[8] In 2003, Bartusiak returned to period drama with Love Comes Softly, and a year later, she played young Jackie in Against the Ropes with Meg Ryan.

19) of hospital drama series House,[9] and took a lead role as Sunshine in the 2006 film Kill Your Darlings, playing a troubled teen willing to do anything to get the attention of her busy father.

Bartusiak's mother told CNN and the Associated Press that Skye's boyfriend found the actress sitting up in her bed; Helen began CPR on her daughter before the arrival of paramedics, who then worked "for 45 minutes" to resuscitate her.

Her mother said Skye "had been healthy and did not drink or do drugs", but had recently been experiencing epileptic seizures; she believed that this fact had likely played a role in her daughter's death.

[5][12] A memorial service was held in Houston six days later; her brother Stephen told mourners: "If you want to know what makes Skye happy, go out and plant a tree.