HAYDEN PANETTIERE

Biography

Born in Palisades, New York, on August 21, 1989, Hayden Panettiere did not wait long to begin her career. When she was just 11 months old, her mother got her a part in a commercial for Playskool toys. By the time she was 4 -- and with almost 50 commercial appearances under her belt -- Hayden was chosen for a role on the soap opera One Life to Live, which she kept until 1997.


During that stint, Hayden Panettiere became a more seasoned actress with roles on Guiding Light, the miniseries A Will of Their Own and the film The Object of My Affection (1998). After lending her voice to the Disney animated films A Bug's Life (1998) and Dinosaur (2000), Hayden won the role of a football coach's daughter in Disney's Remember the Titans -- arguably one of her most eminent roles.

hayden panettiere on ally mcbeal
Though still very young, the mature actress adapted well to her already successful career. In 2001, she appeared in The Affair of the Necklace, starring Hilary Swank, and the comedy Joe Somebody, starring Tim Allen.

Hayden Panettiere went back to television for Ally McBeal in 2002 and the made-for-TV movie Tiger Cruise in 2004, but established herself as a film actress with roles in 2004's Raising Helen (starring Kate Hudson) and The Dust Factory, and 2005's Ice Princess.

hayden panettiere is cast on heroes
In 2006, Hayden Panettiere starred in Mr. Gibb and, that same year, she earned the role of a lifetime -- Claire Bennet on the hit drama Heroes. Since then, her popularity has skyrocketed. She has received tons of publicity, partly because of the hit drama, but also because of her increased number of endorsements -- Hayden Panettiere's face appeared everywhere.

hayden panettiere is named no. 51 in 2008 top 99
In 2008, Hayden Panettiere continued kicking ass in another great season of Heroes and starred in the movie Fireflies in the Garden. With all her big- and small-screen success, Forbes estimated her 2007 income at around $2 million.

Also in 2008, Hayden Panettiere made AskMen.com's Top 99 Most Desirable Women list, landing at No. 51