Anna Paquin Speaks Out On Dangers Of Child Stardom After Hayden Panettiere’s Death

Actress Anna Paquin has spoken out about the dangers faced by child stars, saying young performers were not adequately protected by the systems meant to safeguard them.

Paquin, who won an Oscar at 11 for her role in The Piano, shared the comments on Instagram on Friday, August 21, following the death of fellow former child actress Hayden Panettiere at 36. 

Reflecting on Panettiere’s death, as well as those of former child stars Michelle Trachtenberg and Daveigh Chase, Paquin said she believed there was a troubling pattern among women who were exposed to the entertainment industry from a young age.

She wrote that former female child stars who were prematurely sexualised often went on to have “profoundly sad lives and untimely ends”, adding that they were not as protected by the systems that appeared effective on paper.

Paquin later clarified that she was speaking specifically about the experience of children on sets who are prematurely treated as sexual objects.

She also urged former child stars to support one another, saying they should not feel alone or afraid to speak publicly about their experiences.