Heroes was the perfect science fiction television series. It had everything from courageous superheroes to frightening villains, shocking plot twists, and inspiring characters. One of the things that really set it apart was its large ensemble cast. The actors and actresses who were brought on to play the people who discover that they have superhuman powers are some of the best in the business, and they made the show what it is.
Created by Tim Kring, Heroes was on television for four seasons from 2006 to 2010, and follows the adventures of a group of regular people who suddenly find that they have powers they never could have dreamed of. Each episode focuses on several distinct characters and storylines, which were written by different writers and then combined into one episode.
Audiences fell in love with the characters and the drama of the series, and the first season was widely praised as one of the best television shows of the year. A number of the stars in the series got their big break working on Heroes, going on to have impressive careers in film and television. Where are they now? We took a look back at our favorite heroes to see where they were then and how far they’ve come since.
[post_page_title]Hayden Panettiere as Claire Bennet[/post_page_title]
Claire Bennet appeared in more episodes of Heroes than any other character. The cheerleader was portrayed by Hayden Panettiere, who was only 16 when filming began. Claire was born to parents with special abilities, but was adopted by agents of the mysterious Company, which locates and tracks evolved humans. Claire has the power of cellular regeneration, which she discovers when she cuts her hand and it heals miraculously. Claire is soon thrust from high school into a world of superpowers and danger. During the first season of Heroes, a great deal of the plot centers around the quote: “Save the cheerleader, save the world,” and the other protagonists must protect Claire if they want to save the world from evil.
