Anna Paquin urges better protection for child actors after Hayden Panettiere's death

Actress Anna Paquin used social media to highlight the challenges faced by former child performers following the death of Hayden Panettiere on Aug. 16. Paquin, who began acting as a child and won an Oscar at age 11, said the entertainment industry often fails to protect young talent from premature sexualization and other harms.

“It’s not a coincidence that so many former, specifically pre-sexualized female, child ‘stars’ have profoundly sad lives and untimely ends,” Paquin wrote.

She added that existing protective systems are inadequate and urged peers to reach out for support, encouraging direct messages as a way to reduce the fear of public disclosure. Later, Paquin posted a follow-up noting that productions can prioritize the mental health of young actors while still telling complex stories, stating that careful handling of intense material is possible when it is made a top priority.

Paquin’s comments come amid broader discussions about the welfare of child actors, with several former child stars, including Panettiere, Michelle Trachtenberg and Daveigh Chase, having died in recent years. No cause of death has been released for Panettiere.