Hayden Panettiere lifted up her little black dress during an appearance on Ellen Degenere's chat show - to reveal she was wearing a pair of men's boxers.

The Heroes star raised eyebrows when she started to hitch up her dress and teased, "I had friends dare me to wear something back stage."

But she kept things family friendly thanks to her unusual choice of underwear- boxers branded with the 'Ellen' logo.

Hayden told the TV host, "I think it was one of your presents that you gave me.

"I don't think it's for me because I don't fill it out properly. They're a little big. But my friends dared me to do it backstage and I was like, 'Why not?' My dress is short enough."