A look back at Michelle Trachtenberg and Hayden Panettiere’s friendship beyond Ice Princess
Their grandparents were neighbours
The actor Hayden Panettiere sadly died on 16th August 2026, aged 36. She passed away just 18 months after Michelle Trachtenberg, her co-star from the 2005 Disney film Ice Princess. Here’s a look back at the actors’ friendship.
Michelle Trachtenberg and Hayden Panettiere’s grandparents were neighbours
Hayden told Entertainment Weekly in September 2025 that their friendship went back further than the film Ice Princess. She said: “Actually, her grandmother lived across the street from my grandparents in Brooklyn. So, I knew Michelle way before that. Yeah, like Harriet the Spy days.”
Hayden was referring to Michelle’s role in a comedy film from 1996, which Michelle began filming for when she was eight years old.
She continued: “We not only grew up in the same industry, but grew up knowing each other’s families, relatively closely, just because of the distance. We would have block parties. So I have memories of her and I from long ago.”
They enjoyed filming Ice Princess together
Hayden Panettiere and Michelle Trachtenberg in Ice Princess
(Image via Disney+)
Hayden spoke positively about starring in Ice Princess alongside Michelle. “It was great to work with her. It was great to work with Kim Cattrall who was in that, who is amazing, is phenomenal. It was such a unique experience. I mean, we had to learn how to figure-skate in six weeks, which is no easy feat. But it was so much fun. We had a lot of fun and I’m very grateful that I have the memories that I have with her.”
Hayden and Michelle worked on a charity project together
In 2011, the company Stuart Weitzman launched a Young Hollywood Cares collection. Four actors – Hayden Panettiere, Michelle Trachtenberg, Scarlett Johansson and Olivia Palermo – were asked to design shoes. The proceeds went to the Folkman Institute for research into ovarian cancer.
(Credit: SMG/Shutterstock)
The collection was launched at the Fashion’s Night Out even in New York in September 2011. Hayden and Michelle attended together, and posed on the red carpet.
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Featured image via Disney+
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