Hayden Leslie Panettiere (born August 21, 1989) is an American actress and singer. Hayden was first known for her character of Sheryl Yoast in Disney's Remember the Titans during the early part of her career. As a child actress she also was in two soap operas, portraying Sarah Roberts on One Life to Live from 1994-1997, and Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light from 1996-2000. She has reached a wider audience with her current starring role as Claire Bennet on the NBC television program Heroes.

Panettiere was born and raised in Palisades, Rockland County, New York, the daughter of Lesley R. Vogel, a former soap opera actress, and Alan L. "Skip" Panettiere, a fire department lieutenant. She has one younger brother, fellow actor Jansen Panettiere.

Panettiere attended South Orangetown Middle School in New York but, following seventh grade, finished her high school education via homeschooling and has postponed higher education in favor of an acting career, although she has expressed an interest in "continuing to learn."