Australian actress Ruby Rose broke down in tears while remembering her close friend Hayden Panettiere ahead of a celebration of life service held at Malibu Pacific Church on Saturday.
The 40-year-old John Wick: Chapter 2 star spoke to Entertainment Tonight about her five-year bond with Panettiere, who died one month ago at the age of 36 following a suspected overdose in South Carolina.
Holding back tears, a distraught Rose told reporters that she was unprepared for the emotional moment as no one had yet asked her about the loss. She said that Panettiere was her best friend and that they spoke every day for five years, admitting she initially did not think they would become friends.
Rose explained that she was hesitant to form friendships within Hollywood because of previous negative experiences in the entertainment industry. When she first saw Panettiere, she recalled thinking, "Oh, no."
Despite Rose's initial hesitation, Panettiere ran up to introduce herself and asked if they could talk somewhere private because they had so much in common. Rose said she simply laughed at the unexpected encounter.
Although Panettiere later claimed Rose responded with "I don't think so," Rose recalled that she had only laughed before the two sat down to talk. Once they began conversing, Rose realised they shared everything in common.
Five Years of Friendship
Reflecting on their five years of friendship, Rose described a tight daily bond focused on constant text messages and checking in on one another. Over time, that connection grew into a close group of 14 friends whom Rose considers her primary family.
"That's my family," Rose said, explaining that she does not have a real family of her own. Speaking about Panettiere's legacy, Rose insisted that all the actress ever wanted was to have her story told on her own terms and in her own way.
Rose, an Australian actress and former television presenter who gained international fame in Hollywood action films and drama series, joined a wide gathering of peers in Malibu to honour Panettiere. Panettiere had enjoyed a long career in American television, achieving stardom as cheerleader Claire Bennet on NBC's superhero drama Heroes before starring in the hit series Nashville.
Emotional Memorial in Malibu
A prominent group of entertainment figures gathered at Malibu Pacific Church, located in the coastal Southern California city of Malibu, for Panettiere's celebration of life on Saturday. Alongside Rose, attendees included media personality Paris Hilton, actor Evan Ross, actor Jonathan Jackson, and singer Lennon Stella.
Panettiere's former Nashville costars Connie Britton and Charles Esten also attended the memorial, according to TMZ. The musical drama series, which aired for six seasons between 2012 and 2018, starred Panettiere as country music singer Juliette Barnes alongside Britton and Esten.
A source told TMZ that the gathering was "emotional and beautiful." The service commenced outdoors in front of the church, where white doves were released into the sky before guests moved inside.
Inside the church venue, where a live band was set up, Britton and Esten delivered speeches to approximately 150 assembled guests. Esten also took the stage to perform a song from Nashville in tribute to his late costar.
Family Attendance and Tragic Circumstances
Panettiere's father, Skip Panettiere, attended the service, while her mother, Leslie Vogel, from whom the actress was estranged, was reportedly absent. Although a source close to Vogel denied that she had been invited, the source told TMZ she was unable to attend due to a family emergency.
Panettiere died one month ago after going into cardiac arrest following a suspected overdose in South Carolina. At the time of the incident, she was staying at an Airbnb loft apartment with her on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson, 37, and his brother Zach, 38.
Amid the star's death, Hickerson is reportedly spiraling and has lost 40 pounds since Panettiere died. Last month, detectives confirmed to the Daily Mail that emergency responders answered a 911 call from an acquaintance who described Panettiere as unresponsive.
TMZ previously reported that responding officers located Narcan, a nasal spray medication used by first responders to reverse opioid overdoses, on a mattress inside the loft apartment where the actress was staying.
