Hayden Panettiere

August 21, 2025

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Hayden Panettiere, born August 21, 1989, is an actress, activist, and singer famous for her roles in the drama series “Heroes” and “Nashville.” She started her career as a child, starring in various commercials, appearing in her first one at 11 months old. Panettiere followed in her mother’s footsteps, acting in the soap opera “One Life To Live,” staying on until 1997.
But her star began to rise after her appearance in “Remember The Titans” (2000), where she stole the show as little Sheryl Yoast. Panettiere is the holder of 11 awards and got nominated for 29 more.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Hayden Lesley Panettiere

Birth date:

August 21, 1989

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Leo

Height:

5' 0"

Relationship Status:

Single

Net Worth:

$15 million

Background

Hayden Panettiere is one of Hollywood’s most recognizable performers, with one of the longest-running acting careers in the industry. Since beginning her line of work at just 11 months old, she’s appeared in over 30 films and several television shows. Born on August 21, 1989, in Palisades, New York, Panettiere’s zodiac sign is Leo, and she is of Italian and German ancestry. Her father, Alan Lee ‘Skip’ Panettiere, was a fire department captain, and her mother, Leslie Vogel, was a former soap actress. Panettiere grew up with her brother Jansen Panettiere, who would also become an actor. She attended the South Orangetown Middle School in New York until the ninth grade. As her acting career took off and her schedule became busier, she switched to homeschooling until the end of high school.

Panettiere established herself as a child actor in the soap operas “One Life to Live” and “Guiding Light” before appearing in the Lifetime Television movie “If You Believe” (1999), earning her the Young Artist Award nomination. After appearing in “Remember The Titans” (2000), Panettiere became a household name, playing roles in “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Malcolm In The Middle.” In 2006, she landed a lead role in the N.B.C. science fiction series “Heroes,” making her a world-famous actress and boosting her acting profile to A-list status. Despite her success in Hollywood, Panettiere faced severe problems in her personal life.

After giving birth to her daughter Kaya in 2014, Panettiere announced that she had post-partum depression and was seeking treatment for the disorder. Ironically, her role in the A.B.C. series “Nashville” was written for her because of her pregnancy. Panettiere stated that though the part hit a little too close to home, it helped her work through her issues and looked at them from a different perspective. Since then, she’s been an advocate for mental health awareness and speaks candidly about how she got through the hard times. Panettiere is still acting and is set to star in the sixth installment of the popular horror film “Scream” (2022).

Career timeline

1998

A Soap Opera Star

Panettiere is named “Soap Opera” Magazine star of the week.

2000

She Gets a Grammy Nomination

She gets nominated for a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for Children after her “A Bug’s Life” (1998) read-along.

2008

The Wyler Award

Panettiere becomes the second person to receive the Wyler Award, honoring her groundbreaking work exposing Japan’s slaughter of dolphins.

2011

Reviving a Franchise

She plays the role of Kirby Reed in “Scream 4” (2011).

2012—2018

Becoming a Singer

Panettiere plays Juliette Barnes in the A.B.C. musical drama “Nashville.”

Why We Love Hayden Panettiere

She loves animals
Panettiere is an avid animal rights activist, especially regarding marine life. She became a spokesperson for the Whaleman foundation at 22, fighting to protect whales and dolphins from climate change, whaling, pollution, and entanglements in commercial fishing nets.
She practices body positivity
She struggled with body dysmorphia in her teens after a magazine commented about cellulite on her legs. She has since overcome those issues, encouraging others to remember that beauty is a matter of opinion and that we’re all beautiful in our way.
She cares about mental health
After battling with post-partum depression, Panettiere checked herself into a treatment facility. She opened up about her experiences and the lessons learned along the way, encouraging others to get help and prioritize their mental health.

5 Surprising Facts

She does her own singing
Panettiere sang all of her songs on the show “Nashville.”
She’s a voice actor
Gamers will recognize that the character Samantha from the video game “Until Dawn” is voiced by Panettiere.
She doesn’t like makeup
Even though wearing makeup is the norm in Hollywood, Panettiere is a big fan of the all-natural no makeup look because she believes it's essential to give your skin a break.
She moved to Nashville
To prepare for her role in the T.V. series “Nashville,” Panettiere moved to the city of Tennessee so she could immerse herself in character.
The Japanese government wanted her
Some of Panettiere’s footage from her time in Japan was used in the 2009 documentary film “The Cove,” resulting in the Japanese government issuing a warrant of arrest for ‘violating international commerce.’

Hayden Panettiere FAQs

Did Hayden Panettiere abandon her daughter?

Panettiere doesn’t have primary custody of her daughter Kaya, but she does have a healthy co-parenting relationship with ex-fiancee Wladimir Klitschko.