Hayden Panettiere names several celebrity friends and ex-lovers in his debut memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning.”
“People will be surprised at what they learn,” Panettiere, 36, told Us Weekly in a May 2026 cover story, revealing that she was “terrified” to tell her story.
“The first thing that went through my mind was, ‘Am I ready to write a book about my life?'” the actress said. “Then I started to reflect on my life and thought, ‘Oh, truth is stranger than fiction. I already have so many stories I want to share.'” I hope that by sharing them in this book, it will help people overcome the obstacles they are experiencing. ”
Panettiere went through some ups and downs throughout his life, which are detailed in the book. But she also reflected on stories involving other stars.
Keep scrolling for a breakdown of the biggest celebrity names to appear in Panettile’s memoir.
Movie “Panic Room” experience
Panettiere wrote that she was cast to play Nicole Kidman’s daughter in the movie “Panic Room.” Kidman was injured on set and was forced to withdraw from the role, and production was halted. Apparently there was talk about Angelina Jolie appearing in the movie.
Jodie Foster ultimately replaced Kidman in the film. However, Panettiere was also recast with Kristen Stewart. According to Panettile’s book, producers didn’t think she was similar enough to Foster.
She wrote, “I was never given an explanation as to why, and although I was incredibly sad at the time, I accepted it.”
Looking back on my relationship with Stephen Colletti
At the height of Heroes and Laguna Beach, Panettiere recalled that Stephen Colletti was her “first Hollywood boyfriend.”
The actress wrote that she didn’t watch his show “a lot” when it was on TV. But Panettiere saw him in a magazine and a publicist introduced them.
Hayden Panettiere has had quite the career and his personal life is equally fascinating. The Golden Globe-nominated actress began modeling when she was five months old and appeared in her first commercial when she was 11 months old. Her big break came in 1994 when she started playing Sarah Roberts in One Life to Live At (…)
hanging out with lindsay lohan
Panettiere wrote that seeing Lindsay Lohan in the early 2000s was “fascinating.”
“I was about 13 years old when I first met Lindsay. She was always warm and friendly to me, but I thought of her as one of those perfect cool girls,” the actress recalled. “She was always in her element, talking to everyone and everyone. I remember looking at her in awe from across the room, and I knew she was meant to be in this situation.”
She is dating her “Heroes” co-star Milo Ventimiglia.
Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia “gained attention” while handling international press for Heroes. She was 18 at the time and their age difference made headlines. Eventually he broke up with her.
Looking back, Panettiere said she knew she was “not really in love with Milo,” but it was a “steady thing” in her life at the time. “He pulled the rug out from under me,” she wrote.
Crossing paths with Anthony Kiedis
The actress recalled having a conversation with the Red Hot Chili Peppers singer and said in the book, “He was too old for me.” Panettiere claimed that she and Kiedis were crossing the line “from a harmless affair to a more deliberate affair.”
very famous neighbors
Panettiere recalled living near Bill Murray and Björk when they moved to their home in Congers, New York.
Join the “Scream” franchise
Panettiere made her debut as Kirby Reed, working with longtime friends Emma Roberts and Rory Culkin on Scream 4. Neve Campbell rented a property with a cottage for the cast, where they went mushroom hunting with friends and invited David Arquette.
Filming ‘Nashville’ starring Connie Britton
The actress said working on “Nashville” is different from “Heroes.” They were not “a big happy family,” she wrote. Panettiere said she “didn’t understand” because she wasn’t close with any of the cast members.
Elsewhere, she also spoke about the dynamic she shares with co-star Connie Britton, revealing she was concerned about the rivalry between her character Juliette Barnes and Britton Rayna James.
“My character was never intended to be the star of the show, nor was it anything close to it,” Panettiere wrote. “That honor goes to Connie. Her Rayna James, who was in the twilight of her career and facing a dramatic turning point, really owes it to you.”
“Unfortunately, after the pilot, it was clear that my bill was going up significantly. I went from probably fifth place in terms of importance to just behind Connie. I felt very uncomfortable with this development.”
