Hayden Panettiere, the Heroes and Nashville star who died on Sunday aged 36, shared an "incredible" bond with her daughter Kaya Evdokia Klitschko, despite living apart for much of the child's life.
A Relationship at the Heart of Her World
Panettiere gave birth to Kaya in December 2014 with her then-fiancé, former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko. Following the couple's split, Kaya moved to live with her father in Europe while Panettiere pursued treatment for addiction and postnatal depression.
Panettiere's representative confirmed on Sunday that the actress had passed away. No cause of death was immediately revealed. The actress later dismissed claims that she had simply abandoned her maternal responsibilities.
Setting the Record Straight
"I mean, the idea that anybody would think that I would just give away my child and be okay with it is heartbreaking. Couldn't be farther from the truth," Panettiere said in May 2026 on Jay Shetty's On Purpose podcast. "I think a misconception is that I have been, in the past, forced into treatment when, in fact, I have been the one who has sought it out."
The physical separation, she explained, didn't prevent the pair from forging a strong connection. Panettiere made trips to visit Kaya and depended on FaceTime during their time apart.
An 'Intense, Incredible Bond'
"I have an incredible relationship with her. I go travel as much as I can. I see her. I do spend a lot of time on FaceTime with her, but we talk about really deep things," Panettiere said. "We have a really intense, incredible bond and I'm very grateful for that."
She also mentioned she ensured Kaya recognised that both parents were active in her life. "I know that she knows that she has two parents that would do anything in the world to make sure that she is happy and healthy, mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually. She in no way feels abandoned and that's something that I've made sure to stay on top of and be very aware of."
A 'Happy Kid Open to a Huge World'
Kaya, who was raised primarily in Europe, was frequently characterised by her mother as intelligent, spirited and loving. "We are fortunate that we can travel a lot," Panettiere told PEOPLE in 2022. "She's a happy kid open to a huge world. And she has more love than anybody I've ever met. She has a beautiful life. I was just with her. She's just an amazing child. She's smart and she's funny and for whatever reason, she still loves me."
Panettiere portrayed living separately from Kaya as an agonising choice made for her daughter's wellbeing and lasting emotional security while receiving treatment. "It was the hardest thing I could do," she said. "But the best thing for my daughter was to make sure she was okay, take care of myself and make sure I could be a good mom to her. And sometimes that means letting go."
