Hayden Panettiere has been part of the entertainment industry since she was a young girl, in fact, her first-ever acting job was at the young age of 11 months! Hayden has proven herself to be quite the actress, appearing in a number of hit shows including 'Nashville' and 'Heroes', and films that have become childhood classics such as 'Ice Princess', 'Remember The Titans', and 'Bring It On'.
Despite her success in Hollywood, Hayden Panettiere has also endured a lot of hardships throughout her career. The actress claims she has dealt with issues surrounding her mental health, body, and motherhood, all of which have definitely taken a toll on the star.
While life can get hard, Hayden showed that she can get back up and continue on! With over three decades of acting, Hayden has been through it all, however, there is a lot that you might not know about her. With all that being said, here are 15 facts about Hayden Panettiere that have recently come to light.
16 She's Voice Acted In Video Games
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While we know Hayden Panettiere primarily from her work on-screen in both hit films and television shows, however, one fact that you might not know is that she has done a lot of voice work for video games! Hayden recently revealed that she was not asked back to voice the role of Kairi in 'Kingdom Hearts III', surprising many with the knowledge that she previously took part in them!
14 She Began Acting At 11 Months
Hayden Panettiere has been crushing the game for as long as we can remember, however, it turns out she has been doing just that for longer than we thought. Hayden revealed in an interview that her first acting gig was at 11 months old, and it was for a Playskool train commercial, one that even we can't seem to get our hands-on.
13 She Has Suffered From Body Issues
Being an actress and an active member of Hollywood can have its ups and downs, and unfortunately for Hayden Panettiere, she has certainly felt both. The actress shared how comments regarding her body led to her body dysmorphia, which she suffered from for quite a while throughout her career, says IbTimes.
12 Her Mom Was Also An Actress
It appears Hayden Panettiere is not the only actress in her family! While her father has worked hard as a fire captain, her mother was a successful soap opera actress. Lesley Vogel is best known for her work on "Loving" in which she was a cast member of for over a decade! It appears Hayden definitely followed in her mother's footsteps.
11 She Feels Her Acting Options Are Limited
While Hollywood can definitely have its perks, it certainly has its downfalls too. Hayden Panettiere shared that she always felt very out of place in the industry and that her options in regards to roles were very limited. Hayden said she was either the "popular cheerleader", or the "dumb blonde".
10 She Suffered From Postpartum Depression
In 2014, Hayden Panettiere gave birth to her first child, daughter Kaya Evdokia Klitschko, along with former fiancée, Wladimir Klitschko. There was a lot of coverage surrounding Hayden's pregnancy, and how she suffered from post-partum depression and voluntarily checked herself into a treatment facility in order to cope with it all.
9 She Works Closely With Many Animal Rights Organizations
Throughout her career, Hayden Panettiere has not only proven herself to be an outstanding actress but has also proven to be an outstanding person. It goes without saying that Hayden has singlehandedly done more for sea creatures and wildlife than any other major public figure has. She is an adamant member of 'Save The Whales' and has risked her life trying to end the heinous hunting of dolphins in Japan.
8 She Voluntarily Gave Up Custody Of Her Daughter
While pregnancy and giving birth is not an easy task, Hayden Panettiere has such a difficult time after her pregnancy that she voluntarily gave up custody of her daughter. This might come as a shock, however, Hayden's mental state was in no place to raise or care for a child, and considering she has checked into a treatment facility shortly after giving birth, she agreed to give the father of baby Kaya full custody.
7 She Remained Friends With Former Fiancée
The news surrounding her birth, post-partum and custody came as a surprise to many, it is worth mentioning that the situation was handled extremely maturely with their daughter's best interest in mind. While Hayden and Wladimir are no longer together, they have remained very good friends and ended their relationship amicably.
6 Her Daughter Lives In Ukraine
It appears Hayden's life did not get any easier, as her daughter permanently moved to Ukraine with her father. This was not at all a ploy against Hayden, but as Wladimir is from Ukraine and has full custody, it was only fitting for the two to move back and live their lives with Klitschko's family and friends.
5 She Moved To Nashville For The Show
One of Hayden Panettiere's biggest television shows to date has been 'Nashville'. The actress did a phenomenal job on the show, however, something many might not know is that she actually moved to Nashville for the filming of the show. Hayden mentioned how the move was such a lifesaver, considering she could walk on the streets without being recognized and could leave a somewhat "normal life".
4 She Has A Misspelled Tattoo
Many of us have tattoos, are thinking of getting one or regret having it done, either way, Hayden Panettiere can relate to all of the above. The actress has a tattoo down the side of her back in Italian that says "Vivere Senza Rimipianti", which translated to "Live without regrets", however, it appears she has one regret, the misspelling of the last word, which has an extra "i" when it shouldn't. Oops!
3 She Visits Her Daughter As Often As She Can
Hayden's story surrounding motherhood might come across as a very sad one, however, the actress has ensured that she does everything she can to visit her daughter in Ukraine as often as she can. Hayden and Wladimir co-parent wonderfully, and despite her not having custody, she still sees her daughter and "Facetimes her every day", says Hayden.
2 She Disconnected From Social Media For A Year
Social media has proven itself to be quite a fickle area of one's life. While it's great to be able to gather news, communicate with others and posts shots of your most cherished moments, it can also wreak havoc on one's mental health. Hayden took a 10 month long hiatus from social media last year in order to detox her mind from the online comments, expectations and constant need for validation.
1 She Debuted A Brand New Look After Online Hiatus
While a detox from social media can do wonders, one will always find their way back, and that was exactly the cast for Hayden. The actress returned to social media in December 2019, and she did so with a bang! Hayden showcased a brand new pixie cut that fans absolutely loved, and so do we!