Drew Barrymore: A Public Life Marked by Early Fame, Career Resilience, and Personal Revelation
Drew Barrymore has lived much of her life in front of cameras. From her breakout role as a child in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial to her current work as host of The Drew Barrymore Show, she has been both a familiar Hollywood fixture and a businesswoman who has weathered numerous career turns.

Below is a concise look at her path—covering her early stardom, professional milestones, family life, and, most recently, her decision to share a personal detail about her own relationships. Early Start and Hollywood Lineage. Family background: Born into the famous Barrymore acting family. Child-actor spotlight: Appeared in commercials and major films before grade school.

Challenges: Navigated teen addiction and the pressures that can accompany child fame. Career Evolution. Acting range: From romantic comedies (The Wedding Singer, Never Been Kissed) to thrillers (Scream) and dramas (Grey Gardens).
Producer role: Co-founded Flower Films, producing titles like Charlie’s Angels and 50 First Dates.

Talk-show host: Launched The Drew Barrymore Show in 2020, showcasing her conversational style and personal anecdotes.

Notable Relationships and Family Life
Early engagements and marriages: A brief marriage to bar owner Jeremy Thomas (1994) and comedian Tom Green (2001). Later marriage: Wed art consultant Will Kopelman in 2012; they divorced in 2016 but continue to co-parent daughters Olive and Frankie.

Openness about divorce: On her talk show and in interviews, Barrymore has discussed single parenting and the realities of dating after marriage.

A Personal Statement
In a published interview, Barrymore said she identifies as bisexual. She described her attraction to both men and women and reflected on how that understanding evolved over time. Her comment did not come with a formal announcement campaign; rather, it surfaced as part of a broader conversation about past relationships and self-reflection. Public Response and Broader Context
While some public figures use celebrity status to champion specific social causes, Barrymore’s disclosure was presented mainly as a personal fact.

She did not position herself as a spokesperson for any movement but noted that self-discovery can continue well into adulthood. Professional resilience: Barrymore’s decades-long career shows adaptability across acting, producing, and hosting.
Personal candor: She has often been forthright—whether about early struggles, parenting, or relationships.

Family focus: Despite multiple career obligations, she frequently emphasizes her role as a mother.
Barrymore’s account of her life illustrates the complexity of growing up in the public eye and the varied turns both career and personal paths can take.

There are few faces in Hollywood as instantly recognizable—or as universally beloved—as Drew Barrymore’s. For more than four decades, she has charmed, inspired, and sometimes shocked audiences, growing up in the unforgiving glare of the spotlight while somehow managing to carve out a life that’s as real as it is remarkable. Now, as she steps forward with a candid revelation about her own identity, Barrymore is once again showing the world what it means to live authentically, bravely, and with a touch of that signature Drew sparkle.

Drew Barrymore’s story is, in many ways, the story of Hollywood itself. Born into the legendary Barrymore acting dynasty—her grandfather John Barrymore was a silver screen icon, her father and mother both actors—Drew’s fate seemed sealed from the very beginning. She was, quite literally, Hollywood royalty. But if you think that made her childhood a fairytale, think again. The reality was far more complicated, and Drew’s journey to self-acceptance has been anything but straightforward.

It all began, of course, with that unforgettable turn as Gertie in Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Just six years old, Drew stole the show and the hearts of millions. She was precocious, adorable, and instantly famous. But fame, especially at such a tender age, is a double-edged sword. For every red carpet and magazine cover, there were the pressures of expectation, the pitfalls of celebrity, and the ever-present risk of losing oneself in the process.

Drew’s teenage years were as turbulent as they were public. She has spoken openly about her struggles with addiction, her stints in rehab before she was even old enough to drive, and the deep loneliness that sometimes accompanied her early fame. It’s a story that could have ended in tragedy—and for so many young stars, it has. But Drew, with that unique blend of vulnerability and resilience, found her way back.

Her comeback was nothing short of remarkable. In the ‘90s and early 2000s, Drew reinvented herself as the queen of romantic comedies, starring in beloved hits like The Wedding Singer, Never Been Kissed, and 50 First Dates. She wasn’t just in front of the camera, either—she was calling the shots behind the scenes. With her production company, Flower Films, Drew produced box office smashes like Charlie’s Angels, cementing her status as one of the most powerful women in Hollywood.

But Drew’s appeal has always been about more than just talent. There’s an openness to her—a willingness to share her struggles, her triumphs, and, yes, her failures—that makes her feel less like a movie star and more like a friend you’ve known forever. That candor has only deepened as she’s moved into new roles: talk show host, businesswoman, and, most importantly, mother to her two daughters, Olive and Frankie.

Her romantic life, too, has played out in the public eye. There was her whirlwind marriage to bar owner Jeremy Thomas, which lasted just a few weeks. Then came her headline-grabbing union with comedian Tom Green, another brief but memorable chapter. In 2012, she married art consultant Will Kopelman, and together they welcomed their two girls. Although that marriage ended in 2016, Drew and Will have remained committed co-parents, with Drew frequently speaking about the joys and challenges of raising children after divorce.

Through it all, Drew has never shied away from the truth—even when it’s messy, complicated, or difficult to articulate. And so it was perhaps no surprise that her recent revelation about her sexuality came not as a carefully orchestrated announcement, but as a simple, heartfelt admission during an interview. In her typically understated way, Drew shared that she identifies as bisexual, explaining that her attraction to both men and women has been a part of her journey of self-understanding.

There was no press release, no social media campaign, no attempt to position herself as the face of a movement. Instead, Drew’s words landed with the quiet power of authenticity. She spoke about how her understanding of herself had evolved over time, how she continues to learn and grow, and how self-discovery is a process that doesn’t necessarily end with adolescence or early adulthood. In a world obsessed with labels and declarations, Drew’s approach was refreshingly honest: this is who I am, and that’s enough.

The public response was, for the most part, overwhelmingly positive. Fans flooded social media with messages of support, praising Drew for her openness and for the gentle, unassuming way she had chosen to share her truth. LGBTQ+ advocates noted the importance of visibility, especially from someone with such a long and storied career. But Drew herself seemed unfazed by the attention. She wasn’t looking to become a spokesperson or a symbol; she was simply living her life, as she always has, on her own terms.

What’s perhaps most striking about Drew Barrymore’s story is the way she’s managed to balance the demands of fame with the realities of everyday life. She’s spoken candidly on her daytime talk show about the challenges of single parenting, the ups and downs of dating in her 40s, and the ongoing work of healing from past trauma. She’s laughed, cried, and danced her way through interviews, often blurring the line between celebrity and everywoman.

Her resilience is legendary. In an industry that so often chews up and spits out its brightest stars, Drew has survived—and thrived—by being unapologetically herself. She’s reinvented her career more times than most people change jobs, moving effortlessly from actress to producer to talk show host. She’s launched successful businesses, written books, and become a trusted voice on everything from motherhood to mental health.

And yet, for all her achievements, it’s Drew’s vulnerability that continues to resonate. She’s never tried to pretend that her life is perfect, or that she has all the answers. Instead, she invites us to join her on the journey—to celebrate the highs, weather the lows, and embrace the beautiful messiness of being human.

As she steps into this new chapter, Drew Barrymore remains a beacon for anyone who’s ever felt different, uncertain, or out of place. Her message is simple but powerful: it’s never too late to discover who you are, to embrace your truth, and to live with courage and compassion. In a world that so often rewards conformity, Drew’s willingness to stand out—to be vulnerable, to be real, to be herself—is nothing short of revolutionary.

So here’s to Drew Barrymore: actress, producer, talk show host, mother, and now, a little more publicly, a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. She’s shown us that life is not about fitting into boxes, but about breaking them open—and in doing so, she’s given us all permission to do the same. The cameras may have followed her every move, but it’s Drew’s heart, humor, and honesty that have truly captured the world’s attention. And for that, we couldn’t be more gratefu