Australian actress Ruby Rose opened up about her deep connection with Hayden Panettiere after the latter’s tragic passing. Panettiere, known for roles in Heroes and Nashville, died at age 36 while her official cause and manner of death remain under investigation. She was found unresponsive inside a residence where she was temporarily staying in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16.
Brian Hickerson’s brother Zach reportedly discovered Panettiere unresponsive at the residence, while Hickerson was also present. According to reports citing law enforcement sources, investigators are examining whether Panettiere obtained a pill from a long-time drug dealer in Los Angeles before her death. Her representative has cautioned that reports about the drugs involved remain unverified while toxicology results are pending.
Rose shared how their friendship began, recalling that she didn’t expect to become close with Panettiere at first, according to a report from People. She remembered the moment they met, saying that Panettiere approached her and introduced herself. Rose laughed at how quickly their friendship formed, even though she had initially thought they wouldn’t be friends. She described how the two of them texted daily and checked in with each other over five years of friendship.
Rose also mentioned that her circle of friends had grown to include fourteen people who now serve as her chosen family. She said she was unsure if she wanted to have celebrity friends after her experience in the entertainment industry. Panettiere’s death sent shockwaves through Hollywood and beyond, with many expressing their grief.
Actress Selma Blair posted heartfelt messages on Panettiere’s final Instagram post, showing her deep sorrow. Other celebrities like Tia Mowry also paid tribute by posting a broken heart emoji. In her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, Panettiere discussed her difficult relationship with her mother.
She spoke about the pressure she felt as a child star and described how she was trained like a soldier from an early age. Panettiere said that saying no was never an option during her time in the industry. She also shared how she felt like a little soldier, expected to memorize lines and follow directions without question.
There were no signs of trauma found in the preliminary autopsy results. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said the cause and manner of death remain pending while additional testing is completed. The Drug Enforcement Administration also searched Panettiere’s Los Angeles home nine days after her death as investigators looked for evidence involving possible black-market drugs. The circumstances surrounding her death have drawn attention to the challenges faced by those in the entertainment world.
IMAGE: Ruby Rose at the Australian premiere of Katy Perry: Part of Me in Sydney, Australia.. Photo: Eva Rinaldi / Wikimedia, taken 2012-06-30, CC BY-SA 2.0