Lesley Vogel Denies Pressuring Daughter Hayden Panettiere Into Child Stardom

Lesley Vogel is pushing back against accusations that she forced her daughter, Hayden Panettiere, into a showbiz career as a young child. The 70-year-old former talent manager broke her silence in a recent sit-down, defending her past decisions regarding her daughter's early entry into the entertainment industry. Speaking with *The *, Vogel acknowledged taking a firm approach to managing her child's early career but rejected any claims of wrongdoing. While admitting she was strict, she insisted she was not abusive by any measure, adding that her initial intentions were purely focused on securing her child's financial future. ## Did Lesley Vogel force Hayden Panettiere to act? According to Vogel, the initial push into modeling was simple. She signed her daughter to the Wilhelmina modeling agency when the baby was just eight months old. Within three months of signing, the infant landed her very first television commercial booking. Vogel explained that she viewed the early entertainment gigs merely as a practical way to save money for higher education rather than launching a lifelong Hollywood career. She stated that she never anticipated her child becoming a full-time professional performer, maintaining that the earnings were intended to sit untouched in a college savings account. ## When did Hayden Panettiere start acting? The early modeling work quickly escalated beyond commercial bookings. By the age of five, the future *Heroes* star landed a recurring gig on the daytime soap opera *One Life to Live*, portraying the character Sarah Roberts from 1994 through 1997. Vogel acted as her daughter's primary talent manager throughout that initial television run. This public defense follows widespread scrutiny surrounding Panettiere's early years in the spotlight. In an interview with **, the actress recalled feeling steered and prepped for work from a very early age. The handling of Panettiere's childhood career also drew public callouts from fellow industry figures, including actress Holly Robinson Peete.