Hayden Panettiere is back with less of a bang and more of a gentle acclimatization of the industry, its possibilities, and, at the same time, its challenges.
The actress reprises her role as Kirby Reed in the Scream franchise with the release of its sixth installment. It’s her first serious work for the former Heroes star in almost five years. An extended period of downtime has proved necessary for Panettiere. She has spent much-needed time with daughter Kaya, whose father Wladimir Klitschko gained custody of, came to terms with some of the personal issues that have followed her since her teenage years, and most of all has rediscovered an ability to savor and enjoy life.
The actress, also famous for her brilliant portrayal of Juliette Barnes in the hugely successful country music drama Nashville, is a New Yorker thrilled to be in the bright lights. Yet, she returns someone more thoughtful and wiser.
Panettiere recently opened up about addiction to opioids and alcohol and also detailed an abusive relationship that she is now free from. She also suffered from postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter in 2014.
For someone still so young, Panettiere is 33, and she has been through a lot, though she still has much more to offer. Audiences should be excited.
STRIPLV: It must be a great feeling to return to the cinema screen and play a role you’re familiar with. Does it help you acclimate to a big year and a big restart for you? PANETTIERE: I think that it helps when there are familiar faces, yes. It has been a big thing for me to get back up and get back into this world, and it’s exciting, but in a way, it’s new territory for me. I don’t have the vices of before or the reliance on certain people or things. I am much more about this being me, and relying on me now, and that feels great. I feel like I have the opportunity to recalibrate, restart and perhaps prove a few people wrong along the way. As far as Scream goes, myself and (her character) Kirby are always pleased to see each other again. (Laughs) I know her so well, and coming back to her is obviously much easier than having to research for a new character. It helps, too that she is someone who has already landed with the audience in a movie filled with nasty surprises. At least there won’t be any in terms of Kirby’s character and style! STRIPLV: Is it true that you pushed for the character to return? PANETTIERE: Yes, I thought I should just give them a call and offer my services as Kirby and see what they thought. I was so eager for them to say yes, and I’m glad they did, so it’s exciting to see what fans think. STRIPLV: What was it like being back on the set with some familiar faces, and some new ones? PANETTIERE: It’s an interesting dynamic when you come back and it’s a combination of new and existing cast members. There’s a feeling of people trying to work each other out, personally, as well as seeing what works professionally as far as on-screen interactions and chemistry. It’s a cool dynamic, and I was thrilled just to be around so many talented, beautiful people after being away from the whole thing for so long. It’s a little like moving to a city you’ve, but most of the neighbors have followed you, and you’re just trying to fit in again. There is a lot that’s familiar and a lot that’s different. STRIPLV: After David Arquette’s shocking demise in the last movie, the big question is, how long do we get to see Kirby? PANETTIERE: I can’t tell you that. What I can tell you, though, is that people aren’t going to be disappointed by Kirby’s appearance in this one. Her sarcastic and snarky manner is still there, despite the fact that her life seems to have taken a certain turn, but the Woodsboro gang still has Kirby, and Kirby still has the Woodsboro gang! Kirby is evidently older, but that means she’s also a lot wiser. She’s got experience and resilience where perhaps she didn’t have it before. STRIPLV: Do you see a lot of yourself in her, then? PANETTIERE: I do. We have both been through a lot and are coming out the other side. I think my longevity will outlast hers, though. STRIPLV: Should we be expecting more gore and blood in this? PANETTIERE: Oh, they’ve really ramped up the scares and the blood in this one. When you’ve got a movie where people are trying to move out of a small town and into a huge city like New York and think they’re going to be safe, that sets it up great. That’s what keeps people coming back to these horror/slasher movies. Some people just love being scared, and it’s almost like you can’t help yourself. I’ve had a lot of danger and temptation in my life, and this follows a similar track. STRIPLV: This is a significant step for you, having had some difficult times, right? PANETTIERE: Sure, it has been really difficult, and I didn’t know when it was going to end. Sometimes, I actually have to pinch myself and remember that this is all real, and I am back working. Treatment was the only way I was going to get better, but just as inspiring for me were some of the amazing people I met, some with similar and some with very different mindsets. It’s amazing to me how people who seem and feel so different to yourself, you can actually have the greatest shared empathy with. STRIPLV: Your daughter spends time in Ukraine and is a part of the ongoing conflict, yet you have been quick to come out and say how safe she is. PANETTIERE: Yes, she is very safe in Ukraine at the moment with her dad and his brother, who is the Mayor of Kyiv. Obviously, it’s a terrible situation, and that’s why I launched a relief fund. Hoplon International helps to bring relief and aid to all of the Ukrainian people who are fighting on the frontlines. People are able to donate whatever they can afford to help make a difference and contribute to the country’s fight. We take peace for granted, and then it can be snatched away from you. Everyone deserves to live their life in peace. STRIPLV: You were a child star. Do you harbor similar hopes for Kaya? PANETTIERE: That will be up to her, ultimately. What I will say is the industry has changed so much in the last generation, and you have to be stronger and more resilient than ever. I came up at the time when all those young girls who had broken through were getting in trouble, and that was the popular thing to do. Everyone’s sitting there waiting for you to fall and watching you. I was raised very well. I had great parents who instilled great morals in me and taught me how to treat people well. STRIPLV: Who of your generation has positively affected you in the way they have carried themselves and gone about their work? PANETTIERE: Carrie Underwood is always someone I’ve admired. One of the things I love about Carrie is what an amazing stage presence she has. She goes the extra yard in so much of who she is and how she performs. For instance, she doesn’t have to do all those choreographed dance moves, but you’re so awestruck by her willingness to push on. I personally like her drive. I like her spunk. She is determined, and she won’t let anyone stand in her way. STRIPLV: You’ve been courageous in openly discussing the setbacks you’ve had. PANETTIERE: Courage is facing your fears, facing something that terrifies you, and confronting it. I think I am a fairly courageous person, at least, I am trying to be. It’s a genetic thing. My parents instilled that in me. We are all pretty fierce [laughs]. STRIPLV: You are renowned for raising awareness for notable causes, including when you paddled out on a surfboard to face dolphin hunters. That must be very scary for a young woman to do. PANETTIERE: In that moment, I don’t think about courage. It is just this adrenalin rush, and I have this attitude: whatever happens, happens. Using my name and influence is, I feel, a responsibility I have. You see people that dedicate their entire lives to changing the world for the better. And then a celebrity does one thing, and all of the sudden, it’s all over the news. It’s a powerful position to be in. I want to use it to do something good and not useless. STRIPLV: You’ve been in front of the camera since you were 11 months old. Can you talk about growing up in the public eye? What’s that like? PANETTIERE: It’s been an interesting life. It’s been everything I always thought. And really, it’s everything I’ve ever done in my life. Yes, there are sacrifices to be made, for sure. You don’t have the time you might want to have for yourself, but at the end of the day, I am doing what many people dream of doing. The setbacks are tough, but the rewards are great. STRIPLV: What has changed about you in your time away? PANETTIERE: I’ve always been a fiercely hard worker, but I’m coming to realize now it doesn’t always have to be that way. It’s amazing to see how much hard work and dedication payoffs at the end of the day, but also, you will still get a lot done if you hold back if you preserve yourself for a while instead of pushing and pushing. That’s been a real revelation for me of late. It feels like a real psychological shift for me because it’s all I’ve ever known. My dad was a lieutenant in the Fire Department in New York, and my mom has always been such a crazy hard worker. That was something I was raised with. They taught me a great work ethic: “Don’t slack off. Just stay with it.” It’s a habit I will retain, but not to the lengths I used to. STRIPLV: What profession would you be doing if not acting? PANETTIERE: I love animals, so I think I would be doing something in that area. There is not much else that makes me happier. I am hoping to open an animal sanctuary later in my life. That is a big dream of mine. Hayden: “You can quote me on that.”
Five standout quotes from Heroes actress Hayden Panettiere
ONE “You go on these internet blogs, and people say the meanest things. I’m a normal person. Just because I’m in the spotlight doesn’t mean I’m God’s gift to the world. I’m learning and making mistakes just like everyone else out there.”
TWO “I remember reminding myself that beauty is an opinion, not a fact. And it has always made me feel better.”
THREE “Every girl likes feeling hot and sexy and beautiful and likes hearing it.”
FOUR “I like to dedicate myself wholeheartedly to a cause so that I have more impact. My goal is to shed light on the beauty of the ocean and how important it is for our planet.”
FIVE “I’ve always described my taste in fashion and music as being very eclectic and uniquely based on my feelings that day. That’s the wonderful thing about style, too. You can be whatever you want to be. You can describe yourself however you want to describe yourself.”