Hayden Panettiere speaks publicly about her sexuality for the first time

Hayden Panettiere is sharing a deeply personal part of her life in her upcoming memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.

In a new interview with Us Weekly, the Heroes actress said that for years she never felt there was a right time to speak publicly about her sexuality.

Panettiere explained that when she was younger, she felt pressure to appear perfect and was not encouraged to simply be herself. Later, she said she also worried that if she spoke openly about being attracted to women, people might dismiss it as following a trend.

The actress shared that while growing up, she was “much more into women” than men and privately dated women over the years. However, she said the constant presence of paparazzi and a lack of privacy made it difficult for her to fully explore that part of her life.

Panettiere added that because she had not spoken openly about it, she never felt she had the courage to fully let herself become emotionally attached.

Now, at 36, she says she feels comfortable saying it publicly for the first time: she identifies as bisexual.

Hayden Panettiere was previously in relationships with her Heroes co-star Milo Ventimiglia and former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko. She shares an 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, with Klitschko.

Her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, is set to be released on May 19, 2026.