Drew Barrymore began her career at such an early age, we can say she was practically born on stage. At just 11 months, she appeared in a Puppy Choice Dog Food commercial, and got her first movie role at the age of 2, playing a boy in Suddenly Love article continued below...

• 50 First Dates (2004) .... Lucy Whitmore
• Duplex (2003) .... Nancy Kendricks
  ... aka Appartement-Schreck, Der (Germany)
  ... aka Our House (UK)
• Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) .... Dylan Sanders
• Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002) .... Penny
  ... aka Confessions d'un homme dangereux (Canada: French title)
• Riding in Cars with Boys (2001) .... Beverly D'Onofrio

At 5, she appeared in Altered States, and made herself into a household name with the blockbuster E.T. She was described by good friend and director Steven Spielberg as a teenager who was "13 going on 29."

She was born into a family famous for its love of being in the spotlight. Her kin include the legendary Lionel, John and Ethel Barrymore. Troubled times came for Barrymore, when she tried alcohol for the first time at age 9, and marijuana at age 10. Soon after, she turned to cocaine, and stirred controversy with her near nude appearances in Far From Home, and was forced into ASAP Family Treatment Center, a drug rehab clinic.

She stole her mother's credit card, escaped the clinic, and made a break for the Westcoast. She was unsuccessful, however, and was returned to rehab by authorities. She made a special appearance in a television movie warning teens about the dangers of drug abuse, only to fall back into her addiction.

July 1989 was her all-time low; she unsuccessfully attempted suicide, and was sent back to rehab. She was finally able to overcome her addictions, and decided she no longer needed any parental aid. She divorced her mother at the age of 15, and posed nude for a magazine cover not much later than that.

Her career began its recovery with roles in Poison Ivy, 2000 Malibu Road, and The Amy Fisher Story. More nudity followed with an appearance in the 1995 issue of Play.boy, one of the most popular issues ever.

Her career continued to blossom, with roles in Mad Love, Batman Forever and Boys in the Side. A 1996 role in Scream and a critically acclaimed performance in Woody Allen's Everyone Says I Love You confirmed her return to the top of her profession. Further roles included The Wedding Singer with Adam Sandler, Ever After, Home Fries and Never Been Kissed, which she also produced.

Barrymore has continued to persevere through a lot of adversity. Her persistence and energy have helped her recover from the difficulties of growing up in front of the camera and the public eye, and have shaped her into the strong and determined woman she is today.

• She was the Guest Host for "Saturday Night Live" (1975) when viewers voted that Andy Kaufman would never be allowed to return to the show.
• Never finished high school.
• Originally offered the lead role in Scream (1996) but chose to play Casey Becker because she thought it would be more fun.
• Was engaged to Jamie Walters for a brief period of time.
• Chosen by "People" magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World. [1997]
• Granddaughter of actor John Barrymore and Dolores Costello - on her father's side.
• Great-granddaughter of silent film actor Maurice Costello.
• She is half Hungarian from her mother's side.
• Steven Spielberg is her godfather.
• Daughter of John Drew Barrymore and Jaid Barrymore.
• Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1984" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 36. [1984]
• Steven Spielberg gave her a quilt for her birthday with a note "Cover yourself up". Enclosed was a copy of the January 1995 issue of Playboy Magazine for which she posed nude, with the pictures altered by Spielberg's art department so that she appeared fully clothed.
• Her favorite poet is e.e. cummings.
• She has 6 tattoos: a cross on her right ankle; a blue moon on her right big toe; a butterfly below her naval; a daisy on her inner left hip; on the middle of her back she has a cross held by an angel with a bar blocking out the name "Jaimie" (ex-boyfriend); on her lower right back she has an angel with a cross bearing the name of her mother "Jaid."
• Won the 1999 Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Award for favorite movie actress.
• Anna Strasberg is her godmother.
• As a child, she auditioned for the role of Carol Ann in Poltergeist (1982).
• She was formerly a vegan: "I don't eat a ton of meat, and I don't wear a ton of leather, but I just don't put strict limitations on myself anymore".
• She was, at seven years old, the youngest person ever to host "Saturday Night Live" (1975).
• Was offered the leading part of Nomi Malone in Showgirls (1995).
• Her $3-million Beverly Hills mansion caught fire while she and fiance Tom Green were inside sleeping. The couple made it safely out, but the house was ruined. [February 2001]
• Born at 11:51 AM
• During an appearance on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" (1996), she said that she never watches any of the movies she stars in.
• She and Tom Green married in a private ceremony in Malibu. [July 2001]
• Published an autobiographic book titled 'Little Girl Lost' (co-written by herself and contributor Todd Gold) in 1990. At the time of completing the book she was 14.
• Dated Eric Erlandson from the band Hole.
• Married Tom Green twice, 1st eloping to the South Pacific in March, then in July 7 before family and friends in a ceremony in Malibu, California.
• She and Tom Green honeymooned in Ireland.
• "Drew" was the maiden name of her great-grandmother, Georgiana. Her middle name "Blythe" was the original surname of the acting dynasty founded by her great-grandfather, Maurice, who changed it to Barrymore.
• Great niece of famed actors, Ethel Barrymore and Lionel Barrymore.
• Ranked #61 in Premiere's 2002 annual Power 100 List.
• Measurements: 34C-24-34. (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
• In honor of Bill Clinton turning 50, John Kennedy Jr. had Drew pose as Marilyn Monroe on the cover of his magazine, George, with the heading, "Happy Birthday, Mr. President," which Monroe sang to his father at the now-infamous 19 May 1962 Birthday Salute to President John F. Kennedy. (September 1996)
• 3 February 2004: Got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, joining her famous relatives Ethel Barrymore, John Barrymore and Lionel Barrymore as recipients of that honor.
• Currently engaged to Fabrizio Moretti, drummer in the band The Strokes. [2004]
• Godmother of the late Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love's daughter, Francis Bean.
• Referenced by name in the Invertigo song "Typical."
• One of her hobbies is photography.
• Owns her own production company, "Flower Films".
• Favorite band is The Beatles.
• She is allergic to garlic, bee stings, perfume and coffee.

• "I know certain actors are totally screwed up on drugs, yet it gets covered up. Why wasn't I excused for 'exhaustion' or 'the flu'?"
• "There's something liberating about not pretending. Dare to embarrass yourself. Risk."
• "If I ever start talking to you about my 'craft', my 'instrument', you have permission to shoot me."
• "I believe in fate. I believe that everything happens for a reason, but I think it's important to seek out that reason - that's how you learn."
• "I believe you can be the person that you dream of being."
• "I try to make movies that I would want to go see rather than ones I would just want to do as an actor. I want people to have movies full of romance and hope and empowerment, something they can escape into and feel good about. I love happy endings." -- on her favorite movies to make.
• "Every morning I stay in bed for ten minutes to ponder my place in the universe; then I wash my face and check my karma." - on her morning routine.
• "Life is very interesting... in the end, some of your greatest pains, become your greatest strengths."
• "I love levity. As crazy as I am, I just love to laugh!"
• "I'm getting older so those dark circles are really starting to show. Now, I'm starting to look like Night of the Living Dead."
• "When I lay my head on the pillow at night, I can say 'I was a decent person today.' That's when I feel beautiful."