‘I adored South Africa’: Hayden Panettiere, who has died aged 36
American actress Hayden Panettiere has passed away at the age of 36. She was well-known for her roles in 'Heroes' and 'Nashville' and held a deep personal connection to South Africa, where she filmed the movie 'Racing Stripes' as a teenager.
Why it matters
The death of a prominent young public figure often draws significant media attention, and her specific connection to South African production highlights the country's role in international film.
American actress Hayden Panettiere , who rose to international fame in Heroes and Nashville , had fond memories of the time she spent in South Africa filming a movie as a teenager.
The actress died at the age of 36 at the weekend. Her father, Alan “Skip” Panettiere, confirmed her death to ABC News. No cause of death has been disclosed.
For South African audiences, Panettiere had a special connection to the country, dating back more than two decades, when she came to KwaZulu-Natal at the age of 14 to film the family comedy Racing Stripes .
Though the movie was set in Kentucky in the US, much of it was filmed in KwaZulu-Natal, with production taking place in the Midlands and racing scenes filmed at Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg.
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