Hayden Panettiere perform in her movie as 'Foxy Knoxy': With her brown wig and sombre clothes, the resemblance is striking. Hayden Panettiere looked eerily similar to convicted murderer Amanda Knox, or Foxy Knoxy as she is known, on the set of her new movie in Rome. The 21-year-old Heroes star will play Knox in the forthcoming Lifetime movie, which depicts the events surrounding the murder of British student Meredith Kercher.
American exchange student Knox, 23, was convicted in December of the brutal murder of Kercher, 21, who was found semi-naked with her throat slashed in November 2007. The Amanda Knox story, based on the events surrounding the case, is due to air on U.S. TV next year. In an interview with BBC Newsbeat, Panettiere said she had not met Knox, who is appealing her conviction. 'I wish. I know the Italian government is being pretty protective of her, her lawyers are being protective of her, which is pretty understandable. 'It's something I would like to do (meet her) but I'd be more surprised if it happened than if it didn't.
Panettiere said she was 'floored' and 'flattered' when she was asked by director Robert Dornhelm to play Knox in the film. She added: 'They called me up and asked me to do it. 'I'm so privileged to play the role. It's a really great story and a very controversial one. 'The way the script is written is very well done, in a way that I don't think anyone is going to have a problem with. 'I'm looking forward to it. I'm really excited about it. It's going to be a really tough project to do but it will be good.'
Panettiere revealed the film will only show events up until Knox's conviction. 'I know her appeal is coming up pretty soon too so it should be interesting to see what is going to happen with that,' she said. Film makers decided against shooting in the city of Perugia where the murder took place.
Knox's lawyer Carlo Della Vedova has expressed reservations about the film. 'We find it very inopportune that a film is being made when proceedings in the case are still active and there is an appeal taking place.
'As a lawyer I feel that the silence of the court should be respected and we are against any exploitation of the situation whether it is in film or by book. 'There is no way that this actress can meet with Amanda while she is in jail. Amanda knows about the film because she read about it in the newspaper but she is not in agreement with it and she is surprised.'Knox's former Italian boyfriend, 25-year-old Computer Studies graduate Raffaele Sollecito, was convicted alongside Knox last December. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison - one less than Knox for his part in the murder.