Child star at 5, separated from parents at 14, became producer at 20: Meet Drew Barrymore, who shot to fame and dealt with drug abuse as a teenager

Actress Drew Barrymore is considered one of the finest actresses of her generation. Born in February 1975, she faced the camera for the first time when she was only 11 months old when she appeared in a commercial, according to Entertainment Weekly. It was just a small start to big things that followed for her. The ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ star went on to make her television debut in 1978 at the age of 3 with the television movie ‘Suddenly, Love’.

More projects followed in later years, making her one of the most popular child artists at the time. Her feature film debut came in 1980 when she was 5. She starred in the science fiction film "Altered States."

Things took a major turn two years later when she played the role of Elliot's younger sister, Gertie, in the 1982 film "E.T." This catapulted her to worldwide film stardom. She later appeared in the 1984 Stephen King adaptation "Firestarter."

Drew Barrymore’s family life and drug addiction

Born and brought up in Culver City, California, Barrymore always had movie stardom at her fingertips. She was a member of one of the most famous acting families in the show business.

Legendary actor John Barrymore was her paternal grandfather. Her parents, John Drew Barrymore and Jaid Barrymore, have also been a part of the film Frightnarily. Barrymore’s early fame and success took her on wrong paths, as her childhood and adolescent age were scarred by alcohol and drug abuse

According to online platform FHE Health, her addictions led her to depression and suicidal ideation. As things didn't improve, she went into rehab at 13 and later emancipated from her parents in 1989, when she was 14.

Barrymore goes beyond acting

Besides acting, Barrymore also ventured into production. In 1995, she launched her own production house Flower Films along with Nancy Juvonen. She also donned the hat of director in her career. She made her directorial debut with sports comedy-drama Whip It.

In the later part of her career, she launched her own talk show as a host, "The Drew Barrymore Show." That’s not all. After tasting massive success in front of the camera and behind it, she also embarked on an entrepreneurial journey.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Barrymore has a net worth of $85 million. Her earnings came in from her work as an actor, director, and producer. But she also stepped into the world of entrepreneurship. She launched her own cosmetics line, clothing brand, and even her own signature wine.

When she was at the peak of her acting career, she drew a salary of $15 million, according to the online platform. Since starting out as a child, Sytar Barrymore never looked back and grew from strength to strength. From being a leading actress to an entrepreneur, she kept reinventing herself with new roles both on and off screen.