Hilary Duff Shares Memories of Hayden Panettiere as Young Stars Navigating Fame

Hilary Duff penned a tribute to Hayden Panettiere following her death on Sunday at the age of 36.

The actress recalled growing up alongside Panettiere as young stars navigating fame. In the early 2000s, Duff starred in the hit television series Lizzie McGuire , and Panettiere featured in the film Remember the Titans , acting opposite Denzel Washington. Panettiere would later land her breakout role in 2006, when she played cheerleader Claire Bennet on the popular sci-fi series Heroes .

Duff looked back at their shared experience and the moments of joy in between. “Sweet Hayden. Really tough hearing this news,” Duff began in her post shared to social media. “We lost touch through the years but I will always remember you as so hardworking and effervescent, with that big, gorgeous smile. I remember staying up late, chatting and gossiping, and connecting because we were part of such a small sliver of people who actually understood the strange lot in life we were navigating.. so young, with no real idea how to make sense of any of it.”