Drew Barrymore Wishes She Had A 'Normal Childhood' Growing Up

Hollywood Life Staff — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 17:00:14 +0000

Drew, who shot to fame at the young age of seven following the success of ‘E.T.’, regrets choosing her film career over her childhood.

Drew Barrymore has been in the spotlight since she was a little girl, thanks to the now iconic film E.T. the Extra Terrestrial, which led her to choose the life of a movie star over the life of a regular kid at the age of seven. Drew entered rehab at 13 years old, after becoming addicted to various drugs and alcohol, and never experienced what she calls a “normal childhood.” Now, she realizes her decision was a mistake.

Drew recently went on a trip to Kenya, where she supplied food and water to a local primary school through the World Food Programme charity, and had an eye-opening experience.

“I was really moved,” Drew says of the African children who simply craved a normal life. “I never went to school myself. I was doing a job and didn’t have a kid’s life. I wanted to learn more about why these kids were so passionate, walking so far and overfilling their classrooms.”

Drew couldn’t get over the fact that these children, who need so much help themselves, were willing to sacrifice their own happiness for that of others. As a child actor, who grew up without much guidance, she was touched.

“It’s amazing to me that the kids mention professions which involve helping others, that they are naturally philanthropic,” Drew explains to the Conde Nast Traveler magazine. “People can feel unconfident about sending money into the void of a charity. But when you find something like this that speaks to your heart, it gives you the courage to look beyond your own problems and take the first small steps to try as an individual to make an impact. “

We’re glad Drew has turned her life around and is flourishing as an adult. She inspires us to do more!

–Leigh Blickley

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Halle Berry Admits That She's Still Healing From Her Traumatic Childhood

Hollywood Life Staff — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:00:10 +0000

The Oscar winner and mother to daughter Nahla talks about what it was like to grow up with a violent father, who abused her mom and would also turn on her.

“I think I’ve spent my adult life dealing with the sense of low self-esteem,” says Halle Berry about witnessing domestc violence between her parents first-hand. The 44-year-old confessed during an interview on CNN that her father used to abuse her mother and would also strike out at her. “Somehow I felt not worthy,” she says about the long-lasting effects of the trauma she witnessed as a child.

Halle and Nahla go shopping

Despite being a glamorous movie star, Halle feels haunted by the events of her childhood. “Before I’m ‘Halle Berry,’ I’m little Halle… a little girl growing up in this environment that damaged me. I’ve spent my adult life trying to really heal from that,” she said during the interview.

Oh no! Halle lost Nahla in a department store

Because of what she’s lived through, Halle, who has a 2-year-old daughter, Nahla, with her ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry, 34, is an advocate and volunteer for the Jenesse Center, a LA shelter. She also helps renovate apartments for women trying to leave abusive relationships. “I have a spot in my soul that understands the devastation that this causes a family,” says Halle.

–Amy L. Harper