Hayden Panettiere offered a rare glimpse into her relationship with her daughter Kaya Evdokia Klitschko just months before the actress died at the age of 36.
The Heroes star revealed that Kaya, now 11, had started calling her “Britney” during their frequent FaceTime conversations, a playful reference to Panettiere’s character Britney Allen in the 2007 film Bring It On: All or Nothing.
The revelation came during a May appearance on CBS Mornings, where Panettiere spoke warmly about the bond she had maintained with her daughter despite the distance between them.
Kaya’s Friends Thought Her Mother Was Cool
Panettiere explained that Kaya’s friends had discovered her mother’s movie through a renewed interest in the film among a younger generation.
According to the actress, the renewed popularity of the movie had made her unexpectedly recognizable to Kaya’s friends.
Panettiere said she felt fortunate to have such a strong relationship with her daughter and described their communication as frequent despite living apart.
She also said she traveled to see Kaya whenever possible and remained in constant contact with her through FaceTime.
Kaya Remained Her Mother’s Greatest Priority
A close friend of Panettiere’s later recalled just how central Kaya was to the actress’s life.
Her hairstylist Erick Orellana told Page Six that Panettiere had been talking about taking a trip to Ukraine to see her daughter shortly before her death.
Orellana described Kaya as the “absolute light” of Panettiere’s life, recalling how the actress would frequently show photographs of her daughter and share stories about her.
He said Panettiere loved spending time with Kaya and that conversations about her daughter were a constant source of happiness.
The Difficult Decision Over Custody
Panettiere’s relationship with Kaya was shaped by years of personal struggles, including postpartum depression, anxiety and substance abuse.
She shared Kaya with former professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko, whom she met in 2009.
The pair dated for two years before separating in 2011, then rekindled their relationship two years later.
In 2018, when Kaya was three, Panettiere signed full custody of her daughter over to Klitschko, who moved with Kaya to Ukraine.
Panettiere later made clear that the decision was not something she wanted or made casually.
Panettiere Said She Was Fighting to Recover
During a May interview, Panettiere described the period surrounding the custody decision as one of the most difficult chapters of her life.
She explained that she had been struggling with depression and anxiety while also battling alcoholism and substance abuse.
At one point, she said, she recognized that she desperately needed professional help.
Panettiere also rejected any suggestion that surrendering custody meant she had willingly abandoned her daughter.
She described the idea that she would simply give up her child and feel comfortable with the decision as deeply painful, stressing that her circumstances had been far more complicated.
Her Final Months Were Focused on Reconnecting
Panettiere’s comments about Kaya became particularly poignant following her death.
Her friend said that visiting her daughter remained a priority and that she had been discussing plans for a trip to Ukraine shortly before she died.
The actress’s repeated efforts to maintain contact with Kaya also showed how she continued to nurture their relationship despite the physical separation.
Wladimir Klitschko Pays Tribute
Following Panettiere’s death, Klitschko publicly addressed the loss of the mother of his daughter.
Sharing a photograph of the family from happier times, he described the family’s situation as one of profound shock and grief.
Klitschko said Panettiere remained an important part of his life despite their relationship having ended, emphasizing that she was the mother of their daughter.
He also promised to speak about Panettiere with respect so that Kaya would remember her mother and the person she was.
A Career Marked by Success and Struggle
Panettiere became widely known through roles including her portrayal of Claire Bennet in Heroes, building a successful acting career while also speaking openly about the personal difficulties she faced away from the spotlight.
Her struggles with postpartum depression and substance abuse became public over the years, with the actress acknowledging that she sought treatment as she tried to rebuild her life.
She previously described depression as leaving her feeling emotionally numb and said her battle ultimately became a prolonged effort to find her way back to herself.
Her Death Came Just Before Her 37th Birthday
Panettiere died on Sunday at the age of 36, just one week before her 37th birthday.
An autopsy reportedly found no signs of trauma, although her official cause of death had not yet been confirmed at the time of the reports.
Her death prompted an outpouring of grief from friends, family and fans who remembered both her acting career and her openness about the challenges she faced.
For Kaya, however, Panettiere was more than a Hollywood actress.
She was the mother who kept calling, traveling when she could, sharing photographs and stories, and laughing when her young daughter jokingly called her “Britney.”
