Hayden Panettiere: Unforgettable start as Sheryl Yoast

Debuting at a tender age is nothing new and also not considered extra-ordinary in Hollywood anymore as there had been quite a few such debutants. What makes a mark is the way the debutant strikes a chord with the audience in the very first time. And that’s exactly how the debut of Hayden Panettiere at the tender age of just 11 can be best described. Her role in “Disney’s Remember the Titans” as Sheryl Yoast is still remembered by kids and adults alike. However, there were a couple of roles that she acted in that were seen and forgotten quite fast. 

Hayden was born to actress Lesley Vogel who was known for her roles in soap operas. She inherits her acting talents from her mother. Her father was far away from the film background, though. Jansen Panettiere, an actor by his own merits, is her younger brother. Apart from all these, Hayden has an interesting history when it comes to her academics. She stopped going to school and continued her studies at home from 8th standard. Currently, she is so busy with her acting assignments that she has put her higher education plans on hold and wishes to take it up in the future. 

Hayden’s career took a new flight with her role as Sarah Roberts in “One Life to Live” and as Lizzie Spaulding in “Guiding Light”. However, she was accepted by one and all with her stint as Claire Bennet in “Heroes”, aired on NBC television. That’s not all. She lends her voice to the character of Dot in “A Bug’s Life”.

To bring in some variation in her avatars she featured in “Hayden Panettiere PSA: Your Vote, Your Choice." This was a satire with touches of comedy and was meant to be a public service announcement. 2009 and 2010 saw Hayden appearing in teen comedies like “I Love You”, and UK release video “I’d Rather Be With You”.  Along with her acting career, she emphasized on her singing career as well. In 2010, she sang for the film “Scream” and its sequel, “Scream 4”.  

Her first solo song, “Wake Up Call” released in 2008 and was an instant hit. Some of her most popular songs were “Try”, “I Fly”, “I Still Believe” etc. However, in 1999 she was highly appreciated for “A Bug’s Life Read-Along”. This film led to a Grammy nomination for her as well.    

Apart from acting and singing, Hayden is also a popular model and brand ambassador. In 2006, she was chosen as a brand ambassador for Neutrogena. She endorsed the product as a cover girl in the new advertisement campaign launched globally by Neutrogena. This was followed by her appearance in the Heroes-themed Got Milk? advertisement. For this ad, she had a photo shoot session with Annie Leibovitz. Her performance in endorsing these two products helped her bag the Kohl contract as well.

Hayden has been associated with many charitable organizations. She dedicated herself to the cause of controlling the dolphin and whales hunt in Japan. She won award for her contributions to PETA. She turned a complete vegetarian because of her love for animals. Hayden also supports Ronald McDonald House Charities, officially. She has raised funds for saving whales. Hayden was also involved in the campaigns for Obama for the presidential elections. She mocked John McCain and urged the younger generation to vote for Obama. Hayden is one of those actresses who have voiced their concerns against teenage pregnancy.