Ruby Rose has broken down in tears while remembering her ‘best friend’ Hayden Panettiere following the American actress’ death aged 36.
The Australian actress, 40, spoke to Entertainment Tonight about her close bond with the Heroes star ahead of attending Hayden’s celebration of life at Malibu Pacific Church on Saturday.
Holding back tears, a visibly distraught Ruby told reporters: ‘I don’t know if I can… sorry, no one’s asked yet. That was my best friend, we spoke every day for five years. I didn’t even think we were going to be friends.’
‘I didn’t know if I wanted to have any celebrity friends, ’cause I didn’t have a great experience with the industry,’ she continued, adding: ‘I saw her, she saw me, and I just remember thinking, “Oh, no.”‘
Ruby recalled how Hayden ‘ran up anyway’ and introduced herself.
‘[She] was like, “Hey, I’m Hayden. Can we go talk somewhere? We’ve got a lot in common.” I just laughed. I was like, “What?”‘ the John Wick: Chapter 2 star reminisced.
Ruby Rose (right) has broken down in tears while remembering her ‘best friend’ Hayden Panettiere following the American actress’ death aged 36
The Australian actress (left) spoke to Entertainment Tonight about her close bond with the Heroes star (right) ahead of attending Hayden’s celebration of life at Malibu Pacific Church on Saturday
‘She says [that] I said, “I don’t think so,” but I think I just laughed. And then we went and talked and we had everything in common.’
Ruby fondly spoke of the ‘five years of friendship’ she shared with Hayden, ‘texting every day and checking in on each other’.
‘It’s a bigger group now, there’s 14 of us that we’ve collected over the years. That’s my family. I don’t have a real family, so.’
‘Hayden, all that she ever wanted was to have her story told, her way, on her terms,’ she insisted.
Ruby was joined at the memorial by stars including Paris Hilton, Evan Ross, Jonathan Jackson and Lennon Stella.
Hayden’s Nashville costars Connie Britton and Charles Esten also attended the celebration of life, according to TMZ.
A source told the publication that the gathering was ’emotional and beautiful’ and began with doves being released outside a church.
About 150 guests later moved inside the venue where a band was set up, and Britton and Esten read speeches.
Ruby fondly spoke of the ‘five years of friendship’ she shared with Hayden, ‘texting every day and checking in on each other’
Hayden died one month ago at age 36, after going into cardiac arrest following a suspected overdose in South Carolina, where she was staying at an Airbnb with her on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson, 37, and his brother Zach, 38. (Hayden and Brian pictured together in 2018)
Esten also performed a song from their show, Nashville.
Hayden’s mother Leslie Vogel, from whom the actress was estranged, was reportedly not in attendance, while her father Skip was.
A close source to Vogel denied that she was invited but told TMZ she couldn’t attend due to a family emergency.
Hayden died one month ago at age 36, after going into cardiac arrest following a suspected overdose in South Carolina, where she was staying at an Airbnb with her on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson, 37, and his brother Zach, 38.
Amid the star’s death, Brian is said to be spiraling and has reportedly lost 40 pounds since Hayden died.
Last month, detectives confirmed to the Daily Mail that they responded to a 911 call from an ‘acquaintance’ of Hayden, who described her as ‘unresponsive.’
Narcan, a nasal spray used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, was found on a mattress in the loft apartment where the actress was staying, TMZ previously reported.
