Drew Barrymore Reflects on Her Near-Fatal Past Ahead of 50th Birthday: ‘I Never Thought I’d Make It’

As Drew Barrymore approaches her milestone 50th birthday, she’s taking a moment to reflect on a tumultuous past that, at one point, she wasn’t sure she would survive. 

The beloved actress and talk show host has long been open about her struggles with addiction, which began at an alarmingly young age. 

Looking back now, she acknowledges just how fortunate she is to still be here.

A Troubled Childhood in the Spotlight

Barrymore’s Hollywood journey began when she was just a child. 

Raised by her single mother, Jaid Barrymore, she was thrust into the limelight early, landing her breakout role in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial at the age of seven. While many might assume a childhood in the industry would be filled with glamour and excitement, Barrymore sees it differently.

“I don’t think of it as the magic of childhood,” she recently admitted in an interview with Us Weekly. “I don’t think I know what childhood is like, and I think that’s what made me so nervous when I became a parent.”

Now a mother to two daughters, Olive, 12, and Frankie, 10, whom she shares with ex-husband Will Kopelman, Barrymore has spent years coming to terms with the unconventional upbringing that shaped her.

Exposed to a Dangerous World Too Soon

While many children her age were playing with toys and making friends at school, Barrymore was navigating a world of parties, nightclubs, and bad influences. By the age of seven, she was already frequenting clubs. By nine, she was drinking alcohol. And by 12, she was using cocaine.

“My mom had a very colorful cast of characters coming through,” Barrymore recalled, noting that she was exposed to environments that were far from safe for a child. Despite recognizing the dangers now, she doesn’t dwell on resentment.

“It wasn’t as safe as it should have been—but when I was younger, it was more whimsical,” she explained. “Not feeling like I had a childhood has nothing to do with feeling robbed of [one]. It just wasn’t your garden-variety youthful childhood, but I never feel upset about that.”

Still, her early exposure to the party lifestyle had consequences. Barrymore has spoken candidly about her rebellious nature and how she struggled to accept boundaries.

“The whole concept of ‘no’ made me really rebellious,” she admitted. “As if it didn’t apply to me. ‘No’ made me angry, but it turns out ‘no’ is essential and has incredible benefits. It can make you feel a lot more safe and cared for, even if you hate it at the time. It means someone or something is holding you.”

Finding Sobriety and a New Purpose

Barrymore’s substance abuse issues followed her well into adulthood, but it was in her 40s that she finally made the decision to quit drinking. At 44, she realized that alcohol was holding her back from true healing.

“I had to stop. I just don’t drink. That is poison for me,” she shared. “And when I stopped, there was so much work to do. For me, it was like, if I get rid of this, the real work can start.”

The road to sobriety wasn’t easy. Barrymore recalled hitting a personal low that forced her to reevaluate everything.

“Where I found myself was a place where I’ve never been so upset,” she admitted. “I’ve never been that down on myself. And it was a real wake-up call that this is no way to live.”

The actress emphasized that life will always present challenges, but how one chooses to handle them makes all the difference.

“Things happen. You can get through them. Please do not be so lost and mean to yourself that you don’t know your way up,” she urged.

Embracing Happiness Like Never Before

Now, nearly five years into sobriety, Barrymore feels more grounded than ever. She has found peace, happiness, and stability—things she once doubted she would ever experience.

“The revelation in the early 40s was not about alcohol or divorce. It was like, it’s f**g game time to get my s together and be the most solid person I can be,” she stated.

As she approaches 50, Barrymore is not only celebrating another year of life but also acknowledging how remarkable it is that she made it this far. Given the many obstacles she faced, she understands that her survival was never guaranteed.

“I don’t think I’ve ever known a happiness that I feel now,” she reflected. “And I just didn’t know I would ever get here.”

After years of struggle and self-discovery, Barrymore stands as an inspiration to many, proving that even the darkest pasts don’t have to dictate the future. As she enters this new chapter of life, she does so with a newfound appreciation for where she’s been—and where she’s headed.

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