'There's no easy way to share your story with the world, but I'm an optimist to the core and refuse to be defined by my tragedies. Life can shake you up and tear you down, but even when you're at your worst, there's hope, and you have an opportunity to rebuild.'
Heroes and Nashville star Hayden Panettiere reclaims her story in a remarkably candid memoir.
Hayden Panettiere's career in entertainment began before she was old enough to walk. From early commercials to film and television roles in hits like Remember the Titans, her career unfolded in the public eye resulting in tremendous success by her early teens. She had become a fixture of early-2000s pop culture, earning acclaim for performances in Heroes, Nashville (which earned her two Golden Globe nominations) and beyond-while quietly carrying the weight of expectations that came with being Hollywood's "It girl."
Behind the image was a far more complicated reality. As Hayden entered adulthood, the industry that once felt playful grew unforgiving. The pressure placed on young performers, the hefty price that often comes with fame, and how quickly someone else can take control of your story. She recounts being scrutinized by tabloids, watching her body and private pain become public property, and performing storylines on-screen that echoed trauma she was living through off camera.
In this memoir, Hayden shares a rare and intimate glimpse into her life behind closed doors opening up about postpartum depression, addiction and recovery, trauma, domestic abuse, and loss. She holds nothing back as she reflects on the moments she calls "lifequakes"- experiences that fractured her sense of self and forced her to rebuild it from the inside out.
In This Is Me: A Reckoning Hayden showcases her most vulnerable role yet . . . this is her story on her terms.