Words by Drew Barrymore has spent nearly her entire life in front of cameras. A child star at 7, she endured a difficult adolescence, rebuilt her career in her twenties and has since become a producer, entrepreneur and daytime television host.
Early life
Drew Blythe Barrymore was born on Feb. 22, 1975, in Culver City, California, into one of America’s most famous acting families. Her grandfather was John Barrymore, and her great-aunt and great-uncle were Ethel and Lionel Barrymore. She appeared in a dog food commercial before her first birthday.
E.T.
At 6, Barrymore was cast as Gertie, the younger sister of Elliott, in Steven Spielberg’s “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982). The film became the highest-grossing movie of its time, and Barrymore became one of the most famous children in the world. She hosted “Saturday Night Live” at 7, then the youngest person to do so.
A difficult youth
Barrymore’s childhood fame was followed by struggles with addiction as a teenager, which she described in her 1990 memoir, “Little Girl Lost.” At 14 she was legally emancipated from her parents.
Comeback
Barrymore rebuilt her career in the 1990s with roles in “Poison Ivy,” “Boys on the Side” and “Scream” (1996). She found her stride in romantic comedies, starring with Adam Sandler in “The Wedding Singer” (1998) and later “50 First Dates” (2004) and “Blended” (2014). “Ever After” (1998), a retelling of Cinderella, and “Never Been Kissed” (1999) also became favorites.
Flower Films
In 1995, Barrymore and Nancy Juvonen founded Flower Films. The company produced “Never Been Kissed,” “Charlie’s Angels” (2000), in which Barrymore starred with Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu, its 2003 sequel, and the cult film “Donnie Darko” (2001).
She made her feature directing debut with the roller derby comedy “Whip It” (2009), starring Elliot Page.
Awards
Barrymore won a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award for playing Little Edie Beale in HBO’s “Grey Gardens” (2009). She starred in the Netflix horror-comedy series “Santa Clarita Diet” (2017-2019).
Flower Beauty
Barrymore launched Flower Beauty, an affordable cosmetics line, in 2013, initially sold at Walmart. The brand later expanded into skincare and fragrance. She also created the home goods line Beautiful, sold at Walmart, and has partnered on wine ventures.
The Drew Barrymore Show
In 2020, Barrymore launched “The Drew Barrymore Show,” a daytime talk show produced by CBS Media Ventures. Known for her warmth, enthusiasm and willingness to sit close to her guests, she has earned Daytime Emmy recognition for the show and expanded it with segments on cooking, home and wellness.
Author
Barrymore has written several books, including the memoir “Wildflower” (2015), which became a best-seller, and “Rebel Homemaker” (2021), a cookbook and lifestyle book.
Personal life
Barrymore has two daughters with art consultant Will Kopelman, to whom she was married from 2012 to 2016. She has spoken openly about co-parenting and about maintaining her sobriety.
Advocacy
Barrymore served as an ambassador against hunger for the United Nations World Food Programme and donated $1 million to the agency. She has also supported children’s literacy and animal welfare causes.
A family legacy
Barrymore has often spoken about her famous family’s complicated history, including struggles with addiction across generations. She has said she wanted to break the cycle for her own daughters, focusing on stability and honesty at home. Her openness about her past has made her a relatable figure for viewers, many of whom feel they grew up with her.
Legacy
Barrymore’s story is one of resilience. Having grown up in public, she turned early hardship into a long career built on optimism and an unusual gift for connecting with audiences, first on film and now each weekday on television.
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