Michelle Rodriguez is remembering Hayden Panettiere as a bright and joyful person following the actress’s death at 36. The two stars shared the stage as co-hosts of the World Music Awards in 2010, giving Rodriguez a personal memory of Panettiere to look back on.

Years after that event, Rodriguez still remembers the impression Panettiere made on her. Now, as Hollywood mourns another young performer gone far too soon, Rodriguez has reflected on both Panettiere’s personality and the wider loss that has left her deeply unsettled.

Her memories of Panettiere are filled with warmth, but Rodriguez’s thoughts eventually turned toward a much heavier question about the number of young lives being lost.

Speaking with Variety while attending the 25th anniversary screening of The Fast and the Furious, Michelle Rodriguez was asked about her memories of Hayden Panettiere, whom she co-hosted the World Music Awards with in Monte Carlo in 2010.

“Her curious spirit and how happy and joyous she is, because that’s her memory, right?” Rodriguez said, recalling the qualities that have stayed with her. Rather than focusing solely on Panettiere’s career, her memory centered on the person she encountered during their time working together.

“I don’t want to speculate about anything, but it’s weird,” Rodriguez said while speaking with Variety, making clear that her thoughts extended beyond Panettiere’s death to a broader concern about the number of young people being lost. The connection between the two actresses dates back more than 15 years, when Panettiere was already an established young star following her work on Heroes and Rodriguez was building her own action-film legacy.

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For Rodriguez, however, Panettiere’s passing also brought up a much broader feeling of unease.

Michelle Rodriguez’s comments come amid an emotional wave of tributes for Hayden Panettiere, whose death has left former co-stars and friends remembering the person behind the performances. The fact that Panettiere was only 36 has made her passing particularly difficult to process, especially for those who watched her grow up on screen.

Her death has also added to Rodriguez’s growing concern over the number of young people who have died in recent years, something she says has become increasingly difficult to understand. Rather than speculating about the individual circumstances, Rodriguez is questioning why so many lives are being lost so early.

For Rodriguez, however, Panettiere’s legacy does not have to be defined by that sadness. Her own memory remains centered on the woman she encountered years ago: someone curious, happy and full of life. That is the side of Panettiere she chooses to remember as Hollywood mourns her far-too-early loss.

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Hayden Panettiere left behind a career that spanned decades, but what do you hope people remember most about her? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!