Hayden Panettiere‘s closing film, “Sleepwalker,” got here after a decades-long profession that noticed her develop up in Hollywood. The psychological thriller, launched in January, gave the actress a difficult function as a grieving mom coping with episodes of sleepwalking.
Following the actress’ loss of life at 36 years outdated, her co-star, Justin Chatwin, is opening up about their time collectively on set, saying he might inform the actress was “struggling” and appeared “lonely.”
Tributes from co-stars and the leisure trade have been pouring in following information of Hayden Panettiere’s loss of life at simply 36 years outdated.
The actress started her profession as a toddler actress, showing on TV exhibits and movies earlier than changing into a family identify by means of roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville.” Her closing function got here within the psychological thriller “Sleepwalker,” launched in January 2026.
Panettiere’s co-star, Justin Chatwin, who portrayed the actress’ husband within the movie, fondly remembers the actress, telling PEOPLE that they “hit it off nice.” Nevertheless, he additionally seen the actress “was struggling.”
“There’s a handful of girls that I’ve labored with that I actually appreciated, and I actually liked working along with her, however I additionally know that she was actually lonely,” Chatwin recalled.
‘Sleepwalker’ Explored Grief And Trauma
Chatwin shared that Panettiere “opened up” to him about her life, and he believes the film’s topic could have introduced a few of the actress’ private experiences to thoughts. “It was about home abuse, and it was subject material which will have hit near dwelling, as a result of she did point out it,” Chatwin stated.
“Hayden appeared completely different after I met her this time than after I met her within the early years,” the actor continued, including, “I’ve been sober for 15 years, so I do know this world of dependancy, and Hollywood – it takes, and it takes from youth.”
Panettiere had been open about her struggles with substance abuse and alcoholism. She additionally skilled postpartum melancholy following the delivery of her daughter in 2014, as reported by The Blast.
Hayden Panettiere Had A ‘Lovely Coronary heart’
Chatwin stated Panettiere opened as much as him about going to rehab and her traumatic experiences, describing her as a “candy individual” with a “lovely coronary heart.” Nevertheless, he additionally acknowledged that as actors, they have been educated to “be on” whereas on set.
“I actually appreciated spending time along with her as a result of she took that off, and he or she was genuine with me about her life, and he or she opened up about her struggles with dependancy,” Chatwin stated.
In “Sleepwalker,” Panettiere performed Sarah Pangborn, a grieving artist who misplaced her daughter to a automobile crash that additionally left her abusive husband in a coma. It tackles topics reminiscent of survivor’s guilt, home abuse, and trauma.
In 2020, the actress publicly spoke about abuse after her then-boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was arrested for home violence and battery after punching Panettiere. She additionally detailed the incident in her memoir, per The Blast.
The Actress Pulled From Her Experiences To Play The Character
Panettiere mentioned her function in an interview in January, sharing that she felt drawn to enjoying characters which have been by means of trauma as a result of she associated to them.
In portraying Sarah, she channeled her private experiences into the function. “Guilt and loss, they’re matters that I’m aware of, so I had lots to tug from my actual life,” Panettiere instructed Moviefone. The actress acknowledged that the film tackled darkish subject material, but additionally serving as the manager producer saved her thoughts busy.
In a separate interview, Panettiere stated that whereas it was taxing to movie emotional scenes, it was price it. “Preserving that degree of heightened feelings and staying in such a darkish emotional place positively is difficult and may be exhausting, however is finally rewarding for me,” she instructed Fox Information.
Hayden Panettiere Described As ‘Advanced’ And ‘Introspective’
“Sleepwalker” director Brandon Auman mourned the actress’ passing, sharing how Panettiere was “open and sincere” about her life and the way she linked along with her character. “I used to be struck by how complicated and deeply introspective she was. She lived a dozen lives in a single brief lovely life. I’ll miss her ceaselessly,” he stated.
On August 16, emergency responders arrived at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, and located Panettiere unresponsive. She was declared deceased after exhausting all life-saving protocols. The preliminary post-mortem confirmed no indicators of trauma or foul play, however an official trigger and method of loss of life have but to be launched.
