The death of American actress Hayden Panettiere has brought back memories of the Hollywood star’s time filming in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
Panettiere, who died on August 16 at age 36, was best known for her roles in the television series Heroes and Nashville, as well as films including Scream, Remember the Titans and Bring It On: All or Nothing.
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However, for residents of Pietermaritzburg and the Midlands, she is also remembered for her role in the 2005 family film Racing Stripes.
The film, about a zebra which is accidentally left behind when a travelling circus moves on and is later taken in by a Kentucky horse trainer, was partly filmed locally at Riverholm Country Estate in Nottingham Road and at the Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg.
Panettiere played teenager Channing “Chan” Walsh, the daughter of a horse trainer who helps the zebra, Stripes, pursue his unlikely dream of becoming a racehorse.
Following news of her death, local residents took to The Witness Facebook page to recall Panettiere’s connection to the area while the film was being made.
Tony Morcom commented that Panettiere had stayed locally while filming the production at the Scottsville Racecourse
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These recollections have added a distinctly local dimension to the death of an actress whose career had taken her from child stardom to some of television and Hollywood’s most recognisable roles.
Panettiere had also spoken publicly about her struggles with alcohol and opioid addiction and her recovery.
In 2022, she revealed that she had spent eight months in rehabilitation during the previous year.
A Pietermaritzburg resident, who asked not to be named, said Panettiere’s death had particular significance because of their own experience with addiction and recovery.
Hayden Panettiere’s death is particularly meaningful to me because I understand, on a personal level, the challenges associated with addiction and recovery.
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“Pietermaritzburg has a very real and growing substance abuse problem, and I believe we need to have more open and constructive conversations about it rather than allowing stigma and judgement to prevent people from seeking help.
“Addiction does not discriminate based on a person’s background, career or success.
“Her death is a tragic reminder of the seriousness of substance abuse and the importance of compassion, appropriate treatment and continued support for those in recovery.”
Panettiere’s death was confirmed by her family.
She was found unresponsive at an apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her cause of death remains under investigation.
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Her death has prompted tributes from former colleagues and fans around the world, but in the Midlands, memories of the actress remain tied to the local landscapes that featured in Racing Stripes more than two decades ago.
The actress would have celebrated her 37 birthday yesterday.
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