How Drew Barrymore Became the True Superhero of Child Stars

As the 40th anniversary of ET: The Extra Terrestrial passes by, the film’s biggest star, Drew Barrymore, stands proud as a survivor of the often brutal Hollywood child star system. Few people thought she’d make it this far following a childhood riddled with drugs and scandal, but Drew has been written off countless times without seeming to notice that her career has apparently ended: She continues to entertain and delight audiences, an oblivious True Superhero whose ability to keep working throughout hardships is an inspiration to millions.  

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School or Studio 54?

Drew was born in 1975 in California, into an acting dynasty; the Barrymores had been famous actors stretching back to the 19th century. Drew’s father, John Drew Barrymore, had a successful acting career behind him, as well as three ex-wives and numerous charges for drug possession. His father - Drew’s grandfather, John Barrymore - was widely considered to be the greatest actor of his generation, but both John and John Drew suffered from crippling alcoholism. Drew’s parents split up soon after she was born, and her father was largely absent from her life from that point onwards.

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