The 35-year-old actress, who recently reprised her iconic role as Kirby Reed in Scream VI, has been open about her break from acting, detailing its benefits and impact on her life. Panettiere’s break from acting began in 2018, following her final season of Nashville, and lasted until she returned to the spotlight in 2023. Despite the initial hesitation to take a step back, Panettiere reveals that the decision ultimately proved beneficial in several ways. * **Stepped back from the industry to find herself**
* Re-connected with personal aspects of life and improved self-awareness
* **Improved mental health**
* Focused on family and prioritized relationships
It was during this time that Panettiere faced challenges in her personal life, including struggles with alcohol, opioid addiction, and postpartum depression. The actress has stated that stepping back from acting was a necessary decision to address these issues and focus on her well-being.
She expressed that during her break, she took the opportunity to learn more about herself and her personal goals. The result was a renewed sense of purpose and direction in her life. “I had taken four years off. Didn’t know or plan to, but that’s just the way it panned out,” Panettiere revealed. “And I desperately needed it.”
She reflected on how this period allowed her to approach her career from a different place in life.
“…The things that I’ve done before…it was just different enough that I felt like it was a blank canvas that I could paint onto anything I wanted on,” Panettiere continued. “And now try to take my career in a direction that I wasn’t able to go in before.”
With this fresh perspective, the Bring It On: All Or Nothing star confirmed that she feels “much more solid and grounded.” However, she emphasized that this new “version” of herself is still a work in progress. She highlights the importance of continuous learning and personal growth.
“It’s healthy to continue to keep evolving as a person, which I always try to do to keep reinventing ourselves, learning more things about ourselves, our wants, needs, dislikes and all the above,” Panettiere added. “But I’ve never been this version of me. I’ve never been as OK with being who I am without feeling the need to apologize for anything. I feel like I’ve finally earned the right to an opinion.”
She also acknowledged the concerns about her break from acting affecting her acting skills.
“I was worried that I couldn’t act anymore,” she told Entertainment Weekly. “I mean, I took four years off. I had to remind myself of what I could do and to make sure that I could still do it. But I knew I made the right decision.”
| **Benefits of taking a break from acting** |
| • Reconnection with personal aspects of life |
| • Improved self-awareness |
| • Improved mental health |
| • Focus on family and relationships |
| **Challenges faced during the break** |
| • Struggles with alcohol, opioid addiction, and postpartum depression |
| Reasons to take a break from acting |
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| Benefits of continuous self-improvement |
| • Continuous learning and growth |
The actress emphasized that her decision to take a break from acting was not without its challenges, but ultimately allowed her to return to the spotlight with renewed strength and purpose. Her story serves as an example of the benefits of stepping back, reflecting, and rebalancing one’s life, especially in the entertainment industry where burnout and pressure can be intense.
