Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore is an American actress, producer and television host who rose to fame as a child star and went on to build a long career spanning film, production and daytime television. A member of the Barrymore acting dynasty, she became internationally known as a young girl in Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and later reinvented herself as a leading actress and producer of romantic comedies before transitioning into hosting her own talk show.

Early life

Barrymore was born on February 22, 1975, in Culver City, California, into one of Hollywood's most storied acting families; her relatives include the actor John Barrymore, her grandfather. She began performing as a very young child, appearing in commercials before landing the role of Gertie in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, released in 1982 when she was a child. Her early fame was accompanied by well-documented personal struggles during her youth, which she later wrote about candidly in an autobiography.

Career

After her childhood stardom, Barrymore re-established herself as an adult performer in the 1990s and 2000s, appearing in films such as Boys on the Side, Scream, The Wedding Singer, Ever After, Never Been Kissed and Charlie's Angels and its sequel. She frequently collaborated with the actor Adam Sandler in romantic comedies including The Wedding Singer, 50 First Dates and Blended. Alongside acting, she co-founded the production company Flower Films, which produced several of her own vehicles as well as other features, establishing her as a producer with creative control over her projects. She also expanded into business ventures, including a cosmetics and lifestyle brand.

Recent work

In 2020, Barrymore launched The Drew Barrymore Show, a daytime television talk program in which she interviews celebrities, highlights human-interest stories and engages in lifestyle segments. The warm, informal hosting style she brought to the show earned it a steady audience and renewals across multiple seasons, and the program received daytime television recognition. The show became one of the more prominent daytime launches of its period, and its emotional, empathetic tone has frequently been singled out as a defining feature of Barrymore's hosting persona.

Beyond the talk show, Barrymore has remained active as an author and entrepreneur. She has written multiple books, including a memoir reflecting candidly on her unconventional childhood, her early experiences in Hollywood and her recovery from personal difficulties, as well as lifestyle-oriented titles. She has continued to balance hosting duties with occasional acting and producing, and she remains a prominent public figure through the show, her brand ventures and her writing. Her career is often cited as an example of a child star who navigated early fame and personal struggles to build a durable, multifaceted presence across acting, producing, business and television hosting.