Beth Chamberlin is remembering Hayden Panettiere following the actress’ death at 36.
Chamberlin, who starred alongside Panettiere on “Guiding Light,” shared an emotional tribute to her former onscreen daughter on Instagram Monday, Aug. 17.
Panettiere played Lizzie Spaulding, the daughter of Chamberlin’s character, Beth Raines, on the longtime CBS soap.
Chamberlin Opens Up About Working with Panettiere
“Hayden played my daughter for 3 years. She was the most brilliant child actor I’ve ever seen,” Chamberlin wrote.
She also shared an image from when they were filming the show, of herself with Panettiere.
The actress went on to recall just how impressive Panettiere was while working on the soap as a young performer.
“The things she could do, the way she could remember 20+ pages of dialogue, day after day,” Chamberlin continued. “Even on days where the director would come out between dress and tape and make huge cuts to the scenes, Hayden, never once forgot a line or missed her blocking.”
Chamberlin added that the adults on set would sometimes forget their lines, but Panettiere never did.
“The adults would, but not Hayden,” she wrote. “I felt blessed to work with her. And always perfect in her playing of the scene.”
Tributes Pour In
The touching tribute prompted an outpouring of support from fans, many of whom remembered Panettiere from her earliest acting roles.
“I remember her as Lizzy Spaulding on Guiding Light. RIP,” one person wrote.
“You were the first person I thought of when I heard the news this morning. I know she was precious to you. I’m so sorry,” another commented.
Panettiere died Sunday, Aug. 16, at age 36. Her representative confirmed her death to PEOPLE in a statement shared on behalf of her father, Alan Panettiere.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” the statement said. Her father described her as “an incredible light and a force of nature” who brought love and joy to those around her.
Authorities said Panettiere was found unresponsive in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday.
Emergency personnel attempted to provide medical assistance, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. No signs of foul play were reported, and the cause of death has not been publicly established.
Panettiere began her professional acting career as a child, appearing on “One Life to Live” before joining “Guiding Light.” She became widely known to television audiences years later as Claire Bennet on NBC’s “Heroes,” the cheerleader with regenerative abilities who became one of the show’s signature characters.
She later starred as country singer Juliette Barnes on ABC’s “Nashville” from 2012 through 2018, earning two Golden Globe nominations for the role. Her film credits included “Remember the Titans,” “Scream 4” and “Scream VI.”
Panettiere’s death comes months after she released her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in which she opened up about her life, career and personal struggles.
She leaves behind a daughter, Kaya Evdokia Klitschko. She shared her with her former fiancé, retired professional heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko. Kaya resides with her father.
