Drew Barrymore's Hollywood E! Volution: From Child Star to Bad Girl to A-List Actress

Actress has had a storied career during her 39 years in Tinsel Town

By Meg Swertlow Oct 22, 2017 12:55 AMTags

No celebrity has had the kind of enduring career that Drew Barrymore has had in her 39 years in Hollywood.

An offspring of the iconic Barrymore family, the 42-year-old leading lady has been acting since she was a mere 3-years-old.

In 1982, Drew won our hearts in E.T. But then the cute kid grew up and turned into a wild child, starring in Poison Ivy in 1992 and Bad Girls in 1994—the same year she got married for the first time at only 19-years-old. Drew had some troubled times, but then she cleaned up her act and her acting roles started to change for the better after her spine-chilling cameo in the 1996 sleeper hit Scream.

The bubbly star began nabbing big roles in big films like The Wedding Singer (1998), Ever After (1998) and Never Been Kissed (2000), cementing her star status as a leading lady.

She went to star in blockbuster hits like Charlie's Angels, 50 First Dates and He's Just Not That Into You.

But Drew wasn't content with just being in front of the camera. In 1995 she started her own production company, Flower Films, which has produced 15 movies and six television shows over the past 22 years.

 

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Drew Barrymore's Favorite Beauty Products

As for her personal life. It's dipped and peaked and dipped again. She was briefly married to funnyman Tom Green from 2001–2002, but that ended. Eventually, the shinning star married Will Kopelman in 2012 and had two children with him before they announced their split in 2016.

Nowadays, the recently divorced A-lister is starring in her own Netflix series, The Santa Clarita Diet, which she also captains as the show's executive producer. 

The mother of two may be in the biz almost 40 years, but screen queen can't stop, won't stop slow down.

Check out Drew's evolution over the years...

1978

The 4-year-old was photographed wearing a straw hat.

1979

Into her own world of make believe even back then, Drew tries on one of her mother's hats.

1984

The child star attended the 50th Anniversary of the Screen Actor's Guild.

1982

The child actress, who was around 7, was missing her two front teeth missing. 

1983

She smiled wide wearing a pink and white candy-striped dress.

1985

The growing girl is photographed  in the middle of the '80s.

1986

Drew Barrymore has some fun at the March of Dimes Gourmet Gala in Los Angeles.

1986

With a mouth full of braces, the actress smiles wide at a premiere at the Manns Bruin Theater in Westwood, Calif.

Nov. 1, 1987

The then 12-year-old attended a "Commitment to Life III" Gala to Benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles.

May 31, 1988

Drew was 13 years old when she attended the premiere of Big at 20th Century Fox Studios in Century City, Calif.

1989

The star posed for a photo for a CBS Schoolbreak Special entitled 15 and Getting Straight. In the movie Barrymore played a drug addicted teen seeking help at a rehabilitation clinic. 

1990

Drew attended the premiere of The Freshman at the Coronet Theater in Westwood, Calif.

1991

The one-time child star showed off a more mature style when she attended the 1st Annual Spago Christmas Party for Toys for Totskis Russian Airlift at Spago Restaurant in Hollywood, Calif.

Dec. 29, 1992

Smiling wide and rocking a funky hairstyle, Drew attended the 50th Annual Golden Globe Awards Nominations Announcements at Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.

May 19, 1993

Wearing blue sunglasses, Drew was looking cool at the premiere of Sharon Stone's thriller in Los Angeles.

April 19, 1994

The 19-year-old looked casual at the premiere of the western Bad Girls in Los Angeles. The film tells the story of four prostitutes who join together to travel the Old West for better life.

1995

Drew was looking vampy when she attended during Batman Forever premiere at Mann's Village Theater in Westwood, Calif.

1996

A dark-haired Drew was all smiles at the 1996 Pediatric AIDS Picnic in Brentwood, Calif.

1997

Wearing a button-down and jeans, the star went to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation Benefit in Los Angeles.

1998

The starlet was as bright as a ray of sunshine at the 70th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles.

1999

The actress went for a low-key look for the premiere of Dog Park.

2000

Drew, who attended with Tom Green, was photographed at the Loser premiere in Los Angeles.

2001

Showing off her engagement ring from Tom Green, Drew posed for pics at the 14th Annual Kids Choice Awards in Santa Monica, Calif.

Dec. 19, 2002

The 27-year-old struck a pose at the Confessions of a Dangerous Mind New York Premiere at the Paris Theatre, New York City. December 19, 2002. Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images.

2003

The actress went for a sexy style and tousled hair at the Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle premiere.

July 23, 2004

The smiley star appeared on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. 

July 27, 2005

The actress attended a screening of Fever Pitch in London, England. The film also starred Jimmy Fallon.

2006

A red-headed Drew heated up the red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, New York.

2007

The sunny star showed off her colorful style when she attended an event to mark her partnership with CoverGirl Cosmetics at Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Feb. 6, 2008

The Fever Pitch star attends a Gucci and Madonna hosted event at the United Nations on in New York City

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View More Photos From Drew Barrymore's Evolution
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