Nearly a year before her untimely passing at the age of 36, Hayden Panettiere spoke fondly about her deep connection with Michelle Trachtenberg, her co-star in the movie “Ice Princess.”
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly last September, the “Heroes” star shared that she had known Trachtenberg long before they appeared together in the 2005 Disney film. Sadly, Trachtenberg passed away in February 2025 at the age of 39.
“Actually, her grandmother lived across the street from my grandparents in Brooklyn. So I knew Michelle way before that,” Panettiere recalled.
“Yeah, like ‘Harriet the Spy’ days,” she added, referencing Trachtenberg’s 1996 breakout role.
Panettiere went on to describe how they not only shared careers in the same industry but also had the unique experience of growing up familiar with each other’s families due to their neighborhood connection.
“We would have block parties. So I have memories of her and I from long ago,” Panettiere shared.
In “Ice Princess,” Trachtenberg plays brainy high school student Casey Carlyle who uses physics to become a competitive figure skater, which puts her at odds with skater Gen Harwood, the daughter of Casey’s coach, Tina (Kim Cattrall).
However, Casey and Gen eventually form a close friendship.
“It was great to work with her,” Panettiere said of Trachtenberg. “It was great to work with Kim Cattrall who was in that, who is amazing, is phenomenal.”
She continued, “It was such a unique experience. I mean, we had to learn how to figure-skate in six weeks, which is no easy feat. But it was so much fun. We had a lot of fun and I’m very grateful that I have the memories that I have with her.”
Panettiere and Trachtenberg both rose to fame as child stars, having appeared on the soap operas “One Life to Live” and “All My Children,” respectively.
Trachtenberg, who was also famous for her roles in “Gossip Girl” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” died of complications from diabetes mellitus on Feb. 26, 2025.
Prior to her death, she had undergone a liver transplant and struggled with addiction.
Panettiere, meanwhile, died over the weekend after being found “unresponsive” and “in cardiac arrest” at an Airbnb rental inside the Judson Mill Lofts apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina on Sunday afternoon.
The 911 dispatch call exclusively obtained by Page Six revealed that authorities reported an “overdose” and that “CPR [was] in progress.”
Medics attempted to resuscitate Panettiere with advanced cardiac life support and chest compressions, but she was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m.
Panettiere, who battled addiction and postpartum depression, was allegedly suffering from “really severe” back pain before her death.
After Panettiere’s passing, “Ice Princess” director Tim Fywell released an emotional statement honoring both stars of the film.
“In what was often a tough and technically complicated shoot, and my first Hollywood movie, they were delightful to work with and great to have around,” Fywell told Variety on Monday.
The filmmaker added, “I remember them both with huge affection, how they were 20 odd years ago, at that relatively uncomplicated time of their lives, two shining talents, gone far too soon.”