Anna Paquin Makes Rare Comments About Dangers of Child Stardom: ‘We Were Not as Protected’
Anna Paquin Makes Rare Comments About Dangers of Child Stardom: ‘We Were Not as Protected’
Ingrid VasquezSat, August 22, 2026 at 11:41 AM UTC
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(L-R) Anna Paquin at the 1994 Academy Awards, Anna Paquin attends “A Bit Of Light” New York Screening at Crosby Street Hotel on April 03, 2024 in New York CityCredit: Steve Starr/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty; Theo Wargo/Getty -
Anna Paquin reflected on the struggles of child stars following the recent death of Hayden Panettiere at 36
Paquin highlighted the lack of protection for young actors, especially “presexualized female child stars,” in the entertainment industry
In the comments, fellow child stars Alyssa Milano and Mara Wilson shared their support for Paquin’s message
Anna Paquin is speaking out about the dangers of child stardom five days after the death of Hayden Panettiere. She was found unresponsive in South Carolina on Sunday, Aug. 16 and pronounced dead after advanced life support efforts were performed.
According to dispatch audio obtained by PEOPLE, officials were heard discussing an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest” around the time of Panettiere’s death.
Paquin, 44, highlighted Panettiere‘s recent death at age 36, as well as those of other child stars who died before age 40, including Michelle Trachtenberg and Daveigh Chase, in a poignant message on Instagram.
Like her fellow actresses, Paquin started acting at a young age. At age 11, she won the Best Supporting Actress trophy at the 1994 Oscars for her work in The Piano.
“It’s not a coincidence that so many former, specifically presexualized female, child ‘stars’ have profoundly sad lives and untimely ends,” Paquin wrote in her Aug. 21 message.“We were not as protected by the ‘systems’ that look great on paper, as we are supposed to be said. RIP HP, MT, DC, and too many others.”
Trachtenberg was found “unconscious and unresponsive” on Feb. 26, 2025. The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed to PEOPLE that April that the actress’ death was a result of complications of diabetes mellitus, and the manner of death was ruled natural. She was 39.
Chase died at 35 years old on June 16. A Los Angeles medical examiner’s report listed her cause of death as AIDS, with other significant conditions including chronic polysubstance use.
Paquin said that she and her fellow child stars belong to a “strange small club.”
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“You are worthy of support no matter how our industry made us feel,” she said. “Literally DM me. I believe you and I will stand by your side.”
Anna Paquin attends the world premiere of Peacock’s “A Friend of the Family” at Metrograph on September 28, 2022 in New York CityCredit: Dia Dipasupil/Getty
She ended her message by reminding those reading, “you aren’t alone,” as she invited them to “have each other’s back.”
“It might make public disclosure less terrifying,” she wrote.
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In the comment section, Paquin’s message received support from multiple former child stars, including Shiri Appleby, Alyssa Milano, and Mara Wilson.
Melissa Gilbert, who began starring in the TV series Little House on the Prairie starting at 10 years old, reposted Paquin’s statement to her own Instagram account, noting that she planned to address the topic on her Substack on Saturday, August 22.
“Thank you Anna. Someone has to say something,” Gilbert wrote in the post’s caption. “Someone has to change this. Someone has to help.”
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
