Drew Barrymore

Acting Appreciation

Drew Barrymore turns 50 today, and honestly, for those of us in the same age range, it’s kind of surreal watching someone we grew up with reach this milestone. From the moment she stole the show as little Gertie in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, she’s been part of our pop culture lives. But unlike most child stars, Drew didn’t just fade into the background—she took us along for the wildest ride.

While we were navigating high school, college, or our first jobs, she was out there doing things like partying at Studio 54 as a kid and living every cautionary tale Hollywood had to offer before she was even old enough to drive. Then came her young adult years, when Drew leaned into being the industry’s favorite rebel. She posed for Playboy at 19 and even flashed David Letterman on national television.

What’s cool about Drew is that she wasn’t just about shock value—she was smart. She co-founded Flower Films, making sure she had control over her career at an age when most of us were just figuring out how to pay rent. And it worked—she became the queen of rom-coms, giving us classics like The Wedding Singer, Never Been Kissed, and 50 First Dates. And let’s not forget Charlie’s Angels, because, at some point, we all wondered how many takes it took to perfect that iconic chair scene.

By the time we hit our 30s and 40s, Drew was evolving right alongside us. She became a business mogul, started a family, and somehow turned into the most down-to-earth celebrity ever. And now? She’s running The Drew Barrymore Show, where she interviews people like a best friend. It’s endearing, chaotic, and pure Drew.

She’s also a mom to two daughters, and if you’ve seen her talk about motherhood, you know she’s all in. She’s refreshingly honest about the ups and downs, whether it’s parenting, heartbreak, or trying to figure out life in general.

And now, she’s 50—and she’s excited about it. In her recent interview with Natasha Stoynoff for AARP The Magazine, she embraces this milestone, talking about how liberating it is to stop worrying about things that don’t matter: https://www.aarp.org/entertainment/celebrities/info-2025/drew-barrymore-interview.html. Honestly, it’s inspiring.

Source:

https://www.aarp.org/entertainment/celebrities/info-2025/drew-barrymore-interview.html