Hayden Panettiere said she had “a lot more life to live” during one of her final interviews in the months before her death at age 36.

In May, the Heroes and Nashville actor spoke about her optimism after years of “darkness” and mental health struggles in an emotional, filmed interview with podcaster Jay Shetty ahead of the release of her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning.

“I finally feel like I have shaken off all of this darkness and this negativity,” the former child star said. “I’ve closed one door and another door is opened.”

She added, “I can feel all the exciting possibilities. I feel like I have a lot more life to live.”

In the years before her death, Panettiere was open about her experience with addiction to opioids and alcohol as well as postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in 2014.

She told The Independent’s Adam White in May that growing up in the spotlight — she started modeling and acting when she was only four months old — negatively contributed to her mental health.

“It’s not healthy to receive so much praise as a child,” she said. “So when I got to an age where I became somebody the paparazzi were interested in, and the media wanted all the gory details... it broke my heart that people thought negatively about me.”

However, she said at the time that she was on an optimistic path anchored in her creativity.

“I know that if I surround myself with positive people, I can accomplish whatever I set my mind to,” she said. “I’ve made my share of mistakes, I’ve fallen on my face, but I’ve always stood up again and dusted myself off.”

Panettiere added: “I’ve got plenty of issues, but finding meaning in life isn’t one of them.”

The actor was known for her role as cheerleader Claire Bennett in the NBC superhero drama Heroes, which ran from 2006 to 2010. She later played country singer Juliette Barnes in Nashville, which earned her two Golden Globe nominations. She also starred in films like Ice Princess, Remember the Titans, Bring It On: All or Nothing and the Scream franchise.

Her death was confirmed in a statement from her father Sunday, which said: “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden.”

“She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen,” Skip Panettiere said.

Her cause of death has not been released yet. Police do not suspect foul play.

Representatives for Panettiere did not immediately return The Independent’s request for comment.