Hayden Panettiere insists she isn’t a lesbian — but she loved kissing her female costar in Heroes!

The actress, 20, says locking lips with Madeline Zima, who plays Hayden’s character Claire Bennet’s roommate Gretchen Berg, was “exciting”.

“It’s very exciting! When you are young, you experiment and you have fun. It truly is a person that she just falls in love with, because she fulfills her and she is her best friend,” Hayden said.

“I kind of threw it out there. The writers put you in relationships and I was like, ‘Can I just be with a girl or something? Let’s do that.’ So they took it and ran with it.”

Hayden has previously spoken about her own lesbian experiences, admitting she “experimented” with her female pals when she was younger.

“It’s great to be single,” she said. “It’s great to have boyfriends. Or girlfriends. There are occasions when you kiss your best friend growing up, having fun and goofing about. Like perfecting your technique.”

Panettiere recently revealed that she hates it when the media discuss her love life.

“I can’t stand next to anyone of the opposite sex without being linked to them or dating them. It is so frustrating,” she said. “Apparently I can’t have any friends. It’s absurd. And when they do the body language analyzing, it really gets to me.”

Hayden Panettiere feels awkward going out on the town with her male friends — in case they are mistaken for her boyfriend.

Hayden says no matter what she does, if she is spotted out with a man she is immediately linked to him romantically.

“I can’t stand next to anyone of the opposite sex without being linked to them or dating them. It is so frustrating,” she says. “Apparently I can’t have any friends. It’s absurd. And when they do the body language analyzing, it really gets to me.”

Hayden, 20, recently revealed she finds it “nerve-wracking” when her fans get too close to home.

“I just got a box at my house for my birthday from this girl who writes all the time — just like body lotions and this little box of dog toys in there,” she said. “There’s candles, it’s like this little box that she put together for my birthday.

“But she wrote in it things like ‘I’m so glad to be able to call you friend and I tell you every day what an amazing person you are.’

“Basically saying that she knew me and I have no idea who it is. When it gets that close to home it gets a little nerve-wracking.”

Hayden Panettiere finds it “nerve-wracking” when her fans get too close to home.

The Heroes star says she frequently receives gifts from one girl who is convinced they are best friends — and she’s scared about it.

“I just got a box at my house for my birthday from this girl who writes all the time — just like body lotions and this little box of dog toys in there,” Hayden said. “There’s candles, it’s like this little box that she put together for my birthday.

“But she wrote in it things like ‘I’m so glad to be able to call you friend and I tell you every day what an amazing person you are.’

“Basically saying that she knew me and I have no idea who it is. When it gets that close to home it gets a little nerve-wracking.”

Hayden — whose character in Heroes has the power to heal — recently revealed she’s worried someone might stab her, expecting her to regenerate.

“I’m just afraid somebody’s going to stab me one day and think that my power is real and they expect me to start healing,” she said. “I’ve been thinking about that since the first season, I’m like what if somebody really thought I was indestructible.

“Because I’ve heard some wacky things come out of people’s mouths that you go, ‘Guys, it’s not real’.”

Hayden Panettiere is scared someone might try and stab her.

The Heroes star, 20, says she lives in fear that an unhinged fan may believe she has the power to heal just like her character Claire, and harm her — expecting her to regenerate.

“I’m just afraid somebody’s going to stab me one day and think that my power is real and they expect me to start healing,” she says. “I’ve been thinking about that since the first season, I’m like what if somebody really thought I was indestructible.

“Because I’ve heard some wacky things come out of people’s mouths that you go, ‘Guys, it’s not real’.”

Hayden recently revealed that being famous makes her feel powerful.

“I’m in a very powerful position and so I feel a responsibility to speak out for causes I believe in. It’s very empowering — especially for a young female,” she said in August this year.

“It’s sad but it’s true that there are people who can work their entire lives trying to change the world and someone who is in the public eye can come along and say one thing and they’ve done more for that cause than the other person ever could.

“Being able to make a difference feels amazing.”

Hayden Panettiere thinks more celebrities should donate their time and money to charitable causes.

The Heroes actress — who is involved with numerous charities — sees herself as an example for other young Hollywood residents to follow when it comes to highlighting aid work, good causes and making a difference.

“It is very important and it is a responsibility in this position,” Hayden said. “There are people who work their entire lives towards these causes and by saying one thing and doing a little bit of publicity work we can really help the situation.

“Fortunately in the position we’re in people want to see what we do every day and want to follow suit so it is a very fortunate powerful position to be in that shouldn’t be misused.”

Hayden, 20, recently revealed she worries about making mistakes — because she considers her status as a role model a “real responsibility”.

“Being a role model is a real responsibility because you’re judged so harshly and any little mistake you make could appear huge in other people’s eyes,” she said. “I worry a lot about messing up.

“People have to understand that I’m still young and I’m going to be selfish and do silly things that I’ll regret. I’m not perfect, and that’s really hard when so many young girls look up to you.”

Hayden Panettiere has sparked rumors she is dating Entourage star Kevin Connolly.

The 20-year-old actress — who has previously dated her Heroes costar Milo Ventimiglia and British TV presenter Steve Jones — attracted attention on Sunday evening after spending the whole of the HBO Emmy Awards party holding hands and enjoying an intimate conversation with the 35-year-old actor.

“They were there to hang out together and stayed for hours until well after midnight,” a source told Perez Hilton. “Kevin only left Hayden’s side towards the end of the night when he wanted to chat with someone at another table.”

News of Hayden’s new romance will come as a big shock to millionaire Harry Morton, who Hayden was seen holding hands with just three weeks ago.

“He still thought he was dating her last week and told friends all about her. Harry was bragging about getting her to do anything he wants,” the source said.

Hayden has previously admitted she doesn’t find men her own age attractive.

“I don’t date boys my own age,” she said. “I’m looking for the right guy, I always said I want four kids — I love kids. I would love to be a mother and to have a family.”

Hayden Panettiere insists her lack of higher education isn’t a problem when it comes to playing a university student.

Hayden’s indestructible character comes of age in the new season of hit show Heroes with her moving on to a college campus.

And the 20-year-old has never shared the experience she insists she has already graduated from the school of life.

“I spend so much time with the brightest and most talented and well-rounded people,” explains Hayden. “I’ve had the privilege of having long and very intellectual conversations with people and sometimes I just sit there and listen.

“It’s like a better version of a class. I’m not per se sitting at a desk and in school but I’m still learning all the time.”

Hayden recently revealed that she considers her status as a role model a “real responsibility”.

“Being a role model is a real responsibility because you’re judged so harshly and any little mistake you make could appear huge in other people’s eyes,” she said. “I worry a lot about messing up.

“People have to understand that I’m still young and I’m going to be selfish and do silly things that I’ll regret. I’m not perfect, and that’s really hard when so many young girls look up to you.”

Hayden Panettiere says she worries about making mistakes — because she considers her status as a role model a “real responsibility”.

The Heroes star, 19, says she’s happy teenagers look up to her.

“Being a role model is a real responsibility because you’re judged so harshly and any little mistake you make could appear huge in other people’s eyes,” Panettiere  said. “I worry a lot about messing up.

“People have to understand that I’m still young and I’m going to be selfish and do silly things that I’ll regret. I’m not perfect, and that’s really hard when so many young girls look up to you.”

Hayden recently accused the media of ruining her life.

“It’s very, very difficult and people have no idea what they do to peoples’ relationships,” she told Britain’s Company magazine. “They destroy them. The paparazzi and the public.

“The public wants to read about your personal life, and the paparazzi give it to them by nosing into your personal life and saying things that are just not true and horrible.

“I used to walk my dogs in my pajamas. You know something’s not right when you’re lying in bed for 15 minutes in the morning going, ‘How do I get milk for cereal without having to leave my house?’

“I would be so happy if I could walk down the street without someone coming out of the buses.”

Hayden Panettiere doesn’t get starstruck on the Hollywood scene — because she’s met almost everyone there is to meet.

However, the actress, 19, does admit she got a little flustered when she first crossed paths with George Clooney.

“I don’t get starstruck any more,” she told Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper in a new interview. “Well, I say that but I did get star struck recently.

“I met George Clooney and I love him to bits. He’s such a normal guy and I had such a fun time chatting to him. I met him at a friend’s house. It’s crazy how things like that happen all the time in LA.

“I’ve met almost everyone there is to meet, even if it’s just been a quick hello. I’ve got to chat to some really cool people. I haven’t met Katie Holmes, but I’ve met Victoria Beckham. She is very sweet and very funny. Victoria has a self-deprecating sense of humour, which is so charming. I mean, she’s Posh Spice.”

So, does Hayden enjoy being in the spotlight? “When you’re doing it for work it can be fun, but in my personal time I don’t want to go out where I’m going to be met with cameras,” she said.

“I do go out occasionally. I have friends who like to go out and party, but I would much rather bring a group of friends to my house or somewhere I know I can let my guard down. It’s not fun for me until I can let my guard down.”

Hayden Panettiere loves being famous — because it makes her feel powerful.

The Heroes star says being in the public eye has given her the confidence to try and change the world.

“I get to travel across the world and meet amazing people,” the 19-year-old told the UK’s Cosmopolitan magazine. “And I also get a platform to speak out on things I’m passionate about, one of which is the Whaleman Foundation.

“I’m in a very powerful position and so I feel a responsibility to speak out for causes I believe in. It’s very empowering — especially for a young female.

“It’s sad but it’s true that there are people who can work their entire lives trying to change the world and someone who is in the public eye can come along and say one thing and they’ve done more for that cause than the other person ever could.

“Being able to make a difference feels amazing.”

But she added, “Sometimes I just want to be a normal person.”