Following the death of actor Hayden Panettiere, fellow former child star Anna Paquin spoke out about Hollywood’s treatment of its young female actors.
In an Instagram post shared Aug. 21, Paquin blasted the industry, accusing it of failing to protect “pre-sexualized female, child ‘stars’” including Panettiere. Paquin, who made her acting debut in the 1993 film “The Piano,” was 9 years old when filming began. Panettiere’s television career began at 4 years old in the soap opera “One Life to Live.”
“It’s not a coincidence that so many former, specifically pre-sexualized female, child ‘stars’ have profoundly sad lives and untimely ends,” Paquin, now 44, wrote in the post, before likely referencing the deaths of Panettiere, Michelle Trachtenberg and Daveigh Chase. “We were not as protected by the ‘systems’ that look great on paper, as we are supposed to be. RIP HP, MT, DC and too many others.”
Trachtenberg died in 2025 at age 39 due to complications from diabetes. Chase died in June at age 35 from AIDS. Her father John Schwallier confirmed to NBC News that she was homeless at the time of her death.
Paquin also encouraged others who have backgrounds as child stars to reach out to her for support.
“It’s a strange small club we belong to and you are worthy of support no matter how our industry made us feel. Literally DM me,” Paquin wrote. “I believe you and I will stand by your side. You aren’t alone. Let’s have each other’s backs. It might make public disclosure less terrifying.”
Panettiere was found unresponsive Aug. 16 at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina and later pronounced dead. She was 36. Her passing has reignited discussions around the treatment of child stars. Panettiere, who’s also known for her roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” had begun to appear on screen when she was not yet a year old. In her book, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” published in May, Panettiere wrote that she had “lost the chance to have a ‘normal’ childhood.”
In her memoir, Panettiere described a collection of traumatic events, including when, at 19, she was asked to get in bed with an older celebrity. The actor also described moments when a television executive kissed her on the lips, and when an Oscar-winning actor and director exposed himself to her at a party.
When she was 15 years old, Panettiere was given “happy pills” before walking a red carpet — an incident that would kickstart a long battle with drug addiction, she has said.
“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,” she said in a 2022 interview with People.
Paquin, who’s also known for her roles in “X-Men” and “True Blood” has been open about her experiences as a child star in the past. The actor, who won the Oscar for best supporting actress at age 11 for her performance in “The Piano,” told The Guardian in a 2019 interview that she’s had “some absolutely horrific experiences” as someone growing up in the industry.
“People treat people who have no power, sometimes, in ways that are completely unacceptable,” Paquin told the outlet. “But when you’re a child and you don’t know any different, and you don’t want to get into trouble, you just keep your mouth shut.”
Paquin’s latest post has drawn praise from several other former child stars including Mara Wilson, who played the titular character in 1996 film “Matilda,” and Alyssa Milano whose breakout role was as character Samantha Micelli in 1980s sitcom “Who’s The Boss?”
Kimmy Yam is a reporter for NBC Asian America.