United Kingdom, May 12 -- Hayden Panettiere has blasted the idea she "abandoned" her 11-year-old daughter Kaya by giving up custody.

The Heroes star, now 36, has opened up about her decision to sign over custody to her ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko in 2018 while she was struggling with postpartum depression and addiction.

Speaking to Jay Shetty on the On Purpose podcast, she said: "The idea that anybody would think that I would just give away my child and be OK with it is heartbreaking.

"It couldn't be further from the truth.

"It became this horrible cycle for years of battling depression and anxiety and alcoholism and substance abuse and just me trying to find my way back."

Hayden recalled how she had "completely lost" herself at the...