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Drew Barrymore in "E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial" in 1982. Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083866/mediaviewer/rm1518967040/ (May be subject to copyright) |
Drew Barrymore experienced all that and more when she started her acting career in the 1980s.
I was thinking back to that time today, when I heard she was starting the next season of her current talk show.
It’s in the family
The Barrymores are a storied family in Hollywood, stretching back several generations. It started with her great grandparents who were actors, her grandfather was John Barrymore, one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation, and her parents are actors John Drew and Jaid Barrymore. She is the grand-niece of Lionel Barrymore, and related to many other actors. Her godmothers are Sophia Loren and Anna Strasberg, widow of actor and acting teacher Lee Strasberg’, while her godfather is filmmaker Steven Spielberg.
The Barrymores are a storied family in Hollywood, stretching back several generations. It started with her great grandparents who were actors, her grandfather was John Barrymore, one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation, and her parents are actors John Drew and Jaid Barrymore. She is the grand-niece of Lionel Barrymore, and related to many other actors. Her godmothers are Sophia Loren and Anna Strasberg, widow of actor and acting teacher Lee Strasberg’, while her godfather is filmmaker Steven Spielberg.
Breakout role
Drew Barrymore was seven years old in 1982 when Steven Spielberg cast her as Gertie in “E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial”. She plays the pesky younger sister of Elliott, a boy who befriends an alien stranded on Earth, and helps him avoid government agents to get him home.
Drew Barrymore was seven years old in 1982 when Steven Spielberg cast her as Gertie in “E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial”. She plays the pesky younger sister of Elliott, a boy who befriends an alien stranded on Earth, and helps him avoid government agents to get him home.
Wikipedia reveals Barrymore won a the Young Artist Award for best young supporting actress, and was nominated for the Rising Star Award at the British Academy Film Awards. She also became the youngest person to guest host “Saturday Night Live” when she appeared in the show’s eighth season.
She had become one of the most famous child actors of the time.
Pyrokinesis
Two years later, in 1984, secret government agents were after Drew Barrymore on screen once again. This time she was Charlie McGee, a young girl with pyrokinesis, the ability to start fires with her mind.
Two years later, in 1984, secret government agents were after Drew Barrymore on screen once again. This time she was Charlie McGee, a young girl with pyrokinesis, the ability to start fires with her mind.
The film was an adaptation of a Stephen King horror novel of the same name.
Breaking up
Barrymore also appeared in the movie “Irreconcilable Differences” in 1984. This time she played a young girl divorcing her famous parents, played by Shelley Long and Ryan O’Neal. The role earned Barrymore her first Golden Globe nomination, for best supporting actress, and good reviews for her performance.
Barrymore also appeared in the movie “Irreconcilable Differences” in 1984. This time she played a young girl divorcing her famous parents, played by Shelley Long and Ryan O’Neal. The role earned Barrymore her first Golden Globe nomination, for best supporting actress, and good reviews for her performance.
Troubled times
Barrymore would suffer alcohol and drug abuse, but kept on acting through the rest of the 1980s, although I never saw any of her films. She was in “Cat’s Eye” in 1985, where she was nominated for a Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actress; “See You in the Morning” in 1989; and “Far from Home” that same year.
Barrymore would suffer alcohol and drug abuse, but kept on acting through the rest of the 1980s, although I never saw any of her films. She was in “Cat’s Eye” in 1985, where she was nominated for a Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actress; “See You in the Morning” in 1989; and “Far from Home” that same year.
The years after
Barrymore would go through a rebellious period where she posed nude for “Playboy” magazine. She also keeps on acting and appearing on screen to this day. Some of her movies include “Poison Ivy”; “Wayne’s World 2”; “Batman Forever”; “Everyone Says I Love You”; “Scream”; “The Wedding Singer”; “Ever After”; “Never Been Kissed”; “Titan A.E.”; “Charlie’s Angels”; “Donny Darko”; “Riding in Cars with Boys”; “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind”; “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle”; “50 First Dates”; “He’s Just Not That Into You”; and much more.
Barrymore would go through a rebellious period where she posed nude for “Playboy” magazine. She also keeps on acting and appearing on screen to this day. Some of her movies include “Poison Ivy”; “Wayne’s World 2”; “Batman Forever”; “Everyone Says I Love You”; “Scream”; “The Wedding Singer”; “Ever After”; “Never Been Kissed”; “Titan A.E.”; “Charlie’s Angels”; “Donny Darko”; “Riding in Cars with Boys”; “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind”; “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle”; “50 First Dates”; “He’s Just Not That Into You”; and much more.
Parting thoughts
It is so hard to believe that Drew Barrymore has been in movies for more than 40 years. It seems like just yesterday she was chasing after her older brother Elliott in “ET”.
It is so hard to believe that Drew Barrymore has been in movies for more than 40 years. It seems like just yesterday she was chasing after her older brother Elliott in “ET”.
She has literally grown up before our eyes, for good and bad.
The most recent illustration of that was on her show, where she met someone very special in the studio audience. It turns out the woman was a flight attendant on a plane where Barrymore had a tough time when she was struggling with addiction. That flight attendant was comforting and sensitive, and helped her through a tough moment.
Barrymore recognized her immediately, and they had this powerful, tearful reunion on her show.
It just showed me Drew Barrymore isn’t a little girl anymore.
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