She was famous before she could read — then she had to save her own life. 🌸 At 51, Drew Barrymore has gone from Hollywood’s most troubled child star to its most beloved talk show host, all while building a business empire. From a dog-food commercial at 11 months to record-breaking daytime TV — this is the updated story.
Drew Barrymore Then 🌱
Drew Blythe Barrymore was born on February 22, 1975, in Culver City, California. Acting was in her blood — she is the granddaughter of the legendary John Barrymore, and her godfather is Steven Spielberg.
Her first role came at 11 months old: a dog-food commercial. When a dog nipped her during the audition, she laughed instead of crying — and got the job.
At seven, she became the most famous child on earth. As Gertie in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), she stole every scene she was in.
But fame came at a terrible price. By nine she was drinking. By 12 she was using cocaine. At 13, she entered rehab — and published her memoir, Little Girl Lost.
At 14 she attempted suicide. At 15, she did something unheard of: she petitioned a court to legally emancipate herself from her parents. It was granted.
The wild years made headlines. But they also forged the resilience that would define everything she became.
The Middle: Comeback Queen 👑
Hollywood loves a comeback — and Drew Barrymore delivered one of the greatest. In the 90s, she rebuilt herself role by role: Poison Ivy (1992), Batman Forever (1995), Scream (1996).
Then came The Wedding Singer (1998), co-starring Adam Sandler. It was the start of one of cinema’s most beloved screen partnerships — 50 First Dates (2004) and Blended (2014) followed.
Never Been Kissed (1999). Ever After (1998). Then Charlie’s Angels (2000) — which she also produced through Flower Films, the company she founded in 1995 with Nancy Juvonen.
Like Julia Roberts, she ruled the romantic-comedy era — but Drew was also building a business empire behind the scenes.
The awards came too. For playing Edith Bouvier Beale in HBO’s Grey Gardens (2009), she won the Golden Globe and the Screen Actors Guild Award.
She directed her first film, Whip It, the same year. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame followed in 2004, and Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023.
Drew Barrymore Now 📈
Today, Drew Barrymore is 51 — she turned 51 on February 22, 2026. And her talk show has never been bigger.
The Drew Barrymore Show premiered its seventh season on September 14, 2026 — and broke records. Per Deadline, the premiere drew an average of 1.8 million viewers, up 21% from last season’s premiere — the show’s most-watched season premiere ever. 📺
Then came the bigger news: CBS renewed the show for two more years, keeping it in daytime through 2028. Seven seasons in, her “optimism TV” has become appointment viewing.
And she’s about to come full circle in the sweetest way. On Monday, November 23, 2026, she’ll host the Pillsbury Bake-Off Classic — a two-hour CBS and Paramount+ primetime special with judges Christina Tosi and Dook Chase.
Here’s the beautiful part: Barrymore’s first-ever acting role was a Pillsbury ad in 1979, when she was four. Nearly 50 years later, she’s hosting the company’s biggest night. “I see the way people respond to baking shows, and they’re just looking for something warm and delicious,” she told her talk show audience. “And then I have this personal connection.” 🍪
The business empire keeps growing too. FLOWER Beauty (launched 2013), the Beautiful kitchenware line, Barrymore Wines, Flower Eyewear — and since 2024, she’s Etsy’s Chief Gifting Officer.
Off screen, she’s refreshingly honest. In 2025 she announced she’s taking a break from dating — after trying the exclusive dating app Raya, she’s “no longer chasing love” and happily embracing her single era.
Her focus is her daughters: Olive (born 2012) and Frankie (born 2014), from her marriage to Will Kopelman (2012–2016). She says long film shoots take her away from them too much — which is why the talk show, filmed daily in New York, suits her life now.
And she’s changing the aging conversation. Her makeup-free selfies come with the caption “aging is a privilege” — no cosmetic work, no filters, no fear. “It is not something to fear,” she wrote. ✨
From a child who had to save herself to a 51-year-old who saves everyone else’s mornings. Drew Barrymore didn’t just survive Hollywood — she rewrote the ending.
Quick Answers ❓
How old is Drew Barrymore now?
She is 51. She was born on February 22, 1975, in Culver City, California — and turned 51 on February 22, 2026.
What is Drew Barrymore doing in 2026?
Her talk show’s record-breaking seventh season premiered September 14, 2026, and CBS renewed it for two more years through 2028. She’ll also host the Pillsbury Bake-Off Classic on November 23, 2026, on CBS and Paramount+.
Did Drew Barrymore win an Oscar?
No — but she won the Golden Globe and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Grey Gardens (2009).
Does Drew Barrymore have kids?
Yes — two daughters, Olive (born 2012) and Frankie (born 2014), from her marriage to Will Kopelman.
Is Drew Barrymore dating anyone?
No. In 2025 she said she’s taking a break from dating and is “no longer chasing love.”
What businesses does Drew Barrymore own?
Flower Films (founded 1995), FLOWER Beauty (2013), the Beautiful kitchenware line, Barrymore Wines, Flower Eyewear — and she’s Etsy’s Chief Gifting Officer.