Drew Barrymore Talks The ‘Happy’ Family She Never Had

Drew Barrymore has had a well documented difficult childhood. Her father, actor John Barrymore was absent for most of her life, and her mother Jaid’s own addictions wound up being very influential on Drew’s early addictions. Now, Drew, 38, opens up to Marie Claire about finally having the happy family she never thought she would ever have.

Of husband Will Kopelman and marrying into a very stable family, Barrymore said to Marie Claire:

“I didn’t think I would ever get to experience that. This is so safe and positive and healthy because they have their values intact,” she says. “It was huge for me. And that’s what I want for my family.”

Barrymore, who usually likes to focus on the present than delve into the past, detailed her troubled childhood with her family. The child actress, who stole hearts in the 1982 family film E.T. said of the time behind closed doors:

“When I was a kid, everything was so unplanned, my parents were so erratic, and my world was so inconsistent. I hated growing up alone. I hated it … I don’t f––– anyone over. My friends are the loves my life.”

As for her estranged relationship with her mother, Barrymore seemed to be conflicted about the pair’s strained dealings with each other.

“Ugh, I mean, my relationship with my mom is so complicated that. I’ve always been empathetic toward my mom, and I was even more so when I had a kid and we had a really amazing conversation about it. It hasn’t enabled me to lessen the distance. It’s the hardest subject in my life. I’ve never just been angry with her. I’ve always felt guilt and empathy and utter sensitivity. But we can’t really be in each other’s lives at this point.”

These days Drew is experiencing a much happier life personally. The actress/producer/director married Will Kopelman in 2012 and shares a 15-month-old daughter Olive with the former actor turned art consultant. Currently the couple is expecting their second child together.

Their whirlwind romance came as a shock publicly, and the same could be said for Kopelman. Drew’s husband explained:

“Sometimes whom you least expect is the person you fall for. It was a combination of moments: watching her with my nephew. Traveling with her. Going to museums with her. I knew, adding them up, this was it.”

[Image credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com]