- Actress Hayden Panettiere has opened up big time
- She describes filming 'Nashville' as a "traumatic" experience
- THIS is what she had to say
Hayden Panettiere has dropped a bombshell revelation that's rocking the celebrity world! Her character on the hit series 'Nashville' wasn't just a figment of a writer's imagination—it was a mirror of her real-life struggles with alcoholism, addiction, and postpartum depression. The starlet, who shined as "Juliette Barnes" for six years, confessed that her life was being played out on screen, and it was "very traumatizing."
Hayden tells all
In an eye-opening interview with 'The Messenger', Panettiere shared, "I felt like I was acting out my own life." The parallels were uncanny: from dating a football player to battling alcoholism, it seemed the show's writers were taking notes from her life's playbook.
"Straight from the beginning, it was like, I’m dating a football player, [and then] Juliette dates a football player. And then they turned her into an alcoholic,” Panettiere explained. “Then they turned to her leaving her daughter and going to this crazy [place] in Europe, and it was very obvious … They weren’t doing their homework."
"They weren’t creating new storylines,” the actor said of the show’s narratives. “They were just looking at my life and going, ‘Oh, let’s just take what she’s going through and put our little spin on it.’ And then, ta-da! It’s done and done."
The 'Bring It On: All or Nothing' star didn't have it easy, enduring gruelling 12- to 20-hour workdays. She admitted that this intense schedule left her no time to address her emotional and physical pain, leading her to seek solace in mindless TV and great shows—anything to distract from the fact that she'd be "back at it again" the next day.
Panettiere has been quite vocal about her own struggle with alcohol and drug addiction, which is why it hit too close to home for her character to also have an alcoholism storyline. She said working 12-to-20 hour days on the 'Nashville' set took a toll on her well-being.
"I didn’t have time to take care of myself [and] to think about and go through the pain I was experiencing physically [and] emotionally," she said.
Hayden has been quite open
"I just wanted to drum it out and watch mindless television and great shows. Anything to keep my mind off of that because I knew that next day I was going to be back at it again. I was like, tear central. I don’t even think on a soap opera that I cried as much [as I did] on ‘Nashville.'”
She opened up to 'People' magazine in 2022 about her years-long addiction to opioids and alcohol, revealing a member of her team gave her “happy pills” when she was only 15 years old. The actor’s addiction worsened from there.
"They were to make me peppy during interviews. I had no idea that this was not an appropriate thing, or what door that would open for me when it came to my addiction."
Panettiere gained success as a child with roles in soap operas and Disney’s popular football drama 'Remember the Titans'.
She achieved greater acclaim with her leading role at 16 on NBC’s drama series 'Heroes,' and she became a fan favorite in 'Scream 4.' She reprised the role in last year’s 'Scream VI.'
“I was on top of the world and I ruined it,” Panettiere said. “I’d think I hit rock bottom, but then there’s that trap door that opens…This hasn’t been easy and there were a lot of ups and downs. But I don’t regret even the ugliest things that have happened to me. I feel incredibly accomplished. And I feel like I have a second chance.”
Also interesting:
Panettiere's Devastating Relationship
Hayden Panettiere Is Speaking Out About Her Domestic Abuse Experience Following Ex's Arrest
Panettiere Wants Fans To Know She's OK
Hayden Panettiere Breaks Silence Over Boyfriend's Domestic Assault Arrest
Sadly, Panettiere opened up about her postpartum depression and her journey to treatment, which she first sought when her daughter Kaya was just 4 months old.
During a candid sit-down on 'Red Table Talk,' she shared how she turned to alcohol to numb her depression, a coping mechanism she picked up from observing family and friends.
"Because of the way that it was done, it was very upsetting," she explained during her appearance. "It was the worst signing those papers ― the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever, ever had to do in my life."
But there's a light at the end of the tunnel! After multiple treatments, Panettiere is in a better place and gearing up for her 'A Conversation With Hayden Panettiere' tour, starting at the end of February.
Fans and critics alike are buzzing over this raw and real confession. It's a stark reminder that the glitz and glamour of celebrity life often conceal the very real battles they face. Stay tuned for more updates on Hayden's journey and her upcoming tour!
