Hayden Panettiere is ''so ready'' to become a mother.

The 25-year-old is expecting her first child with fiancé Wladimir Klitschko and can't wait to welcome their new arrival and hold their baby girl in her arms.

She told Hello! magazine: ''I'm so ready to hold my baby girl - I'm going to be a very hands on mum.

''I'm thrilled that I am having a girl first because I feel like I know a lot about raising a strong woman. I feel very empowered myself and I think my daughter will, too.''

Previously, the 'Nashville' star revealed that she'd love to start a family with her fiancé.

She recently said: ''I've lived a very big life, and I don't feel my age, and I feel like I was born to be a mother.

''Sometimes people speak about [having kids] like, 'Your life ends - you're never going to be able to do anything again!' And I'm like, 'What are you talking about?'

She added: ''Motherhood is the most beautiful, exciting thing, and there's nothing that I feel like I can't accomplish while having children in my life.''