Hayden Panettiere, ‘Heroes’ and ‘Nashville’ actress, dead at 36

Hayden Panettiere reflected on life, growth and mortality in the prologue of her memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning."

The book, released in May 2026, chronicled Panettiere’s life in the public eye, as well as her struggles with addiction, alcohol and mental health after rising to fame as a teenager.

“I never want to stop evolving and changing for the better, and I’ll forever be a work in progress,” Panettiere wrote. “But one thing I know from my 36 years in the public eye is this: Life is a process that evolves day by day, year by year and — like it or not — you are engaged in a cycle of growth until the moment you take your last breath.”

The passage has taken on a poignant new meaning following the actress’ death on Aug. 16.

Panettiere also detailed entering treatment for the first time in 2015, when her daughter, Kaya, was 4 months old. She described the facility as highly personalized but ultimately disconnected from the realities she would face after leaving.

“It was a hugely expensive facility devoted to one-on-one care,” Panettiere wrote. “Trust me, it’s easier to detox and recover when you’re being treated like a queen, but it was too far from the real world to give me perspective.” Though she left sober and with a diagnosis of postpartum depression, Panettiere said she remained in denial about the severity of her alcohol use.

"The idea that a little liquid could take me down or rule my life seemed impossible for a tough girl like me," she added.

Her first trip to rehab was the start of a new addiction - the medicine given to combat her anxiety.

“I’d walked into rehab addicted to one substance, and I’d walked out, completely dependent on something else," she said.

Alyssa Milano is remembering Hayden Panettiere for the powerful impact she made off screen.

Following Panettiere’s death at age 36, the “Charmed” alum shared a lengthy Instagram tribute celebrating her friend’s courage, activism and willingness to use her platform to help others.

“I keep coming back to this photograph and thinking about Hayden’s courage,” Milano began. “I hope people remember this part of her and that it doesn’t get lost in the noise, the headlines, or the flattening of public figures into story and spectacle.”

“Long before it was common for public figures to speak out, Hayden understood something simple and difficult: visibility is not just something you are given, but something you can give away,” Milano wrote. “And she gave hers, again and again, in service of things larger than herself.”

She also highlighted Panettiere’s willingness to publicly discuss deeply personal matters, including domestic violence, postpartum depression, addiction, recovery and abuse.

“She did not share these things for ease or attention, but because she understood what her silence could cost others,” Milano wrote.

“Her activism was not polished or performative. It was instinctive, human, sometimes messy, often vulnerable, and always sincere,” she added. “She was willing to be uncomfortable, to be misunderstood, and to speak before the world was ready to listen.”

“Hayden was a gifted actor, but that was only part of what she gave us. She used her voice. She showed up. She cared fiercely," Milano concluded. “I hope that is remembered too, the way she chose to stand in the world when it mattered.”

Panettiere died Sunday, Aug. 16, at age 36. Her cause of death has not yet been determined.

Before her death at 36, Hayden Panettiere said she faced professional consequences after speaking publicly about postpartum depression.

Panettiere had worked with Neutrogena for a decade when she appeared on "Live with Kelly and Michael" and spoke candidly about her experience. She said the conversation was not planned, but that she chose to be honest when the subject came up.

Panettiere said the brand’s morality clause had long weighed on her, particularly as paparazzi documented nearly every aspect of her life from her teenage years onward. She recalled being photographed smoking, criticized for her outfits and subjected to cruel body-shaming commentary in tabloids.

According to Panettiere, she was shocked to learn that the skincare company wanted to end their relationship because of her comments on postpartum depression. She said her representative raised concerns about the decision, but she believed her contract would not be renewed.

“I knew that that was going to be it,” she said during an appearance on "On Purpose With Jay Shetty." “That I was not going to be invited back the next year.”

Panettiere said the experience was particularly painful because she had been associated with Neutrogena for 10 years and did not hear from those she had worked with after the partnership ended.

“I remember not hearing a word from anybody,” she said. “Not a ‘great working with you for 10 years,’ not a ‘hope you’re okay.’"

The "Heroes" actress told Shetty that the situation revealed the stigma she believed still surrounded postpartum depression.

Hayden Panettiere spoke about the promise she and former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko made while co-parenting their daughter, Kaya, months before her death.

Panettiere said the former couple remained close friends and shared a deep respect for one another, despite ending their romantic relationship.

“We have a great relationship, and Vlad and I are still best friends,” she said during an appearance Jay Shetty's podcast, "On Purpose." “There’s not many people who know me in this world as well as he does.”

The actress explained that their approach to co-parenting was shaped by painful memories from her own childhood. Panettiere said she grew up hearing negative comments from her mother about her father, something she found deeply hurtful.

"We made a promise to each other that we would never say anything negative about one another to our daughter,” Panettiere told the podcast host.

She said they both kept that promise, choosing instead to speak positively about each other with Kaya. Panettiere said she made sure their daughter knew how much she loved her father and understood that Klitschko was someone she admired.

“We talk each other up to our daughter,” Panettiere said. “She knows he is a hero and one of the bravest people I know.”

Panettiere and Klitschko welcomed Kaya in 2014. They called it quits in 2018 and the "Nashville" actress gave full custody of her daughter to her former fiancé.

Hayden Panettiere’s good friend is mourning the actress with an emotional tribute following her death at age 36.

In a heartbreaking Instagram post, Panettiere’s friend, Chelsea Rashoff, revealed she had been expecting to see the “Nashville” star, sharing a photo of her calendar that showed she was supposed to pick Panettiere up from John Wayne Airport in Orange County at 9 a.m. Monday.

“My beautiful friend. I just needed you to get to me and I know you would have been okay,” she wrote on Instagram. “I’m sitting here without words other than no no no this isn’t real. I keep hoping I’ll wake up from a dream.”

“I wish I could hold you and tell you it will all be okay, but I’m glad you are finally with Jansen now,” she continued. “I love you with my whole heart I miss you so much this doesn’t feel real.”

Panettiere’s younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, died unexpectedly in February 2023 at age 28.

Hayden died Sunday, Aug. 16, at age 36. Her cause of death has not yet been determined.

Hayden Panettiere’s final Instagram post, shared July 27, has taken on new meaning following her death at age 36.

The "Ice Princess" actress posted a black-and-white photo of herself posing alongside friend Randall Slavin. Panettiere stuck out her tongue as Slavin draped an arm around her in the candid snapshot.

“Good times and good friends,” Panettiere captioned the post.

Slavin responded in the comments, writing, “Love this. Good times babe. Xxx.”

The photo was shared less than three weeks before Panettiere died on Aug. 16. Authorities have said the cause and manner of her death remain under investigation.

Months before her death, Hayden Panettiere opened up about how her definition of success had changed after spending decades in the entertainment industry.

In January, Panettiere – who was promoting her film “Sleepwalker” at the time – said success had become less about perfection and more about enjoying her work.

“It’s become more important to me to have a positive experience and feel good about my job and what I’ve done, what I have accomplished,” Panettiere told Fox News Digital.

“I stopped being such a perfectionist and nitpicking at myself,” Panettiere continued. “I’m much better at giving myself grace, I think, and therefore get to enjoy my job more than I ever did before.”

When asked what she wished adults in the industry had protected her from as a young star, Panettiere pointed to criticism and the importance of learning to accept herself.

“I think encouraging me to love myself more and love myself with my flaws and all,” she said. “It’s not about how many times you fall down or how you fall, it’s about how you handle it afterwards, how you pick yourself up and dust yourself off and carry on.”

Panettiere died Sunday, Aug. 16, at age 36. Her cause of death has not yet been determined.

Fox News Digital’s Larry Fink contributed to this post.

Hayden Panettiere recalled the intense paparazzi attention she faced after "Heroes" changed her level of fame at just 16.

Panettiere said the attention initially seemed exciting, but quickly became invasive and dangerous.

“It went from something that was kind of cool to something that was incredibly dangerous and incredibly invasive,” she said during an appearance on "On Purpose with Jay Shetty" before her death. “Not just for me, but for the people around me.”

The "Nashville" star said she became fiercely protective of her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, and her loved ones as photographers increasingly followed her. Panettiere recalled paparazzi allegedly boxing her in while she was driving and using confrontational tactics to provoke a reaction. In one incident, she said she left a store to find more than 100 photographers waiting outside.

“I just felt this kick on the back of my leg,” she said. “And I realized, when I turned around, they had a camera in my face and I realized that they were trying to get a reaction out of me.”

She said a publicist had prepared her for the scrutiny as "Heroes" was about to change her life, advising her to keep her facial expressions neutral around photographers. Still, Panettiere said she was shocked by the lengths people went to in pursuit of a photo.

"The things that they would say to me at such a young age were appalling," she recalled. "They were truly just mind blowing and shocking. It was just wildly dangerous."

Despite Hayden Panettiere saying she was in a “good place” during an off-camera conversation with “CBS Mornings” anchor Gayle King in May, King says the actress was still facing challenges.

During Monday’s episode of “CBS Mornings,” King reflected on her final interview with Panettiere, which she conducted in May, and said it was apparent the actress was “clearly still struggling.”

“When she was here in the studio that day, and I was talking to her off-camera, she was saying she felt that she was in a good place,” the anchor shared.

King recalled Panettiere saying that “her daughter meant everything to her, and giving up [custody of] her daughter to her dad was one of the hardest things, but she thought that was what was best for her daughter.”

“But she was still, clearly still struggling. To wake up to hear this news was really tough,” King added. “She was so good. She would’ve turned 37 on Friday.”

Panettiere sat down with King on “CBS Mornings” in May while promoting her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning.” During the deeply personal conversation, the “Nashville” star discussed her history with addiction, postpartum depression and some of the most difficult periods of her life.

Panettiere’s official cause of death has not yet been confirmed. Preliminary autopsy results found “no signs of trauma” that contributed to her death, according to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.

Hayden Panettiere would have celebrated her 37th birthday on Friday, Aug. 21, just days after her death.

The "Heroes" and "Nashville" actress was found unresponsive at an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, shortly before 2 p.m. on Aug. 16, police said. Emergency personnel performed lifesaving measures, but Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities have said there were no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances in the preliminary investigation. A cause of death has not been released.

The Greenville County Coroner’s Office is conducting an autopsy as the investigation continues.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Preliminary autopsy results in the death of Hayden Panettiere found no signs of trauma that contributed to her death, Fox News Digital can confirm.

“First responders and Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene and located a female in cardiac arrest," the Greenville County Coroner’s Office said in a statement. "EMS personnel initiated advanced cardiac life support measures; however, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the individual was pronounced deceased at 2:32 PM."

The Greenville County Coroner’s Office and Greenville City Police Department launched parallel investigations into her death.

"At autopsy no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death," the coroner's statement continued. "The cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies.“

"This investigation remains active and ongoing. No further details are available for release at this time."

Fox News Digital's Christina Dugan Ramirez contributed to this report.

Hayden Panettiere had an on-again, off-again relationship with Brian Hickerson in the years before her death at 36.

He reportedly traveled with the actress from Los Angeles the day before she was found unresponsive at a Greenville, South Carolina, apartment complex on Aug. 16, according to TMZ. The two broke up briefly in 2022, but rekindled their romance the following year. It's unclear what the status of their relationship was at the time of Panettiere's death.

The former couple's relationship was marked by highly public legal troubles. Hickerson was charged with domestic violence in 2019. He was arrested again in 2020 on domestic violence charges, including felony charges of corporal injury on a spouse/cohabitant, a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon and a misdemeanor charge of battery on a spouse/cohabitant.

In 2021, he was sentenced after pleading no contest to charges connected to the domestic violence involving Panettiere.

Panettiere publicly addressed the allegations following Hickerson’s arrest, saying she hoped sharing her story would help others in abusive relationships.

“I am coming forward with the truth about what happened to me with the hope that my story will empower others in abusive relationships to get the help they need and deserve,” she said in a statement, according to People magazine. “I am prepared to do my part to make sure this man never hurts anyone again. I’m grateful for my support system, which helped me find the courage to regain my voice and my life.”

Panettiere and Hickerson reportedly met through mutual friends in 2018 shortly after her split from Wladimir Klitschko. Hickerson, who is from South Carolina, worked in real estate before pursuing acting and had a small role in the 2017 thriller "M.F.A."

Hayden Panettiere revealed the frightening toll alcohol had taken on her body, including a stark warning from a doctor that she could die within five years if she didn’t stop drinking.

In 2020, the actress entered treatment for what became an eight-month stay. In her memoir, she detailed the painful withdrawal symptoms she experienced as her body adjusted to sobriety.

“As my nervous system tried to regulate itself without the depressant effects of alcohol, it went into overdrive, and my whole body shook,” she wrote. “I couldn’t sleep, and my head pounded like it was pressing against my skull.”

Panettiere revealed she had previously developed jaundice and received an alarming warning from a doctor.

“At least my eyes aren’t yellow, I told myself,” she wrote. “A doctor told me that if I didn’t stop drinking, I’d be dead within five years.”

Panettiere told Fox News Digital in July that she knew at the time she had to get help.

“[I had to] do it for myself,” Panettiere said. “I knew I was no good in the condition that I was in.”

Before her death at 36, Hayden Panettiere spoke openly about the painful decision to transfer custody of her daughter, Kaya, to her former fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, in 2018.

Panettiere said she made the decision because she knew she was in a difficult place personally and wanted to shield Kaya from its effects.

"I just knew that if I wanted to... I knew how bad a place I was in," the actress told Fox News Digital in July. "I hid it from my daughter as much as I could."

Panettiere said Kaya's support system in Europe reassured her that the decision was right for her daughter. She also worried that a public custody dispute involving two well-known parents could be damaging.

"When I saw her in the environment over there (in Europe) and the support system that she had, I said to myself, 'If I fight, if I go to war about this, it's going to permanently damage my child. It's going to be incredibly public. She's got two very famous parents, and it's going to be ugly.'"

 Panettiere said she chose to let Kaya remain in Europe with Klitschko, where she believed her daughter was safe, loved and well cared for.

"I said, 'You know what? Let her grow up here,'" she said. "I will travel here as much as I can. I know she's safe. I know she's well taken care of — beyond well taken care of. She has an incredible life. And I also knew that there would be a day when she would come back to me."

The actress also acknowledged the emotional weight of the decision, saying she struggled to process the pain at the time.

"I tried to numb myself," the "Nashville" star admitted. "It was very hard to wrap my mind around the pain, the emotional pain of that. But you keep putting one foot in front of the other somehow."

Hayden Panettiere told Fox News Digital in July about a troubling experience from her teenage years, recalling being given what she was told was a “happy pill” before walking a red carpet for “Heroes.”

“I was standing on the side of the red carpet about to go on and do the line of interviews for ‘Heroes,’” Panettiere recalled. She said the person, whom she identified in her book as a former rep, opened her hand and told her, “‘Take this. It’s a happy pill. It’ll make you feel amazing and energetic and it’ll make the interviews so much easier.’”

Panettiere said she was just 16 or 17 at the time and trusted the person because she believed it was their job to protect her.

“So, I just, without thinking, popped it in my mouth,” she said, adding that she later learned it was “some sort of amphetamine.”

Looking back, Panettiere questioned how such a moment had been allowed to happen.

“I can’t believe that happened. What a wild and inappropriate thing to happen,” she said. “Where were the people who were supposed to protect me?”

Panettiere stressed that she did not consider herself addicted at that point in her life, saying her struggle with addiction came later, after the birth of her daughter.

“That’s when I was like, when you wake up in the morning and the first thing you’re thinking about is having a drink,” she said. “It’s a problem.”

Hayden Panettiere’s Hollywood career began remarkably early.

Long before she became known for starring in "Nashville," Panettiere appeared in television commercials as an infant. She was just 11 months old when she began working, launching a career that would take her from daytime television to major network dramas and films.

By about age four, Panettiere had landed a role on the soap opera "One Life to Live," playing Sarah Roberts. She later joined the cast of "Guiding Light" as Lizzie Spaulding, building an early résumé while growing up in the public eye.

Panettiere’s breakthrough came in 2006, when she was cast as Claire Bennet on NBC’s "Heroes." Her character quickly became one of the series’ most recognizable figures.

Panettiere also appeared in films including "Remember the Titans," "Bring It On: All or Nothing," "I Love You, Beth Cooper" and the "Scream" franchise.

Her career spanned more than three decades and made her one of the most recognizable performers of her generation.

Before her death at 36, Hayden Panettiere reflected candidly on the difficult overlap between her personal life and her role as Juliette Barnes on "Nashville."

Panettiere wrote in her memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning," that the character’s struggles began to mirror her own during much of the show’s fourth season.

"During the better part of season four, my personal problems were writing the script. Juliette Barnes had postpartum depression, an alcohol and pill problem, and a divorce on the horizon. She was erratic, an absentee mother, and fought with everyone — including her fans," she explained.

"Every time I read the day's script, it was like I was looking in a funhouse mirror, seeing a distorted reflection of myself. I can't tell you how lost this made me feel."

Panettiere explained that, on earlier projects, she could separate herself from the characters she played. But while filming "Nashville," she said that boundary disappeared, leaving her without the sense of escape that acting had once provided.

“I dove headfirst into my own hell,” she wrote. “I was suffering from debilitating anxiety and an addiction I couldn’t shake, and I had to live through it twice. First at home as Hayden, and then in front of millions, as Juliette.”

Her reflections on Juliette’s storyline offered a personal look at the challenges she faced both on and off screen.

Emergency vehicles were photographed outside the Greenville, South Carolina, residence where actress Hayden Panettiere died Sunday at age 36.

One image, obtained by TMZ, showed a fire truck parked near the property alongside multiple ambulances. Another showed a Greenville County Coroner’s Office vehicle at the scene.

Police said officers and emergency medical personnel were dispatched shortly before 2 p.m. after receiving a report of an unresponsive woman at Judson Mill Lofts. A preliminary investigation found no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances, according to authorities.

Panettiere, known for her roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville," was pronounced dead at the scene. Her cause of death has not yet been released.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Hayden Panettiere mourned the death of her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, three years ago. Jansen died at age 28.

Jansen’s family remembered him as a deeply creative and compassionate person whose presence left a lasting impression on those around him in a statement shared with Fox News Digital at the time.

“Jansen’s heart could be seen in his eyes, and his charm in his brilliant, engaging smile; his soul in his masterful and revealing paintings, and the joy of life in his dry wit,” the family said.

They added, “His charisma, warmth, compassion for others, and his creative spirit will live forever in our hearts and in the hearts of all whom he encountered.”

The family said the medical examiner determined that Jansen’s sudden death was caused by cardiomegaly, or an enlarged heart, along with complications involving the aortic valve. It is not known whether the condition had been diagnosed before his death.

Jansen, like his older sister, worked as an actor, appearing in projects including "The Perfect Game," "Ice Age: The Meltdown" and "The Walking Dead."

More of Hayden Panettiere’s friends and former co-stars are sharing emotional tributes, remembering her kindness, compassion and the impact she had on their lives.

Kelly Osbourne shared a deeply personal tribute, speaking about the bond the two shared through their experiences growing up in the public eye.

“We understood each other in a way few truly can — recognizing how difficult it is to grow up in the spotlight, and how isolating it can feel even when surrounded by so many people,” Osbourne wrote on her Instagram Stories.

“My heart grieves for someone so special to this world and such a good friend to me,” she continued. “I will never forget you, Hayden, and I will always believe you deserved better.”

Osbourne concluded her tribute: “Rest in peace, sweet princess. You will never be forgotten.

Dania Ramirez, who starred alongside Hayden on “Heroes,” reflected on the love and energy she says Hayden brought to those around her.

“My heart aches so much right now. I love you and will always miss you,” Ramirez shared on Instagram. “I take comfort in knowing that I am with you in life and in death because your love and energy has always transcended this dimension.”

Ramirez also sent her thoughts to Hayden’s daughter and loved ones, adding, “I know that the ones that got to feel your gifts will forever feel blessed and grateful for you.”

Fellow “Heroes” co-star James Kyson recalled first meeting Hayden when she was just 16, describing her as a veteran actor with a “bright spirit” and an “older soul.”

Kyson remembered Hayden as “a fierce protector of animal rights” and a “‘cheerleader’ for kindness, justice, and people being treated fairly.”

“May your soul Rest in Peace Hayden… and my deepest condolences & prayers for her family,” he wrote on Instagram. “Life can be so short… let’s send some love out to the world, our loved ones, and to those who need it most today.”

Hayden Panettiere's own experiences growing up in Hollywood made her especially protective of child actors she then worked with on set.

"Having been one myself, I'm very, very protective of them," Panettiere told MovieFone back in January while promoting her film "Sleepwalker." For the film, Panettiere portrayed a grieving mother who is haunted by the tragic loss of her daughter.

"Especially with a dark subject matter like this, I was trying to be protective of them, their emotions, and them mentally, as well, and being able to pull them in and out of these dark, intense scenes."

That care extended beyond the most intense moments on set.

"Knowing when to shake it off, lighten up, crack some jokes and say, ‘OK. Now, let's get back into it.’ So, we don't have to spend all day feeling this heavy, dark weight following us around," she said. "I love them. They're just so pure. They're so energetic. They're so honest. They're so real and untainted, and they're beautiful."

Panettiere entered show business extraordinarily young, appearing in commercials as a baby before landing a role on “One Life to Live” at about 4 years old.

Panettiere’s major breakthrough came as Claire Bennet, the seemingly indestructible cheerleader at the center of NBC’s superhero drama “Heroes,” which ran from 2006 to 2010. She followed that success with another defining television role, country singer Juliette Barnes on “Nashville” from 2012 to 2018.

A preliminary investigation into the death of Hayden Panettiere has found no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances, according to police.

Officers and emergency medical personnel responded to a report of an unresponsive woman at the Judson Mill Lofts in Greenville, South Carolina, shortly before 2 p.m. Sunday, the Greenville Police Department said in a statement obtained by The Associated Press.

Life-saving measures were performed, but Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the statement.

Police said an acquaintance of the 36-year-old actress called 911 from the apartment complex.

No cause of death has been provided.

The Greenville County Coroner’s Office was expected to perform an autopsy.

Greenville police and the coroner’s office are continuing to investigate the case.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Hollywood stars and other celebrities are mourning Hayden Panettiere following the actress’ death at age 36.

Rosie O’Donnell shared her shock in a brief Instagram reaction, writing, “Oh my god — heartbroken.”

Selma Blair posted an emotional message of disbelief.

“I love you. Don’t be gone. Don’t be gone. Please. Please,” Blair wrote on Instagram.

Podcaster Jay Shetty reflected on a friendship with Panettiere that he said had only recently begun.

“I can’t believe it,” Shetty wrote. “Our friendship had just begun and I was so moved by the conversation we shared earlier this year. My love and condolences to her family and fans.”

Actors David Arquette and Melissa Barrera also shared brief tributes. Arquette wrote, “I love you Hayden,” while Barrera remembered the actress on her Instagram story, writing, “Rest in peace sweet Hayden.”

One month before her death at age 36, Hayden Panettiere told Fox News Digital she was looking toward the future and had a long list of things she still hoped to accomplish.

“I have a laundry list of things I would love to accomplish and create,” Panettiere told Fox News Digital during an interview about her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning.”

The “Heroes” and “Nashville” actress said at the time that she was “doing great” after years of struggles she chronicled in her memoir.

“I feel connected to myself,” she told Fox News Digital. “I feel like I'm taking good care of myself, checking in with myself.”

Panettiere had been candid both in her memoir and during the interview about addiction, treatment, postpartum depression and the painful decision to have her daughter, Kaya, live with her father, Wladimir Klitschko.

But while discussing where she was in her life last month, Panettiere struck an optimistic note.

“I feel more connected with myself than I ever have before,” she told Fox News Digital.

Panettiere also teased that she's been busy working on a potential new project.

"I have a show that I've been working on and I would love to create that," she said. "I would love to direct. I just want to share my secrets, my tricks, the things that I've learned in life and help others be their best selves."

In May, Panettiere told Jay Shetty during an appearance on his podcast that she felt like she had moved past the "darkness" that had defined much of her life.

“I finally feel like I have shaken off all of this darkness and this negativity,” Panettiere said. “That means that I’ve closed one door and another door is opened … I can feel all the exciting possibilities. I feel like I have a lot more life to live.”

Fox News Digital’s Stephanie Nolasco contributed to this report.

Just one month before her death at 36, Hayden Panettiere spoke candidly to Fox News Digital about her relationship with her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, and why she believed allowing her to live with her father was the right decision.

“I felt like I made the right call,” Panettiere told Fox News Digital during the interview. “I've seen who she is and she's an incredible human being. Something must have gone right.”

Panettiere, who shared Kaya with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko, said she remained close with her daughter despite the distance between them.

“I travel a lot to Europe, and I spend a lot of time on FaceTime with her,” Panettiere told Fox News Digital. “And Wlad and I have a good relationship.”

As Kaya grew older, Panettiere said she saw more of herself in her daughter.

“She's 11 now, so time is flying,” she told Fox News Digital. “I feel like she's becoming more and more curious about me, my life and who I am. We're so similar. She is me. I understand her in a way that nobody else can.”

In her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” Panettiere described living apart from Kaya as “the most gut-wrenching experience of my life,” but wrote that she knew how “blessed” she was to be her mother.

Fox News Digital’s Stephanie Nolasco contributed to this report.

“One Tree Hill” actress Bethany Joy Lenz shared an emotional tribute to Hayden Panettiere, recalling knowing the actress since childhood and expressing disbelief over her death at 36.

“I’m crushed,” Lenz wrote on Instagram. “I knew the wild little blonde. Was she nine? Ten? I was eighteen.”

Lenz recalled Panettiere running through the halls of Screen Gems studios as a child, describing her as remarkably perceptive and talented even at a young age.

“Her intelligence was astonishing,” Lenz wrote. “She understood scenes and nuance and human struggle like no child I’d ever seen on camera.”

The actress said she and Panettiere remained connected on and off for nearly three decades, comparing their relationship to cousins who would reconnect at family reunions. Although the two repeatedly made plans to get together, Lenz said those meetings never quite happened and she largely kept up with Panettiere through mutual friends.

“I dont understand how this is real,” Lenz wrote. “Everything seemed to be turning around. She was coming BACK to life, wasn’t she? It’s too young and there’s still so much more life.”

Lenz also expressed regret over the times she did not reach out and shared her heartbreak for Panettiere’s daughter.

“These are moments of how I knew you, in glimpses over 27 years,” she wrote alongside photos of them over the years. “I don’t know how to process this. I am praying for you to know the peace of God now and always.”

Viola Davis paid tribute to her former co-star Hayden Panettiere, remembering the late actress as an “amazing talent” with a “deep heart.”

Davis shared the emotional message on Instagram after Panettiere’s death at age 36. Davis and her husband, Julius Tennon, starred alongside Panettiere in the 2016 courtroom drama “Custody.”

“What an amazing talent you were….so gifted,” Davis wrote. “Julius and I loved working with you….an old, wise soul with such a deep heart.”

The Oscar-winning actress reflected on Panettiere’s life and legacy, writing that she wished “the world had more time” with her.

“I saw this beautiful Phoenix rising from the ashes,” Davis wrote. “Your tests became your testimony, and your testimony became your legacy. You will be remembered.”

Davis concluded by sending “healing prayers” to Panettiere’s family, daughter and loved ones, adding, “Rest well, Hayden. … May they always speak your name.”

"Nashville" actress Hayden Panettiere died, her representative confirmed to Fox News Digital. She was 36. 

Circumstances surrounding her death were not immediately made available. 

"It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her – and to the millions who watched her onscreen," her rep said in a statement provided to ABC News. 

The New York native began acting at a young age and was cast in "One Life to Live" when she was 4 years old. She found fame with a starring role alongside Denzel Washington in the 2000 classic, "Remember the Titans."

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Digital's Tracy Wright.