Hayden Panettiere

Hayden Panettiere is an actress and singer whose career spans more than three decades, beginning before she could walk. Panettiere began acting at 11 months old in commercials, appearing in more than 50 as a child. Her full-time acting career began with the role of Sarah Roberts in the ABC soap opera "One Life to Live," followed by Lizzie Spaulding in the CBS soap opera "Guiding Light." While on "Guiding Light," Panettiere's character Lizzie battled leukemia, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society recognized her for drawing attention to the disease and improving national awareness. For her role in the Pixar film "A Bug's Life," she was nominated for a Young Artist Award and a Grammy Award, making her one of the youngest Grammy nominees.

Panettiere became widely known for her role as Claire Bennet on NBC's superhero series "Heroes." She also starred in teen films such as "Ice Princess" and "Bring It On: All or Nothing," which contributed to her breakthrough as a high school cheerleader with superpowers on "Heroes." Her performance earned her a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television and multiple additional Saturn Award nominations. Panettiere also received Teen Choice Awards for Choice Actress: Action/Adventure and the Breakout Actress Award at the Capri Hollywood Film Festival.

Following "Heroes," Panettiere took on the role of country music star Juliette Barnes in the ABC/CMT drama "Nashville." This role earned her two Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress and allowed her to showcase her singing talents, performing numerous songs released on the show's official soundtracks. She also returned to the horror genre, appearing in the "Scream" sequel "Scream 4" as Kirby Reed, a performance that was considered a highlight. Panettiere later reprised the role in "Scream VI," which received positive reviews and became one of the highest-rated films in the franchise, with her performance receiving significant praise.

Beyond her on-screen work, Panettiere is an activist and advocate. She serves as campaign spokesperson for the Whaleman Foundation, an oceanic research and conservation organization, and has traveled to Washington, D.C., met with members of Congress, attended the International Whaling Conference in Portugal, and was featured in "The Cove," an Academy Award-winning documentary exposing the slaughter of dolphins in Japan. For her involvement in animal welfare, she received the Genesis Wyler Award from The Humane Society of the United States and Variety's Power of Youth Award.

Panettiere has also shared her personal experiences through public storytelling. In her memoir "This Is Me: A Reckoning," she discusses her experience as a child actor, her time on hit television shows, and her struggles with substance abuse. She appeared in the psychological thriller "Sleepwalker" and executive produced the film. With experience in acting, singing, producing, and advocacy, Panettiere continues to be a multifaceted presence in the entertainment industry.