Hayden Panettiere has had a long career since she started acting at 11 months old in commercials. There was one movie role that shaped the actress, and it gave her direction and goals for her career. On the other hand, there was TV role that was too close for comfort.
‘Remember the Titans’ Taught Hayden Panettiere the Kind of Career She Wanted
GettyPanettiere appeared on the “On Purpose” podcast and spoke about the role that changed her life. She played the bold Sheryl Yoast in “Remember the Titans” at 10 years old. She held her own in scenes with Denzel Washington, who was in his 40s. The role was the daughter of Coach Bill Yoast, played by Will Patton.
“I’ve been really impacted by the people that I’ve gotten to work with, and especially when I was acting at very sensitive ages, like when I think back to ‘Remember the Titans,’ as you said, at 10 years old,” the “Heroes” star said. “That experience, that whole experience-everyone on set–playing that character of Sheryl that felt so similar to who I was naturally as a person. I felt like that really shaped me.”
She said it gave her perspective on the film industry. “Now I know what kind of actor I want to be,” she continued. “I want to be generous, and I want to be there for people. But this can also be fun.”
The experience meant so much to her that she told Entertainment Tonight something powerful in 2023. “I mean, you have no idea how many times in my life I have wished and prayed — if I had wished to go back to any time in my life, it would be going back to ‘Remember the Titans,'” the “Nashville” star said.
That’s because she was too young to appreciate working with Washington and future stars who played the football players, like Ethan Suplee. Donald Faison later starred on “Scrubs.” Ryan Gosling starred in the Oscar-winning “La La Land.”
Panettiere’s ‘Nashville’ Role Was Too Close for Comfort
Some roles show possibilities, while other jobs can show harsh realities. Panettiere played country singer Juliette Barnes on “Nashville.” She explained in her memoir, “This Is Me: Reckoning,” that Juliette’s struggles were similar to her own.
“During the better part of season four, my personal problems were writing the script. Juliette Barnes had postpartum depression, an alcohol and pill problem, and a divorce on the horizon. She was erratic, an absentee mother, and fought with everyone — including her fans,” the TV star wrote.
She claimed the scripts were a “funhouse mirror” of herself, which made her feel lost. The actress said there was no boundary between her job and herself. This also made her feel like her suffering was doubled.
The series ended in 2018 after six seasons. Juliette’s story ended on a brave note by revealing the identity of a predator in the music industry and gaining full custody of her son.
Panettiere courageously told her story about experiencing harm while growing up in the film industry. She died on August 16, 2026, at 36 years old.
