Hayden Panettiere reveals painful fallout with her mother

Hayden Panettiere has opened up about the heartbreaking moment she realised her relationship with her mum had become more about business than family.

The 36-year-old actress, who shot to fame as a child star on shows including Heroes and Nashville, admitted she viewed her mother, Lesley Vogel, as her “boss” during her younger years as she navigated life in Hollywood.

Speaking candidly on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast, Hayden revealed that her mum managed her career from the very beginning, but their bond slowly became consumed by work.

“Everything was business. I became the confidant and the assistant and the therapist and the shoulder to cry on and everything but her child,” she said.

The Scream VI actress explained that by the age of 19 she finally found the courage to end their professional arrangement because she desperately wanted a normal mother-daughter relationship.

But the conversation did not go the way she had hoped.

She recalled telling her mum, “I don’t want us to work together anymore. I just want you to be my mom.”

Instead, she claims the response she received left her devastated.

“The reaction that I got was, ‘You owe me,’” Hayden revealed. 

“And that’s all she said. And she walked out.”

Remember the Titans star admitted the exchange haunted her for years, especially after realising the “payment” her mother expected was financial.

Hayden also reflected on the emotional toll of growing up in the spotlight after beginning her career as a baby in Guiding Light.

The Amber Alert actress, who has previously battled depression, said taking a break from acting became essential after years of feeling isolated and unable to keep up with friends.

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