The 20-year-old “Heroes” star Hayden Panettiere comes in at No. 12 on Nerdage’s list of actresses with geek appeal.   She’s probably best-known for her role as Claire Bennet on the superhero drama “Heroes,” but in 2009 also starred in the film “I Love You, Beth Cooper.”   She was a prominent child actress with roles on soap operas “Guiding Light” and “One Life to Live,” and appeared as Sheryl Yoast in “Remember the Titans.”

She recently starred in a PSA aimed at stopping the slaughter of dolphins. [SOURCE]

In October 2007 Hayden Panettiere, spokesperson for the Save the Whales Again! Campaign, created an international media frenzy when she and five surfers paddled out into the blood filled waters of Taiji’s notorious dolphin killing cove. The peaceful demonstration turned violent when the fishermen attacked the floating protesters with poles and spinning propellers. The moment was captured in The Cove, which won the 2009 Oscar for best feature documentary. Hayden and Save The Whales Again! went back to Japan last week. Here’s Hayden’s first-hand account of the trip—exclusive to TakePart.com. [READ THE REST HERE]