Hayden Panettiere expressed a desire to "leave the world a better place than [she] found it" in her last interview, given in May while promoting her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning.” The actress died at 36.

During a book event in Los Angeles on May 26, Panettiere shared that writing about her personal struggles for the memoir had been "worth it" due to the impact it had on others. "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,’" she stated.

Panettiere also revealed aspirations for a future in directing, motivated by a desire to protect child actors. "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. "I would love to produce." She recalled instances of advocating for younger performers, noting, "People don’t always understand what they’re asking of young actors emotionally... If somebody’s pushing a child too hard, that’s when I start growling."

Her father, Skip Panettiere, announced her death, stating, “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. We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”

According to 911 dispatch audio obtained by news outlets, Panettiere died in her South Carolina home. Paramedics responded to a call about an unidentified female in cardiac arrest. Emergency responders attempted resuscitation, but she was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. While the exact cause of death is not yet known, reports indicated no signs of foul play.

The Golden Globe nominee had been open about her past struggles with opioid and alcohol addiction and postpartum depression. She is survived by her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, with whom she shared with retired boxer Wladimir Klitschko. The couple split in 2018, the same year Panettiere relinquished custody of their daughter, a decision she described as difficult but necessary for her daughter's well-being and her own recovery.

For those affected by issues raised in this story, SAMHSA’s National Helpline can be reached at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).