Hayden Panettiere : Hayden Panettiere has revealed a deeply personal part of her life, sharing publicly for the first time that she identifies as bisexual. The actress spoke openly in a recent interview while promoting her upcoming memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, which is set to introduce readers to some of the most private chapters of her life.
At 36, the former Nashville star said she finally feels ready to speak honestly about who she is, calling the moment both emotional and empowering.
“I Wasn’t Ready Before”
During the conversation, Panettiere explained that her attraction toward women had been present since childhood. She admitted that, for many years, she kept that side of herself private because life never seemed to offer the right space or timing to talk about it openly.
She said growing up in the spotlight created pressure to appear “perfect,” leaving little room for self-expression. Later, she worried people might misunderstand her truth or assume she was simply following a trend.
According to the actress, those fears kept her silent for years, even though she always knew who she was.
Finding the Confidence to Speak
Now, with her memoir on the way, Panettiere says she feels stronger and more comfortable than ever. She described this as the first time she has been able to say out loud, with complete confidence, that she is bisexual.
The actress called the experience liberating, adding that even though it took until age 36, sharing her truth now feels absolutely right.
Dating Women While Living Under Public Attention
Panettiere also opened up about dating women in the past, saying those relationships often felt complicated because of constant public attention and photographers following her movements.
She admitted that while she explored those relationships, she never fully allowed herself to fall deeply in love, partly because she was not yet ready to publicly share that part of her identity.
She explained that the thought of hiding a serious relationship from the world made emotional vulnerability difficult.
Family Life and Past Relationships
In 2014, Panettiere welcomed a daughter with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko. The couple eventually separated in 2018.
Over the years, she was also linked to Milo Ventimiglia, her former Heroes co-star, as well as Brian Hickerson.
Speaking About Moving On From Abuse
Panettiere shared that Hickerson is no longer part of her life. Reflecting on that chapter, she described leaving an abusive relationship as an extremely difficult and emotional process.
She compared it to trying to remove something deeply rooted, saying that healing often comes with setbacks before true freedom is found.
With her memoir, Hayden Panettiere says she is finally embracing every part of her journey—without fear, without hiding, and completely on her own terms.
