She was eight when she had her first drink.
At 13, she was placed in rehab.
Yet today, she is one of the most celebrated actresses in the world.
A troubled childhood
Drew Barrymore’s story is one of struggle, resilience, and ultimate triumph. Born into Hollywood royalty—her father, John Drew Barrymore, was an actor with a troubled past, and her mother, Jaid Barrymore, was a free-spirited but often reckless parent—Drew’s life began under a complicated mix of fame and chaos.
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She made her screen debut at just 11 months in a dog food commercial, and by seven, she was a rising star, charming audiences with her precocious humor and charm. At five, she appeared in Ken Russell’s Altered States, but it was Steven Spielberg’s E.T. that truly catapulted her into international fame. Yet behind the glittering screen, her childhood was anything but ordinary.
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