Drew Barrymore

Birthday: 22 February 1975, Culver City, California, USA

Birth Name: Drew Blyth Barrymore

Height: 163 cm

Since melting audiences' hearts - at the age of six - in Steven Spielberg's beloved sci-fi blockbuster, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Drew Barrymore has emerged as one of the most endearing and talented actresses of her generation.Drew Blyth Barrymore was born in Culver City, California, to actors John Drew Barrymore and Jaid Barrymore (née Ildiko Jaid Mako). Her father came from a long showbusiness legacy, as the son of actors John Barrymore and Dolores Costello, while her mother was the daughter of Hungarian refugees.Despite a troubled and much-publicized adolescence, and a string of "bad girl" parts in lurid crime dramas such as Poison Ivy (1992), Barrymore's star was officially on the rise during the mid-1990s, with notable appearances in Boys on the Side (1995), Woody Allen's Everyone Says I Love You (1996), and the game-changing horror hit Scream (1996).An eclectic mix of high-profile and low-key film projects followed - such as The Wedding Singer (1998), EverAfter (1998), Never Been Kissed (1999), Charlie's Angels (2000), Donnie Darko (2001), Riding in Cars with Boys (2001) and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002) - proving to once-cynical audiences that Barrymore was not only a capable leading lady, but also a gifted and versatile actor.Next came headlining parts in Duplex (2003), 50 First Dates (2004), Fever Pitch (2005), Music and Lyrics (2007), Lucky You (2007), He's Just Not That Into You (2009), and the much-lauded Grey Gardens (2009), for which she earned Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards for her portrayal of Edith Bouvier Beale.In 2009, Barrymore - whose production company, Flower Films, has spawned several lucrative features - made her long-awaited directional debut with the comedy-drama Whip It (2009), emerging as "a sensitive director who knows how and when to let an emotional moment linger on the screen" (TIME).Alongside a recurring guest spot - as the voice of Jillian - on the cult animated series Family Guy (1999), recent acting roles have included Everybody's Fine (2009), Going the Distance (2010), Big Miracle (2012), Blended (2014), and Miss You Already (2015). Hide

[When asked about gay rights] A lot of the people that I grew up around had a freedom of their sexua Show more [When asked about gay rights] A lot of the people that I grew up around had a freedom of their sexual orientation and I just think that civil liberties are the key to life, so obviously I'm a huge supporter of that. Hide

I'd rather be a few pounds heavier and enjoy life than be worried all the time. I'd rather be a few pounds heavier and enjoy life than be worried all the time.

[on her morning routine] Every morning I stay in bed for ten minutes to ponder my place in the unive Show more [on her morning routine] Every morning I stay in bed for ten minutes to ponder my place in the universe. Then I wash my face and check my karma. Hide

Do I like women sexually? Yeah, I do. Totally. I have always considered myself bisexual. I love a wo Show more Do I like women sexually? Yeah, I do. Totally. I have always considered myself bisexual. I love a woman's body. I think a woman and a woman together are beautiful, just as a man and a woman together are beautiful. Being with a woman is like exploring your own body, but through someone else. Hide

If I ever start talking to you about my 'craft', my 'instrument', you have permission to shoot me. If I ever start talking to you about my 'craft', my 'instrument', you have permission to shoot me.

[on what movie blew her mind] I think it changes every day. But today, it's Who's Afraid of Virginia Show more [on what movie blew her mind] I think it changes every day. But today, it's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966). My jaw was on the floor when I was watching it because it was the definition of visceral. I thought it was the most compelling, upsetting, beautiful-to-look-at, in-your-face film, with no tricks whatsoever, except for beautiful camera work. Hide

I believe in fate. I believe that everything happens for a reason, but I think it's important to see Show more I believe in fate. I believe that everything happens for a reason, but I think it's important to seek out that reason - that's how you learn. Hide

My parents are not bad people. It was just a case of them not wanting a child. My parents are not bad people. It was just a case of them not wanting a child.

California has, like, half the swimming pools in the whole United States. After you're successful yo Show more California has, like, half the swimming pools in the whole United States. After you're successful you can't not have a pool. Here, a house without a pool is like a neck with no diamond necklace. Hide

I just think happiness is what makes you pretty. Period. Happy people are beautiful. They become lik Show more I just think happiness is what makes you pretty. Period. Happy people are beautiful. They become like a mirror and they reflect that happiness. If somebody walks in the room and they're drop-dead gorgeous and sexy, it's really fun to look at. But if someone is giving of their spirit and they make you laugh and feel good, that's a whole other level of beauty. Hide

I wish I were that all-home-grown-food perfect woman, but I'm not. I'm the mom with the kitchen on f Show more I wish I were that all-home-grown-food perfect woman, but I'm not. I'm the mom with the kitchen on fire and food on our faces. Hide

[on gay marriage] You can't define love and you can't define a family. It comes in so many radical c Show more [on gay marriage] You can't define love and you can't define a family. It comes in so many radical colors. And children need loving homes and people want to adopt who are gay! Why would we ever try to stand in their way? It's unfathomable. Hide

[on kissing Ellen Page] We do that all the time, we're friends. People can take from it what they wa Show more [on kissing Ellen Page] We do that all the time, we're friends. People can take from it what they want. We're just girls being silly and having fun, girls are affectionate with each other. We don't have that hang up of what it's gonna look like or what people are gonna think. I think it's hysterical. Hide

Making bad decisions doesn't make you a bad person. It's how you learn to make better choices. Making bad decisions doesn't make you a bad person. It's how you learn to make better choices.

As much light as I have inside me, there's just as much darkness, I'm afraid. There's a polarity, an Show more As much light as I have inside me, there's just as much darkness, I'm afraid. There's a polarity, and I still have demons to work out. Hide

I know certain actors are totally screwed up on drugs, yet it gets covered up. Why wasn't I excused Show more I know certain actors are totally screwed up on drugs, yet it gets covered up. Why wasn't I excused for 'exhaustion' or 'the flu'? Hide

[on her divorce from Tom Green] Yes, it's true we have decided to part. I love Tom very much. He has Show more [on her divorce from Tom Green] Yes, it's true we have decided to part. I love Tom very much. He has always been a great friend and that won't change. Hide

[on California's Proposition 8 (the ballot banning same-sex marriage)] We can't take a step backward Show more [on California's Proposition 8 (the ballot banning same-sex marriage)] We can't take a step backwards when we've already made so many strides forward. I was raised by gay men and women...it's who I am, you cannot define a family. There are children out there who need these loving homes. These are rights that are fundamental and must be had. And I will fight for however long it takes; I don't want to live in a world where prop 8 exists! Hide

Be the best version of yourself, and smile and laugh while you're doing it. Be the best version of yourself, and smile and laugh while you're doing it.

My whole life, I've wanted to feel comfortable in my skin. It's the most liberating thing in the wor Show more My whole life, I've wanted to feel comfortable in my skin. It's the most liberating thing in the world. Hide

I believe you can be the person that you dream of being. I believe you can be the person that you dream of being.

Happiness is the best makeup in the world. There's nothing you can put on your face that comes from Show more Happiness is the best makeup in the world. There's nothing you can put on your face that comes from a tube that's going to be as amazing as a smile. Hide

I don't know anybody whose road has been paved perfectly for them. There are no manuals. You don't k Show more I don't know anybody whose road has been paved perfectly for them. There are no manuals. You don't know what life has in store for you. Hide

You have to fight unhappiness like a dragon with fire and breathe. You have to fight unhappiness like a dragon with fire and breathe.

[on her attraction to Christian Bale] He's so cute! And I knew him when he was a kid. He was in Empi Show more [on her attraction to Christian Bale] He's so cute! And I knew him when he was a kid. He was in Empire of the Sun (1987). If he walked into the room now, I would totally clam up. Or I might go overboard and embarrass myself. Hide

I'm getting older so those dark circles are really starting to show. Now, I'm starting to look like Show more I'm getting older so those dark circles are really starting to show. Now, I'm starting to look like Night of the Living Dead. Hide

[on the best advice Steven Spielberg ever gave her, and how she doesn't feel she is a good actor] St Show more [on the best advice Steven Spielberg ever gave her, and how she doesn't feel she is a good actor] Steven told me, "Don't act your characters. Be your characters." I feel like it's fake and yucky and it just doesn't ring true. But like Robert said, if you research and you study and make it personal, you just become that person, and it's your truth and everything else around you falls away. Then you're telling the truth, it's not lying, it's not fake. So he gave me that wisdom because at 6, I guess I was comfortable and more humorous than I would have remembered now. But once I got older and kept continuing acting, I don't know if I would have succeeded without that advice, because it's the thing that saved me. I'm not an actor, I'm a pretender. Hide

[on what films shaped her the most] Pollyanna (1960), Captains Courageous (1937), The Black Stallion Show more [on what films shaped her the most] Pollyanna (1960), Captains Courageous (1937), The Black Stallion (1979), Foxes (1980), um, Excalibur (1981)? I was, like, obsessed with Camelot (1967) and Excalibur (1981) and Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) - any double-VHS-giant double-Beta set of those films. I just loved the swashbuckling nature of them, I was obsessed. I loved watching men in cinema, and I liked watching young girls, whether it was a Jodie Foster in Foxes (1980) or a Hayley Mills in Pollyanna (1960). It could be squeaky clean and it could be super like L.A. streets-gritty, but there was no barrier between. I liked older men and younger girls. That was what I responded to in film. Hide

I don't want to sit around and hope good things happen. I want to make them happen. I don't want to sit around and hope good things happen. I want to make them happen.

When I lay my head on the pillow at night, I can say "I was a decent person today." That's when I fe Show more When I lay my head on the pillow at night, I can say "I was a decent person today." That's when I feel beautiful. Hide

I did karaoke once - a Pat Benatar song - and my friends looked at me with disgust (In Style magazin Show more I did karaoke once - a Pat Benatar song - and my friends looked at me with disgust (In Style magazine, September 2006). Hide

I love levity. As crazy as I am, I just love to laugh! I love levity. As crazy as I am, I just love to laugh!

I love hugging. I wish I was an octopus so I could hug ten people at a time. I love hugging. I wish I was an octopus so I could hug ten people at a time.

Life is very interesting. In the end, some of your greatest pains become your greatest strengths. Life is very interesting. In the end, some of your greatest pains become your greatest strengths.

There's nothing like the power of a smile. There's nothing like the power of a smile.

There's something liberating about not pretending. Dare to embarrass yourself. Risk. There's something liberating about not pretending. Dare to embarrass yourself. Risk.

[on her favorite movies to make] I try to make movies that I would want to go see rather than ones I Show more [on her favorite movies to make] I try to make movies that I would want to go see rather than ones I would just want to do as an actor. I want people to have movies full of romance and hope and empowerment, something they can escape into and feel good about. I love happy endings. Hide

I love women who have fought to the change the world and made a difference. I want to be one of them Show more I love women who have fought to the change the world and made a difference. I want to be one of them myself. Hide

Drew Barrymore's FILMOGRAPHY

All as Actor (260) as Director (1)

The Simpsons - Season 35

The Simpsons - Season 9

The Simpsons - Season 27

Celebrity IOU - Season 5

Waynes World 2

Guncrazy

The Simpsons - Season 10

The Larry Sanders Show - Season 5

Hot Ones - Season 16

Celebrity IOU - Season 1