Hayden Panettiere feels a connection with Amanda Knox, teared up during verdict

Hayden Panettiere, the actress who portrayed Amanda Knox in the Lifetime movie “Amanda Knox: Murder in Italy” earlier this year, says she feels a special connection to Knox after portraying her on the small screen.

So connected, in fact, that Panettiere says she got “welled up” after Knox’s conviction was overturned.

“Having played her and in a way walked a mile in her shoes, I do feel a certain connection with her and I would be lying if I said it wasn’t exciting to see a young girl get a second chance at life so I hope she makes the most of that,” the actress told FOX News.

“It is such a complicated case, there is so much that doesn’t make sense and that doesn’t add up, but she has a second shot at life and that is great.”

Panettiere may feel a connection with Knox, but Amanda and her family weren’t particularly thrilled with the portrayal of Knox in the film. According to TMZ, there’s a pending lawsuit in Italy, filed by the family, to get the film pulled off of the air.

Amanda’s Father, Curt Knox, told TMZ:

“The only reason I saw the movie was to write down all the irregularities, what was wrong with it, and provide it to our attorneys because it was – excuse my French – bulls**t,” he said.

“There is a law in Italy that you cannot present information whether in book form or video form while there is an open trial. A clear breaking of the law there. The character portrayal of her in that movie was so wrong it could have potentially had an impact of the results and what people’s perspective of her is.”

Source: FOX News