'Those doors were opened to me, and they're very easy to walk through': Hayden Panettiere on the dangers of growing up as a child star
By SARAH BULL
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She's been an actress since the tender age of just six.
But while her fellow child stars such as Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Bynes have found their lives turned upside down through growing up in the spotlight, Hayden Panettiere has remained on the straight and narrow.
And speaking about just how she has managed to resist the lure of the showbiz world's dark side, Hayden, now 23, credited her family and friends from stopping her from making any mistakes she might regret.
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'Those doors were opened to me... they're very easy to walk through': Hayden Panettiere has opened up about the dangers of growing up a child star in a new interview
As she was: Hayden at the tender age of 10
During an interview on BBC Breakfast on Thursday morning, Hayden said: 'I'm no different to anyone else and those same doors were opened to me and they are very easy to walk through - drugs alcohol, being in inappropriate places where you shouldn't be at a certain age - it's a very tough position to be in but I had great people to pull me back from it.'
Hayden added that one of the most difficult aspects of fame at such a young age was that people were waiting for her, and expecting her, to slip up and make a mistake.
She said: 'Being a young female growing up in this industry is tough. And I grew up in the generation of the wild child- I was guilty by association. So everyone sits there and waits for you to fall of your horse.
'But as long as you have people who are willing to tell you the truth and are not afraid to tell you the truth, and who are there to yank you back when you need it and give you a reality check - it makes a world of difference.'
From her starring role in One Life To Live aged six to playing an indestructible cheerleader in Heroes and now starring as country singer Juliette Barnes in hit US TV show Nashville, Hayden has had a more than varied career so far.
VIDEO Hayden speaks to BBC Breakfast about pressures of child stardom
Leggy lady: Hayden showed off her slim figure in a striped minidress as she left following her interview on BBC Breakfast
Flawless: Hayden kept her make-up simple and her hair loose for the television appearance
But the actress-turned-singer admits that despite her illustrious acting record, she actually suffers from crippling stage fright.
She explained: 'I think it started when I attempted to sing the National Anthem on the Fourth of July in front of a live audience, and with a live orchestra. It got to the point when I was on the side of the stage, hyperventilating and the stage manager asked me to go on and I just said, "I can't do this!"
'I ended up going into robot mode. I went on and I just hung on to that microphone for dear life. And after that I was just terrified, even to present awards or something like that.
Quick change: Later, Hayden was seen wearing jeans and a jumper as she arrived back into London's Euston station
Entourage: Hayden was joined by assistants and security as she made her way through the station, also carrying one of her own bags
'But luckily for me, In what I do, we get take 10, 15, 25. Hopefully you don't need them but the option's there.'
Hayden added that she is hoping to use the prospect of performing live as her Nashville character Juliette to help her conquer her fears.
The actress is released her new single Hypnotizing on 24th June.
Screen star: Hayden as indestructible cheerleader Claire Bennet in Heroes
Stage fright: Hayden has now achieved success through new hit show Nashville, in which she plays country singer Juliette Barnes
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2336971/Hayden-Panettiere-dangers-growing-child-star.html#ixzz2VSlXMu1Z
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