Hayden Panettiere, the troubled actress who passed away from a suspected overdose, was reportedly “struggling” and “really lonely” during the production of her last film, revealed her co-star Justin Chatwin.
Panettiere, who died just days shy of her 37th birthday, completed filming on the psychological thriller “Sleepwalker” in February. In this movie, she portrayed a distraught mother dealing with the traumatic loss of her daughter in a car accident.
Having relinquished custody of her own daughter, Panettiere’s role mirrored aspects of her personal life. She also depicted a victim of domestic abuse, an experience she endured during her tumultuous relationship with her ex-boyfriend, Brian Hickerson.
Chatwin, who portrayed Panettiere’s abusive husband in the film, shared with People magazine that they bonded well on set. “It was a fantastic shoot, but considering the theme of domestic abuse, it might have been too relatable for her, as she did bring it up,” he explained on Monday.
Chatwin, renowned for his role in “Shameless,” had known Panettiere prior to filming and observed that she “seemed different” during the making of what would eventually be her final movie. Her sudden demise from a suspected overdose this weekend marks the end of her tumultuous yet remarkable journey.
“I could tell she was struggling, and I was like, ‘I don’t think it’s this movie,” he said of likely troubles off the set.
“There’s a handful of women that I’ve worked with that I really liked, and I really loved working with her, but I also know that she was really lonely.”
Canadian-born Chatwin, 43, said Panettiere “was authentic… about her life and she opened up about her struggles with addiction” while on set of the movie, which was released in January, Chatwin said.
“She was delightful and super open and we had a great time together and I’m just saddened that another one got taken down,” Chatwin said.
The actress’ shocking death came just three months after she published her deeply candid memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in which the former child star opened up about her harrowing battles with alcohol and opioid addiction, postpartum depression, domestic abuse and the pressures of growing up in Hollywood. Hickerson has also admitted being abusive toward her.
Brandon Auman, the movie’s writer and director, described Panettiere as a “bright, open, [and] numinous spirit.”
“She was open and honest about the last few years of her life and how it related to her character,” he told People.
“I’m keeping those conversations private, but I was struck by how complex and deeply introspective she was. She lived a dozen lives in one short beautiful life. I’ll miss her forever.”
Panettiere, who shared daughter Kyla with ex-boxing champ Wladimir Klitschko, was found unresponsive by an unidentified acquaintance inside a Greenville, South Carolina, apartment on Sunday having suffered a cardiac arrest following a suspected overdose.
She flew out of Los Angeles with Hickerson the previous day — though it’s not clear if he placed the call.
Panettiere died five days before her 37th birthday.