Drew Barrymore On Staying Hot In Hollywood ‘Exhausting,’ Opens Up About 36 Year Career
Drew Barrymore has seemingly had no trouble keeping her “hot” status in Hollywood. The actress has been in the spotlight since she appeared as a child in the movie ET back in the 1980s. Since then, her career has been on fire, and the beauty has not had any problem making that dreaded shift from child actor to successful leading lady.
Recently, however, Barrymore took a bit of a hiatus to focus on family and new endeavors outside of the entertainment industry. It was just this past week that the star took the time to chat about her true feelings about Hollywood and how difficult it is to maintain status while new talents are constantly infiltrating the exclusive film and entertainment industry.
While chatting with Harper’s Bazaar for her March cover story, Drew shared on the issue of keeping relevant in such a competitive industry.
“I think it’s a huge mistake to think you have to burn bright for your whole life. You cannot sustain it. It’s exhausting, and it’s not very realistic. I don’t think I’m hot right now necessarily, because I have all my irons in a bunch of different fires. I’m writing. I’m doing makeup. I’m doing design. I’m expanding Flower [her beauty line] into different categories.”
In addition to Drew’s various interests and her blossoming beauty biz, the stunner also has her hands full with two little ones and a husband to care for. She and husband Will Kopelman have a 3-year-old daughter, Olive, and a 1-year-old son, Frankie.
Reflecting back on the days that Drew felt she was hot in Hollywood assist her in seeing that although her acting career was successful, her health and balance for enjoying all facets of life were way off.
“Those were times when I really pushed myself and I didn’t care about my sleep, my health. I didn’t have relationships or children that would be a priority over my work.”
The idea of “hot” in Hollywood was also assessed by Drew, who truly feels that being hot is all a state of mind.
“Hot is a state of mind. It’s an energy. You’re hot when you’re motivated. It means you want it and you’re going after it. Hot isn’t about being on the A list of having a hot body. It’s literally people who are on fire. Like Lena Dunham is on fire. Amy Schumer. Louis C.K. I think their brands of comedy and observational life stuff are some of the coolest I’ve seen in so many years.”
Since becoming a mother, Barrymore has come to terms with the fact that it simply isn’t possible to give her all to her acting career while being the best mother she can be. Drew discovered this while working on her most recent film, Miss You Already. The star chatted with People on the topic.
“[I]t’s not physically possible [to give all her energy to work and motherhood at the same time]. I’ll do my best. I’m a workhorse, I always have been, I always will be. But work is very much second to my kids.”
Barrymore has certainly earned herself a time’s peace with her family away from the glitz and glamor of Hollywood along with all of the unrealistic expectations that go along with the industry that she’s been such a force in over the past three decades. Harper’s Bazaar gets it just right when describing the beauty’s impact over the years.
“After her 36 years in the public eye—her story is so storied, it doesn’t bear repeating—Barrymore’s power is assured.”
Watch Drew in the trailer for her recent role in the film Miss You Already.
[Photo by Theo Wargo/NBC/Getty Images for ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’]
