Hayden Panettiere speaks out for the first time about her brother Jensen’s ‘horrific’ death

Hayden Panettiere will “never get over” the death of her brother, Jensen Panettiere.

The actress spoke about losing the 28-year-old actor in February 2023 for the first time in a new People interview.

“He was my only brother and it was my job to protect him,” she said in Wednesday’s cover story. “When I lost him, I felt like I lost half my soul.”

Hayden, 35, said she would always be saddened by her sibling’s deaths.

However, the loss has given her a new perspective, with the former “Heroes” star explaining, “When something so big happens to you, you really learn to fend for yourself and not sweat the little things.

“Because when something so horrible, so dark, so devastating happens in your life, there’s nothing that can shake you.”

Jensen died in his Nyack, New York apartment from an enlarged heart.

“Jensen’s heart could be seen in his eyes, and his charm could be seen in his brilliant, engaging smile; his soul in his exquisite and revelatory paintings, and his joy of life in his dry wit,” his family members wrote in a statement at the time.[He] … He will live forever in our hearts and in the hearts of everyone he encountered.”

When Michael Strahan later offered his condolences to Hayden in a “Good Morning America” ​​interview, he became teary-eyed and said succinctly, “He’s right here with me.”

The following month, the “Nashville” alum attended Jensen’s funeral — and the “shock” of being photographed outside the ceremony reignited her struggles with agoraphobia.

“I was just bloated,” she recalled in a new People sit-down. “I didn’t have the confidence to get dressed and leave the house, but I also knew I had to get out and keep moving or I’d never be able to stop looking and feeling like this.”

Hayden revealed she broke out of the “destructive hamster wheel” with the help of personal trainer Marnie Elton.

“Marnie empowers me”, he enthused, adding that the “long, beautiful” walks he took with her were like “therapy sessions” for him.

“My body started responding, not just to working out. It made me feel less stressed out, I always had really high expectations for myself,” the Golden Globe nominee said. “There’s nothing like looking in the mirror and feeling like you look good enough to walk out the door.”

Hayden shared rare details about her 9-year-old daughter Kaya, whom she shares with her ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko, and revealed how much her daughter loves golf and horses.