Heartbreaking behind-the-scenes footage from Ice Princess has resurfaced following the death of star Hayden Panettiere at age 36. The news arrives just 18 months after the death of her co-star Michelle Trachtenberg. Released in 2005, Disney’s Ice Princess stars Trachtenberg as aspiring figure skater Casey Carlyle, while Panettiere portrays her rival-turned-friend Gen Harwood. For those who grew up with the movie, Panettiere’s death has made Ice Princess particularly heartbreaking to look back on, coming just 18 months after Trachtenberg died aged 39. As tributes continue to pour in, behind-the-scenes footage of the pair filming the movie has resurfaced. Originally shared on YouTube by ScreenSlam, the 13-minute video shows Trachtenberg and Panettiere training and having fun on the ice together, revealing just how much their skating skills progressed over the course of filming. There are also multiple clips of them shooting scenes with their fellow co-stars Joan Cusack and Kim Cattrall. @fayeform Ice Princess (2005) behind the scenes 💕 forever our Ice Princess #michelletrachtenberg #2000snostalgia #iceprincess #2000smovies #kimcattrall #haydenpanettiere #cinema #disneychannel #joancusack #disneymovie ♬ original sound – Hayley Faye | vintage & retro Years later, in 2019, Panettiere opened up about the fun they had on set in a conversation with LiveAbout. “I’m a big jock and I love sports, and so, to be able to put another sport underneath my belt, and to learn something new, was amazing,” she said. When asked if she’s more like her own character or Trachtenberg’s, she replied, “You know, I think I’m somewhere in the middle. I am more of a laid back girl than Gen is. She’s definitely a girly girl, very into her looks. “I’m not saying that I’m not, but I definitely like sweat pants and my comfy clothes – my Uggs and my pajamas. But I like school and I’m pretty good at school. I get A’s. I do like science, too. I love science and I can do math relatively [well].” On working with Cattrall, Panettiere said, “She’s such a sweet person and she’s really good in this film. She and I have the same birthday, so it was exciting. I and Kim have the same birthday, and Joan [Cusack] and Michelle have the same birthday. Crazy!” She also spoke about her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, an actor and visual artist who tragically passed away from a pre-existing heart condition in February 2023 at the age of 28. In the 2019 interview, Panettiere said, “My brother likes hockey a lot. We live in the woods so we have some ponds that get frozen over in the wintertime. (Laughing) They always drag me out to play hockey.” New details about Hayden Panettiere’s death emerge Credit: NBC Panettiere sadly passed away on Sunday, August 16. She died at her home in Greenville, South Carolina, with her father, Skip Panettiere, confirming the news in a statement. According to People, police and emergency services were called to the property at around 1:50pm after an acquaintance found Panettiere unresponsive and called 911. Paramedics attempted to resuscitate the actress, but she was pronounced dead at 2:32pm. Dispatch audio obtained by the outlet reportedly included references to both an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest” as emergency services responded. However, Panettiere’s cause of death has not been confirmed at the time of writing. The Greenville Police Department said its preliminary investigation “has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances”. Her death remains under investigation alongside the Greenville County Coroner’s Office. Police said an official cause of death will not be released until an autopsy has been completed. Panettiere’s death comes just 18 months after Trachtenberg died aged 39 on February 26, 2025. Trachtenberg was found unconscious and unresponsive in her New York City apartment. Her cause of death was initially listed as undetermined after her family objected to an autopsy. first michelle trachtenberg now hayden panettiere i’m so sad i can’t believe this my ice princesses both gone pic.twitter.com/Zksy7a1Dds — Renée✨ (@bbydrewblue) August 17, 2026 However, in April 2025, the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner confirmed that Trachtenberg had died from complications of diabetes mellitus, with her death ruled as natural following a review of toxicology results. The deaths of both actresses before the age of 40 have made their scenes together in Ice Princess particularly poignant for those revisiting the movie. As said by one X user, “Both of my Ice Princesses gone within a year of each other. Rest in peace Michelle Trachtenberg and Hayden Panettiere.” Another wrote, “I hope my Ice Princesses are finally hanging out again. No matter what, always make time for your friends and loved ones. Rest in Peace, Hayden Panettiere and Michelle Trachtenberg.” Featured image credit: Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock/Disney Post navigation Next story
