Drew Barrymore Then & Now: See Her Transformation From Child Star To Talk Show Host

Drew Barrymore has been in the spotlight ever since she was little! Now, we're taking a look back to see how the inspiring actress has transformed over the years from her early acting days to her 46th birthday.

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February 22, 2021 7:00AM EST
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Six-year-old actress Drew Barrymore, a granddaughter of famed actor John Barrymore, Sr. and co-star in the hit film "E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial," is seen in 1982. (AP Photo/Doug Pizac)
Drew Barrymore, center, Henry Thomas, left, and Robert Macnaughton, the young stars of Steven Spielberg's movie "E.T., The Extra-Terrestrial," pose with their People's Choice award after the movie was named favorite Motion Picture at the 9th annual People's Choice Awards in Santa Monica, Ca., on March 17, 1983. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)
Actress Drew Barrymore, center, with Sharon Stone, at left, and Allen Garfield at Hollywood screening of "Irreconcilable Differences" on September 24, 1984. (AP Photo/Scott Harms)
Image Credit: AP/MEGA

Drew Barrymore can truly do anything! We have watched Drew grow up and mature right before our very eyes! As a member of Hollywood royalty — the Barrymore family — Drew has left her own indelible mark on the entertainment industry as an actress and inspiring figure. Drew, who celebrates her 46th birthday on February 22, has moved into the talk show world with The Drew Barrymore Show, which premiered in September 2020 and is such an exciting new chapter in her career. Given everything that she has accomplished over the past four decades, let’s take a look back to celebrate the star and her amazing transformation.

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Drew Barrymore as a little girl and burgeoning actress [AP].
Drew graced the big screen in her first major role at the tender age of six in the Steven Spielberg film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The actress stole the hearts of millions as Gertie, the youngest of three siblings in the film who befriend a harmless little alien. From there, Drew continued to land huge roles as a child star. Although she definitely went through a rebellious phase that shocked fans who knew her since she was a youngster, her best years were just ahead of her.

In the latter half of the ’90s, Drew became the romantic comedy queen with films like The Wedding Singer, Ever After: A Cinderella Story, and Never Been Kissed. Heading into the early 2000s, Drew also showed that she could command an action franchise with the help of gal pals Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu with Charlie’s Angels and its 2003 sequel, Full Throttle. By the mid-2000s, Drew reclaimed her romcom queen crown!

Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore with her ‘Charlie’s Angels’ co-stars Lucy Liu and Cameron Diaz. (©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection)

She appeared in films like Fever Pitch and reunited with her Wedding Singer co-star, Adam Sandler, for 50 First Dates in 2004! Drew also showed off her incredible talent behind the camera in 2009, when she directed the Ellen Page-led film Whip It. By the 2010s, Drew took on her most rewarding role to date: as mom to her two daughters — Olive Barrymore Kopelman, 7, and Frankie Barrymore Kopelman, 6 — whom she shares with her former husband, Will Kopelman.

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Drew Barrymore on the set of ‘The Drew Barrymore Show.’ (CBSTD “The Drew Barrymore Show”/Ben Watts)

Now, Drew is back in action taking on new projects. She reunited with Adam Sandler again in 2014 for their film Blended and earned rave reviews for her work on Netflix’s comedy series Santa Clarita Diet. It’s amazing to look back at what Drew has accomplished over the course of her decades-long career, but there is so much more to see! With her talk show, Drew brings information, inspiration, and entertainment to the daytime audience this fall. Drew’s adorable personality and relatability has made The Drew Barrymore Show one of a kind. Check out Drew’s transformation through the years by scrolling through the gallery above!