Aug. 22, 2026, 5:15 p.m. ET
Anna Paquin is sharing an urgent message on the experiences and well-being of young performers after the recent death of Hayden Panettiere.
The “True Blood” actress seemed to pay tribute to Panettiere on what would have been her 37th birthday while speaking about the “damage” child stars who “find themselves prematurely a ‘sex object'” experience both in the entertainment industry and beyond.
“It’s not a coincidence that so many former, specifically pre-sexualized female, child ‘stars’ have profoundly sad lives and untimely ends,” Paquin, 44, wrote. “We were not as protected by the ‘systems’ that look great on paper, as we are supposed to be.”
USA TODAY has reached out to Paquin’s representative for comment.
Paquin then went on to seemingly share remembrances for fellow child actresses Panettiere, Michelle Trachtenberg (who died in 2025 at 39) and Daveigh Chase (who died this June at 35), writing, “RIP HP, MT, DC and too many others.”
“It’s a strange small club we belong to and you are worthy of support no matter how our industry made us feel,” the “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” star continued, closing her message with an urgent plea: “Literally DM me. I believe you and I will stand by your side. You aren’t alone. Let’s have each other’s backs. It might make public disclosure less terrifying.”
In a moment of afterthought, Paquin returned to Instagram on Aug. 22 with a hopeful example of how to support and care for young performers on set.
“As an adult I’ve had the pleasure of working on productions where the welfare and mental health of young performers was handled incredibly carefully,” she wrote. “Especially around material that was intense.
“It is possible to holistically look after the kids on set and tell complex and sometimes upsetting stories. It just has to be the top priority of the production.”
The “Ice Princess” and “Bring It On: All or Nothing” star died on Aug. 16 at the age of 36. A cause of death has yet to be confirmed. Paquin is among the latest stars to pay tribute to the late actress, whom she starred alongside in 2011’s “Scream 4.”
Like Panettiere, Paquin began her acting career as a child. At 11, she famously won best supporting actress at the 1994 Oscars for her debut turn in 1993’s “The Piano.” As a teenager, she went on to appear in 1996’s “Jane Eyre,” 2000’s “Almost Famous” and depicted Rogue in 2000’s “X-Men.”
