Hayden Panettiere was an open book when it came to the highs and lows of life during her final public appearance before her death.
The Heroes alum stepped out in West Hollywood on May 26 to attend a special event in honor of her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.
According to Page Six, Panettiere addressed several topics in her book, including postpartum depression, motherhood and growing up in Hollywood.
At one point, the Nashville actress opened up to moderator and True Detective star Alyshia Ochse about her decision to give up custody of her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, to her ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko.
“The worst thing that somebody said to me is that it was a personal choice that I was making,” Panettiere said. “Who would choose to feel like this? Like, how could you even say that to me? This beautiful child is healthy and everything to celebrate, and I’m completely incapable of doing it. I felt so guilt-ridden that I was incapable of doing it.”
In recent years, Panettiere was able to maintain a coparenting relationship with Klitschko, 50, and had the opportunity to visit her daughter in Ukraine.
News broke on Sunday, August 16, that Panettiere had died at the age of 36. Her official cause of death has yet to be revealed.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” Panettiere’s father, Skip, said in a statement to Us. “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.”
Authorities in South Carolina confirmed to Us on Monday, August 17, that police responded to reports of an “unresponsive female” at a residence, who was later identified as Panettiere.
In dispatch audio obtained by People, officials were heard discussing an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest” around the time of Panettiere’s death.
Panettiere made her acting debut as a child and faced ups and downs in the public eye. She took a hiatus from acting in 2018 while struggling with postpartum depression, alcohol and opioid addiction.
Although Panettiere admitted to Us that she was initially “terrified” to write her book, she wanted to share her life story with fans in hopes of reminding others that they are not alone with their struggles.
“The first thought that went through my head is, ‘Am I ready to write a book about my life?’ Then I started thinking through my life and going, ‘Gosh, truth is stranger than fiction. I have so many stories already to share,’” Panettiere said in May. “I hope that by sharing them in this book, that it helps people to overcome the obstacles they’re going through.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
