Message in a Bottle | Girl on Sinking Boat | |
2000 | Dinosaur | Suri | Voice role |
2000 | Remember the Titans | Sheryl Yoast | |
2001 | Joe Somebody | Natalie Scheffer | |
2002 | The Affair of the Necklace | Young Jeanne de Saint-Rémy de Valois | |
2004 | The Dust Factory | Melanie Lewis | |
2004 | Raising Helen | Audrey Davis | |
2005 | Racing Stripes | Channing Walsh | |
2005 | Ice Princess | Gennifer "Gen" Harwood | |
2006 | Bring It On: All or Nothing | Britney Allen | |
2006 | The Architect | Christina Waters | |
2006 | Mr. Gibb | Allyson 'Ally' Palmer | Released on DVD as The Good Student |
2007 | Shanghai Kiss | Adelaide Bourbon | |
2007 | Diary of a New Girl | Hannah Rochelle | Voice role |
2008 | Fireflies in the Garden | Young Jane Lawrence | Released in North America in 2011 |
2008 | Scooby-Doo! and the Goblin King | Fairy Princess Willow | Voice role |
2009 | I Love You, Beth Cooper | Beth Cooper | |
2009 | The Cove | Herself | |
2010 | Alpha and Omega | Kate | Voice role |
2011 | Scream 4 | Kirby Reed | |
2011 | Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil | Red Riding Hood | Voice role |
2012 | The Forger | Amber Felter | Filmed in 2009 as Carmel-by-the-Sea |
2016 | Custody | Ally Fisher |
Year | Title | Voice role |
---|---|---|
1998 | A Bug's Life | Dot |
2002 | The Mark of Kri | Tati |
2002 | Kingdom Hearts | Kairi |
2006 | Kingdom Hearts II | Kairi |
2010 | Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep | Kairi |
2012 | Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance | Xion |
2013 | Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix | Kairi |
2014 | Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix | Kairi |
2015 | Until Dawn | Sam |
2016 | Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue | Xion |
Year | Title | Artist | Role |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | "I'd Rather Be with You" | Joshua Radin | Joshua's girlfriend (UK version) |
2013 | "1994" | Jason Aldean | Herself |
Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Country |
US Country Airplay |
US | US Pop | |||
2008 | "Wake Up Call" | — | — | 125 | 97 | Falling Down |
2012 | "Telescope" | 36 | 33 | — | — | The Music of Nashville: Season 1 Volume 1 |
2013 | "Fame" | — | — | — | — | Digital download only |
2013 | "Hypnotizing" | — | — | — | — | The Music of Nashville: Season 1 Volume 2 |
2014 | "Crazy" | — | — | — | — | Digital download only |
2015 | "Crazy" | — | — | — | — | The Music of Nashville: Season 4, Volume 1 |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Year | Single | Peak chart positions |
Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US Country |
US |
|||
2012 | "Love Like Mine" | 43 | — | The Music of Nashville: Season 1 Volume 1 |
"Undermine" A | 35 | 116 | ||
"Wrong Song" | 39 | — | ||
"For Your Glory" | 46 | — | Music From Nashville - Season One: The Complete Collection | |
2013 | "Boys and Buses" | 44 | — | |
"I'm a Girl" | 43 | — | ||
"Consider Me" | 37 | — | The Music of Nashville: Season 1 Volume 2 | |
"Nothing in This World Will Ever Break My Heart Again" |
41 | — | ||
2014 | "Don't Put Dirt on My Grave Just Yet" | 34 | — | The Music of Nashville: Season 2, Volume 2 |
"He Ain't Gonna Change" | 50 | — | ||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Year | Video | Director |
---|---|---|
2004 | "My Hero is You" | |
"Someone Like You" | ||
2005 | "I Fly" | |
2006 | "I Still Believe" | |
2008 | "Wake Up Call" | Chris Applebaum |
2011 | "I Can Do It Alone" | |
2012 | "Telescope" | TK McKamy |
2013 | "Fame" | Richard Madenfort |
"The Fabric of My Life" | Pam Thomas |
This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately. |
Year | Song | Soundtrack / album |
---|---|---|
2004 | "My Hero Is You" | Tiger Cruise |
"Someone Like You" (with Watt White) | The Dust Factory | |
2005 | "I Fly" | Ice Princess Soundtrack |
2006 | "Your New Girlfriend" | Girl Next Vol.1 |
2007 | "Home" | Shanghai Kiss |
"I Still Believe" | Cinderella III: A Twist in Time | |
"Try" | Music from and Inspired By Bridge to Terabithia | |
"Cruella de Vil" | DisneyMania 5 | |
"Go to Girl" | Girl Next Vol.2 | |
2011 | "I Can Do It Alone" | Hoodwinked Too! (Hood vs. Evil) |
"Inseparable" | ||
2012 | "Undermine" (with Charles Esten) | The Music of Nashville: Season 1 Volume 1 |
"Wrong Song" (with Connie Britton) | ||
"Love Like Mine" | ||
"Telescope" | ||
"Boys And Buses" | The Music of Nashville, Season One: The Complete Collection | |
"Yellin' From The Rooftop" | ||
"For Your Glory" | ||
2013 | "We Are Water" | The Music of Nashville: Season 1 Volume 2 |
"Hypnotizing" | ||
"Nothing in This World Will Ever Break My Heart Again" | ||
"Consider Me" | ||
"I'm A Girl" | The Music of Nashville, Season One: The Complete Collection | |
"Used" | ||
"Hangin' On A Lie" | ||
"Trouble Is" | The Music of Nashville: Season 2, Volume 1 | |
"Can't Say No To You" (with Chris Carmack) | ||
"This Love Ain't Big Enough" | Hayden Panettiere As Juliette Barnes, Season 2 | |
"Dreams" | ||
2014 | "Everything I'll Ever Need" (with Jonathan Jackson) | The Music of Nashville: Season 2, Volume 2 |
"Don't Put Dirt On My Grave Just Yet" | ||
"He Ain't Gonna Change" (with Connie Britton) | ||
"Tell That Devil" | Hayden Panettiere As Juliette Barnes, Season 2 | |
"Crazy" | Digital download only | |
"Disappear" | The Music of Nashville: Season 3, Volume 1 | |
"Nothing In This World Will Ever Break My Heart Again (Live)" | Nashville: On The Record | |
"White Christmas" | Christmas With Nashville | |
"Celebrate Me Home" | ||
2015 | "One By One" (with Jonathan Jackson) | The Music of Nashville: Season 3, Volume 2 |
"Hold You In My Arms" (with Jonathan Jackson) | ||
"Mississippi Flood" | ||
"Last Honest Man" | Digital download only | |
"Crazy" | The Music of Nashville: Season 4, Volume 1 | |
"What If It's You" | ||
"Bad Reputation" (with Will Chase) | Digital download only |
Title | Album details |
---|---|
Hayden Panettiere As Juliette Barnes, Season 1 |
|
Hayden Panettiere As Juliette Barnes, Season 2 |
|
Year | Association | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1998 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a Voice Over in a Feature or TV - Best Young Actress | A Bug's Life | Nominated |
1999 | Best Performance in a TV Movie or Pilot - Young Actress Age Ten or Under | If You Believe | Nominated | |
2000 | YoungStar Awards | Best Young Actress/Performance in a Daytime TV Program | Guiding Light | Nominated |
Best Performance in a Voice-Over Talent | Dinosaur | Nominated | ||
Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress | Remember the Titans | Won | |
2001 | Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress | Joe Somebody | Nominated | |
2004 | Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special - Leading Young Actress | Tiger Cruise | Nominated | |
2006 | Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Lead Actress | Heroes | Won | |
2007 | Saturn Awards | Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Series | Won | |
Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actress: Drama | Won | ||
Choice TV: Breakout | Nominated | |||
Vail Film Festival | Rising Star Award | Hayden Panettiere | Won | |
Newport Beach Film Festival | Feature Film Award for Acting | Shanghai Kiss | Won | |
2008 | Genesis Awards | Top Honor | Hayden Panettiere | Won |
Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actress: Action Adventure | Heroes | Won | |
Saturn Awards | Best Supporting Actress on Television | Nominated | ||
2009 | Nominated | |||
2010 | Nominated | |||
2012 | Satellite Awards | Best Actress - Television Series Drama | Nashville | Nominated |
Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actress - Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Nominated | ||
2013 | Nominated | |||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actress: Drama | Nominated | ||
2014 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Dramatic TV Actress | Nominated | |
2015 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actress: Drama | Nominated | |
2016 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated |
Charities
Hayden Panettiere supports the following charitable causes: Animals, Autism.