What Hayden Panettiere said in her final interview weeks before her death aged 36
Hayden Panettiere said she wanted to 'leave the world a better place than [she] found it' in her final interview just weeks before her death, aged 36.
The actress was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead at an apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday afternoon (August 16).
In a newly-released statement to the BBC, Greenville County Coroner's Office, which is investigating the death of Panettiere, note that emergency services were called to an address on Sunday (August 16) for a woman in cardiac arrest, but resuscitation efforts 'were unsuccessful'.
Panettiere’s death was announced by her dad, Skip, who described the star as 'a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her'.
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But in her final interview just weeks before her tragic death, the Heroes star made some candid admissions about her life.
While promoting her memoir, 'This Is Me: A Reckoning', at a Los Angeles book event, Panettiere said: "I can hopefully leave the world a better place than I found it. The strength is in our vulnerability."
The 36-year-old also touched on the mental health struggles she had faced throughout her life, as she added: "So many people have come up to me within the industry and outside of the industry and shared their stories with me and said, 'Because you’ve talked about your mental health, it gave me the courage to be honest about mine and get myself help, and you saved my life'."
When asked what she wanted next from life by the host, Panettiere admitted she 'would love to direct', particularly in order to protect young stars, like she once was.
"I really want to direct and be that person that creates a safe environment for actors and be like, this is the experience you’re supposed to have," she said.
The actress added: "People don’t always understand what they’re asking of young actors emotionally. I remember having to advocate for younger performers and stepping in when people expected too much from them. I become very protective.
"If somebody’s pushing a child too hard, that’s when I start growling."
Panettiere began her acting career when she was as little as 11 months old, when she appeared in a commercial for a toy brand.
But despite being the voice actor for Princess Dot in A Bug’s Life and starring in US soap One Life to Live, her fame reached another level when she was cast as cheerleader Claire Bennet in the smash hit Heroes.
Following the heartbreaking news of her death, former co-stars who worked with the star shared emotional tributes online, with fellow Scream actor Melissa Barrera noting: "Rest in peace sweet Hayden."
Topics: Celebrity, US News, Mental Health
Mia Williams