At 32, the actress has reached a new level of confidence in life and love.
Drew Barrymore’s likeability factor can’t be denied. Self-deprecating to a fault, it’s no wonder you rarely hear a bad word against her. But beneath her flower-child exterior Drew, 32, is one of Hollywood’s most successful movie stars and producers.
Stirring a hot cup of green tea, Drew settles in for a chat about her new movie Lucky You. Known for romantic comedies such as The Wedding Singer and 50 First Dates, Drew describes herself as an incurable romantic — which explains how she found love so easily with director Spike Jonze just months after splitting from her boyfriend of almost five years, Fabrizio Moretti.
Now starring opposite Aussie Eric Bana in Lucky You, Drew takes time out to chat about having kids, growing old and why she’s the world’s worst driver.
Your latest film is about gambling — what’s the biggest gamble you’ve taken in your career?
I did this really weird film called Poison Ivy when I was 16. I really wanted to try and turn my own opinion of myself from being a kid into trying to start to understand what being a young woman was. And I still feel like a young woman, I don’t think I’ll ever feel like a “woman” woman, but to really try to change my own perception of myself. That I wasn’t a nice kid any more. I was a wild young woman. That was probably a defining role I took that changed my life.
Is love so important that you would give up things for love?
That’s a discussion I’m going to have to have with my partner [laughs] because I think it’ll come down to the two of us figuring out what our balance is and how we can both have our lives. I will say that I will never ask someone to give up their life for me. I would want them to have the ability to have both.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt about relationships?
The main thing is to just not to try to water down or change that person because that’s what you fell in love with and to find a balance of how to make it all work.
So, what’s happening with your love-life?
I’ve learnt to shut up about that part of my life — for now. But all I can say is I’m very happy. I’m not single but I’m not ready to be married either. I’d much rather try to build a family when I’m really ready, when I’m really selfless. It’s not something I want to mess around with and just hope for the best. It’s always going to be so difficult and scary and challenging. You’re never going to be really ready … that’s what all my fellow “mother-friends” tell me.
What’s the secret to a good relationship?
There does have to be compromise but I also think that you really love somebody for who they are and the more you strip away at that, the less they love themselves and it just gets into a whole grey area that’s very dangerous. But, I do believe that balance, if both people want it, can be achieved.
Are you an incurable romantic?
Of course I am. I mean, look at me! I’m like a frickin’ labrador puppy on drugs. I love happiness and love and joy, absolutely! They are my favourite things in the world.
Do you have any regrets about your past marriages or relationships?
No, not at all. That would be a huge bummer and I wouldn’t be who I am today if I didn’t have all the learning experiences that I’ve had. I wouldn’t trade any of that, because I’m really happy now. I feel just as enthusiastic and spontaneous and open with my heart, my mind and soul as ever.
Is motherhood an absolute certainty as much as anything can be?
I don’t know. I certainly hope so.
The world feels you ought to have kids.
Well, that’s good! [Laughs] No pressure or anything! I’m so glad they feel that way and not “Drew Barrymore should NOT have children”. Well, someday.
Would you consider being a single mum?
I just don’t know. I certainly respect that we have a tremendous amount of freedom to do what we want to do in this world and all that matters is that kids are happy. I have no aversion to any situation that’s healthy and beautiful.
What’s your take on the obsession with a “perfect body” and what do you do to stay healthy?
It’s all in the mind. Whatever you believe is what projects out physically in front of everybody’s eyes. If you walk around looking for validation, that’s very dangerous because some may give it to you and some may not. If you walk around believing in yourself and walk around happy, that’s the only thing people have to go on. I just think focus on the important things in life and not some of those things that can be less important.
You’ve said you feel sexier now. Did you feel unsexy before?
Yes! Well, when I was younger I had a boyfriend who asked me to do a dance for him. [The movie] 9½ Weeks had just come out and that was the big thing. So I was like, really awkward [laughs]. I was tripping over things and it was the biggest turn-off you’ve ever seen in your life. We broke up shortly thereafter [laughs], but I remember I was so scarred by that moment. But after doing the Pussycat Dolls [lingerie review from Charlie’s Angels] it brought me out of my scarred shell. I feel a lot more confident and, yes, I feel sexier. I believe in myself now.
How do you feel about ageing?
The older I get, the better I get. Like, gravity or wrinkles or anything is nothing compared to the wisdom inside of my head and heart. I’m only getting better. If my boobs fall down to the floor and all of it just starts sagging and is hideous and gross and I shouldn’t be in front of the camera, I love producing and I love to direct, so I’ll just go behind the camera. It’s all good. There’s plenty of work out there to be had and I’m just not worried about the physicality. I’m much more worried about how I can use this lifetime to gain the most wisdom that I possibly can and celebrate. I feel like there is a lot of celebration going on. When I turned 30 I was on the cover of Vogue magazine for the first time in my life. I had to wait until I was 30 in order to be on it. That feels right. It feels like an achievement and it feels like it was worth the wait and I appreciate it more now.
How do you relieve stress?
I’m a really bad driver. I get too distracted. I’m too like, “La la la la la”. I am the worst! I shouldn’t ever be behind a wheel. My favourite thing is to travel and see the world, have an adventure, go in a caravan and drive around or take off to somewhere I’ve never been. Just go on a two-hour drive on the weekends somewhere. I also like to have dinner with friends, have a glass of wine, watch a movie, patter around the house with the dog and strap on a tool belt and hang pictures — I love doing handyman stuff.
How do you feel about your life right now?
I have to tell you, I want to vomit every day because I feel so lucky! [Laughs]
- Lucky You is currently screening nationally.
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