Hayden Panettiere, 33, has spoken candidly about her physical and mental health struggles during her recovery from substance abuse. In a new interview with Women's Health, the American actress detailed how her body reacted to years of stress, including jaundice, hair loss, and weight gain.
Panettiere, who reprises her role as Kirby Reed in the upcoming horror film Scream VI, said alcohol had been an “act of defiance” and a coping mechanism for work stress. She described finding calm through self-care, home renovation, and therapy.
The actress revealed that her declining health forced her to step away from the industry. “My body was like, ‘Enough.’ I hit 30. My face was swollen. I had jaundice. I was holding on to weight that wasn’t normally there. My hair was thin and coming out in clumps,” she said.
Panettiere also discussed the beauty of her C-section scar, calling it a reminder of her daughter Kaya, now eight. She handed over custody of Kaya to her former partner, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, in 2018.
Reflecting on her journey, Panettiere said: “It’s been a battle, it’s an everyday battle, and one that today I am happy to say I am winning. And I hope you are too.” The interview comes after the death of her younger brother Jansen last month from an enlarged heart.
