Actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in and , has died at the age of 36.

In a statement released to US outlet , Panettiere’s father described her as an “incredible light and a force of nature”.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” he said.

“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.”

The star’s father also requested privacy while her family processed the “unimaginable loss”.

Earlier this year, Panettiere had released a memoir, titled This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she opened up about her experiences with postpartum depression and addiction.

Her struggles led her to give up custody of her child, Kaya, in 2018.

The 36-year-old began her career as a child, playing roles in US soaps and Guiding Light.

She made her feature film debut aged nine as narrator and voice of Princess Dot in Disney-Pixar’s A Bug’s Life.

Panettiere, though, was best known for her roles as Claire Bennet in the hit series and Juliette Barnes on the musical drama .

No further information was made available about her death.