Drew Barrymore Reveals She Doesn’t Want Her Kids Following In Her Hollywood Footsteps Until They’re “North Of 14, 15”
Drew Barrymore recently opened up about her hesitancy regarding her children, Olive, 11, and Frankie, 10, entering the entertainment industry.
Despite her own deep-rooted connection to showbiz, inherited from a lineage of actors, Drew remains cautious when it comes to her daughters’ aspirations.
“When I first had kids, I remember people asking me like, ‘Well, would you want your kids to go into the business?’ And it always gave me such a sad feeling, as if this business was so toxic, like, ‘Ew,’” she shared, adding, “And I just thought, that’s not how I feel about this business at all. It has given me every opportunity under the sun and I couldn’t appreciate my life more.”
Reflecting on her early exposure to Hollywood, the actress known for her multifaceted career spanning from acting to producing to hosting, recalls landing her first commercial at a mere 11 months old and subsequently starring in iconic films such as E.T. and Firestarter.
However, her reluctance stems from a desire to shield her children from the potential pitfalls of fame.
“My kids ask me all the time — they would love to be in film or on social media or sing or whatever. I always just say, ‘School plays, theater camp, everything [yes].’ But being in the public eye, [no] until…’ And then they say, ‘Well, what’s the number?’ And I always say, ‘I know you want an answer, and I know the fact that I can’t give you one that’s so specific isn’t satisfying, but it’s going to be a feeling. It’s going to be when I think you’re ready,” she shared.
“As a parent, I would really love to support my kids when they’re older. Again, what number is that? I don’t know, but it’s not 13 and it’s probably not 14. It’s up there, but your kid will present themselves in a way where you’ve got to listen to them and support them and trust them. And I don’t know what number that is, but it’s probably north of 14, 15,” she added.
Drew’s conversations with her daughters are not limited to their career aspirations. Last month, she shared that they have conversations on “honesty,” a kind of conversation she places above all else.
“I’m always talking about honesty. If it’s the truth, we’re gonna find our way through…I really talk to them about that and how I know it’s hard. I’m really aware that we really can only control ourselves and not other people or the exterior world, so when we self-explore, we can find what we can learn from it and what we can do,” she shared.
“I encourage them to ask, ‘What is your part in something, and how can we be honest and brave to tell the truth?’ Because I don’t want them to fear that the truth will get them in trouble. I think it will set us free to get on the right path to figuring anything out,” she added.
