This Is Me: A Reckoning

Biographical Note:

Born and raised in New York, Hayden Panettiere seemed destined for superstardom from the moment she could walk. By the age of four in 1993, she had already landed her first on-screen role, and the spotlight has never left her since. Hayden is likely best known for her roles as Claire Bennet on the NBC series Heroes and as Juliette Barnes in the ABC hit series Nashville, which earned her two Golden Globe nominations. She was memorably seen starring in Scream 4 and reprised her role in Scream VI. Hayden was the face of Neutrogena's worldwide campaign and remained a brand ambassador for nearly ten years. After recently toplining a feature film from Appian Way and Verdi Productions, she's looking to executive produce more projects in her own right.

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER

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 as she learned by experience 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.

Review Citations:

• Kirkus Reviews 05/01/2026 (EAN 9781538773420, Hardcover)