Smallscreen News

Hayden Panettiere on Amanda Knox: 'I hope she makes the best of it'

By April MacIntyre Oct 13, 2011, 18:47 GMT

04/26/2011 - Hayden Panettiere - Us Weekly Hot Hollywood Style 2011 Issue Event - Arrivals - Eden - Hollywood, CA, USA © Andrew Evans / PR Photos

Hayden Panettiere is overcome with emotion following the Amanda Knox Verdict:

“I do feel a certain connection to her.”

The Amanda Knox case caused a great deal of emotion when an Italian appeals court threw out her murder conviction earlier this month, especially for Hayden Panettiere, who played the 24-year-old on the small screen. The actress, who starred in the Lifetime's "Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy," told Billy Bush and Kit Hoover on Thursday's Access Hollywood Live about portraying Knox. Highlights include:

On portraying Knox:

"It's hard for me because I played her. I do feel like I have a certain connection with her." "It's difficult for me to say that I'm not excited to see a young girl get a second chance at life and she does have a second chance, and I hope she makes the best of it."

On considering doing a second movie about Amanda:

"I just don't know how differently they'd do the story or what they'd do it about and because it was such public knowledge. They had such facts and information."  "Now, if they did it about her being in jail, I feel like they would have to get her involved. I'd definitely read [another script about her… [but doing another movie] would depend on a whole lot of things though."

For the complete interview with Hayden Panettiere, click here