Hayden Panettiere attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Netflix’s New Film “Blonde” at TCL…Getty Images
Hayden Panettiere Opens Up on Healing Journey After Brother Jansen’s Death
Hayden Panettiere has opened up about her emotional healing process almost two years after the tragic death of her brother, Jansen Panettiere. The actor, known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, shared deeply personal insights during an interview with People, where she appears as the cover star. The interview, released on September 18, 2024, revealed the lasting impact of Jansen’s sudden death in 2023 due to cardiomegaly (an enlarged heart) and complications with his aortic valve.
Speaking candidly about the loss, Panettiere said it felt like she “lost half of my soul.” She explained that as Jansen’s only sibling, she had always felt responsible for protecting him. This sense of loss is something she admits she will never be able to move on from. “I will always be heartbroken about it,” she confessed. “No matter how many years go by, I will never get over his loss.”
The Panettiere family released a statement shortly after Jansen’s passing, confirming his cause of death as an enlarged heart. The news was devastating, not just to his family but also to fans who followed his career in films like The Perfect Game and Ice Age: The Meltdown.
The pain of losing her brother took a toll on Panettiere’s physical health as well. She revealed that she gained 40 pounds in the months following his death due to the overwhelming stress and grief. She attributed this to the increased levels of cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, which had spiked as she processed her emotions.
“It wasn’t just the emotional pain,” she shared. “I ballooned out physically. I didn’t feel like myself. Putting on clothes, going out of the house—it all became too much.” Her struggle with agoraphobia, a fear of leaving familiar environments, resurfaced in the aftermath of Jansen’s death. Panettiere described her reluctance to face the world, saying her body felt like it was “shielding itself” from the outside world.
For Hayden, recovery didn’t happen overnight. She took her first step toward healing when her publicist introduced her to Marnie Alton, a personal trainer and the CEO of M/BODY, a wellness and fitness company. Unlike the traditional high-intensity workout routines, Alton’s approach was more compassionate and centered on emotional as well as physical well-being.
Their sessions weren’t just about losing weight; they also took long walks, where Panettiere found herself confiding in Alton. These walks served as therapy for Panettiere, who credits the personal trainer with helping her through one of the darkest periods of her life. Their bond evolved from a client-trainer relationship into a deep friendship. Alton became not just a fitness mentor, but a life coach and someone Panettiere could trust completely.
“She empowered me in a way that didn’t make me feel overwhelmed,” Panettiere said, reflecting on the healing process. “My body reacted, not just to the exercise, but to the entire process of releasing the stress I’d been carrying for so long.”
She began to regain her confidence as she continued on her wellness journey, slowly learning to love herself again. Panettiere shared how important it was to feel “good enough” when she looked in the mirror, knowing she had made progress not only physically but emotionally as well.
Alton, in turn, spoke highly of Panettiere’s resilience. “She has been so courageous throughout all of this. To make a real change, you have to face your current reality honestly, and Hayden did that.”
Now, as nearly two years have passed since Jansen’s death, Panettiere said she is finally starting to feel more like herself. She is focusing on what truly matters to her, including her daughter, Kaya, whom she shares with her ex-partner, Wladimir Klitschko. Hayden spoke proudly about Kaya, describing her as a multi-talented young girl who loves singing, dancing, and playing chess.
In addition to focusing on her daughter, Panettiere is also working on her autobiography. The book will give her a chance to tell her story from her own perspective. She hinted that the memoir will cover the real her, revealing sides of herself that the public has never seen before.
Despite the healing process, Panettiere made it clear that the loss of her brother will always weigh on her heart. “Jansen will always be beside me,” she said, ensuring that his memory remains a significant part of her life.
Hayden Panettiere’s journey is one of resilience, as she continues to find strength in the face of immense personal loss. While she has taken significant steps forward, her story reminds us that grief is a long process, and healing doesn’t mean forgetting. It means learning to carry the memory of loved ones with us as we move forward.
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