Hayden Panettiere Reacts to Her Daughter Wanting to Be an Actress

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Hayden Panettiere isn’t racing to introduce her daughter to Hollywood.

Although her daughter, Kaya—whom she shares with her ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko—has said she’d like to become an actress too, the Scream star is being careful about encouraging her.

Hayden told TopMob News that his 11-year-old has expressed interest in the industry, which he finds a little nerve-wracking. He shared this in an exclusive interview.

The former Heroes star started her acting career when she was just one year old, so she understands both the good and bad parts of growing up in the public eye.

Hayden explained that he wants to be supportive of Kaya and her goals, but he’s also encouraging her to take her time and explore different options before making any big decisions. He suggested she try various things and enjoy the typical college experience.

The 36-year-old, who shares stories from her life and career in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, explained that it’s easy to lose your privacy once you become famous. She said that once you lose the ability to go unnoticed, you can’t get it back, and once you’re well-known, regaining your privacy is impossible.

Hayden often wonders if she would have become an actress if she hadn’t been encouraged to pursue it, but she admits she’ll never really know the answer.

Although Hayden gave legal custody of her daughter, Kaya, to Wladimir in 2018 while dealing with postpartum depression and addiction, she says they’re all doing well now and have a positive relationship.

“I did end up like checking in with him, sending him like the pages that he was on,” she said, “I was like, ‘Just give it a read, just so you’re not like surprised by anything.’”

And thankfully, she and Wlad have a more than civil relationship these days. 

Hayden explained, ‘He’s my daughter’s father, and I want her to see him as a hero. He’s a wonderful person, so I don’t have anything bad to say about him.’

Hayden was careful to keep Wladimir informed about all the details in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.

She explained to TopMob News that she carefully kept her husband informed about the book’s plot, wanting to shield their daughter and avoid upsetting him. He was initially very anxious, and his first request was, ‘Please don’t include me in the book!’ She knew that would be a difficult promise to keep.

Hayden and Wlad had an on-again, off-again relationship for several years before becoming engaged in 2013 and welcoming their daughter, Kaya, in 2014. Although they ultimately separated in 2018, their time together remains an important part of Hayden’s life.

“I did end up like checking in with him, sending him like the pages that he was on,” she said, “I was like, ‘Just give it a read, just so you’re not like surprised by anything.’”

And thankfully, she and Wlad have a more than civil relationship these days. 

Hayden explained, “He’s my daughter’s father, and I want her to see him as a hero. He’s a wonderful person, and I don’t have anything bad to say about him.”

If you’re curious about other celebrity exes who’ve stayed friends, like Hayden Panettiere and Wladimir Klitschko, keep reading to learn more.

This Is Me: A Reckoning is out now.

There’s absolutely no chance they’re getting back together. However, with all the recent interactions – birthday celebrations, affectionate hugs, and even playfully acting out a romantic scene in a virtual reading of Fast Times at Ridgemont High – it feels like they’re just teasing everyone who hoped they’d reconcile.

It takes a certain level of confidence to playfully tease an ex on their own show, and Sarah did just that when she appeared on Jimmy’s talk show to promote her new series, I Love You, America. She jokingly referenced Jimmy’s wife, Molly Kimmel, saying, “It’s not fair! She gets the updated, more aware Jimmy. I only got the Man Show Jimmy.”

 

Honestly, it seems like some people are still more affected by this relationship than the people who were actually in it. When Anna—who is now married to Michael Barrett—found out Chris Pratt was marrying Katherine Schwarzenegger in 2019, she surprisingly offered to perform the ceremony. She even sent a gift when their daughter, Lyla, was born in August 2020. People close to Anna said she was genuinely happy for her son, Jack, to have a little sister and was very supportive of the new family.

It easily could have fallen apart after their difficult breakup. But over four years later, the HGTV stars are thriving – successfully co-parenting their children, Taylor and Brayden, and continuing to renovate dilapidated houses into beautiful homes for others.

Lenny Kravitz and his ex-wife, actress Zoë Kravitz’s mother, describe their relationship as a close, familial bond – what he called “best friends” in a 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey. Despite their divorce and her subsequent marriage to and split from Jason Momoa in 2020, they maintain a positive connection. According to Lenny, they’ve created “one big happy family,” proving that a strong relationship can continue even after a romantic partnership ends.

Since the Dancing With the Stars co-host and retired hockey player ended their relationship in 2020, they’ve consistently shown everyone they remain friendly.

When Brooks announced he was getting engaged to Katrín Tanja Davíðsdóttir in December 2024, Julianne publicly shared her excitement. She posted on Instagram, wishing the couple a lifetime filled with love, laughter, and adventures as they begin this new chapter together.

The dancer, her ex-husband, and his pregnant fiancée spent a day together at the lake. She shared a photo of the four of them, calling them “three cuties” and describing it as a special day.

After separating in 2015, the parents of Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel have successfully co-parented, managing to take family vacations together, celebrate holidays as a unit, and publicly praise each other. In a 2016 interview with TopMob News, Ben even called his ex-partner “an amazing mother.”

Nina and Ian dated for three years before breaking up in 2013, but they stayed friends. The following year, Nina began dating Nikki Reed and they quickly got married. As a result, Nina became friends with Nikki, who is known for her role in the Twilight movies.

The couple broke up in July 2016 after being together for five years. The singer later shared on Howard Stern’s SiriusXM show the following October that she remained very close to her ex, saying he’d been both a lover and a friend for a long time.

“We love each other,” she said. “That’s it.”

Even years after The Office ended in 2013, the chemistry between its stars remained obvious, and Mindy Kaling understands why fans still root for them as a couple. In a 2019 interview with Good Housekeeping, she explained that while choosing him to be a godparent to her children, she’d feel the same way if she were an outside observer. However, she clarified that their relationship has evolved into something deeper than just friendship – they’re now like family.

After their divorce was finalized in 2011, the former couple easily continued to raise their son, Bronx. The Fall Out Boy singer has praised his ex-wife, calling her a fantastic mother.

Okay, so it looks like things are definitely different between this musician and his ex! He’s letting everyone know they’re on really good terms now – he described their connection as simply being ‘really friendly’ and emphasized that they’ve built a genuinely good relationship. It’s great to see exes being able to navigate things so positively!

Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter, who both starred in the show Dexter, first met while working on the set in 2006, and their relationship became romantic two years later. Though they divorced in 2011, Jennifer later shared that they remained friendly and respectful towards each other.

Bruce Willis and Demi Moore are famously friendly exes, and their daughters – Rumer, Tallulah, and Scout – have helped them maintain that bond. It was natural for them to spend the COVID-19 lockdown together at their Idaho home – maybe even having a dance party or two!

Four years after her 2014 divorce, Jennifer Lopez still spoke highly of her ex-husband, and the father of her twins, Max and Emme. In a 2018 interview on Sunday Today, she explained that Marc Anthony boosted her confidence during their marriage. He consistently told her she was a talented singer and encouraged her not to listen to anyone who said otherwise. Lopez expressed deep respect for him, considering him one of the greatest singers ever.

Despite facing personal challenges, the actress remains supportive of her ex-husband and former Scream colleague. Eight years after their 2010 divorce, she described it as a relatively amicable split, appearing on Running Wild With Bear Grylls. She also emphasized their successful co-parenting relationship with their daughter, Coco.

You know, sometimes real-life relationships don’t last, but that doesn’t mean the chemistry disappears! I always say, a great on-screen connection can still happen even after things cool down personally. Take, for example, the movie Bad Teacher – even though their romance ended back in 2007, the leads definitely brought the heat in that 2011 film!

Okay, so things were hard when they first split in 2013, obviously, but I’m losing it right now because they’re at the point where they go on vacation together! He actually said he really likes her husband, Dave Abrams, and thinks he’s a great guy! Can you believe it? He was talking to LaPalme Magazine about a trip to Cancun back in 2017 – it included Dave, and now his fiancée, Lily Anne Harrison, plus their adorable daughters, Luca, Lola, and Fiona. It’s just… everything! He also said that people come into your life for a reason and relationships evolve. He actually said, ‘Just because we aren’t living together doesn’t mean you can’t love each other!’ I’m seriously shipping them even after all this time! It’s so mature and… ugh, I need a minute.

Even though they unexpectedly separated in September 2012, the couple made an effort to appear supportive of each other for the sake of their children. In a 2014 interview with Howard Stern, she explained that she and Will remained very close friends and were successfully co-parenting. She didn’t view their ten-year marriage as a failure, believing that all relationships face challenges.

The Grammy-winning singer and her ex-husband, who officially divorced in January 2024, have maintained a friendly relationship while raising their son, Hayes. They even live just five minutes apart, making it easy to share parenting responsibilities.

“Our stops are really easy,” Maren told The Zoe Report in May 2025, “and we’ll have family dinners.”

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2026-05-19 16:48