Drew Blythe Barrymore was born in Culver City, California, to a family with a rich history in acting.

Barrymore made her film debut in "Altered States", marking the beginning of her acting career.

She became famous for her performance as Gertie in Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial". Later that year, at age seven, she became the youngest host of the television show "Saturday Night Live".

Barrymore appeared in the thriller "Firestarter", an adaptation of the Stephen King novel, and in "Irreconcilable Differences", for which she earned a Golden Globe nomination for her supporting role as a child who sues her business-oriented parents for emancipation.

Barrymore’s roles as a teenager took on a harder edge, including roles in "Poison Ivy" (1992), "Guncrazy" (1992), and "The Amy Fisher Story" (1993), a television movie based on the true story of a teenage girl who shot her lover’s wife.

Barrymore formed her own production company, Flower Films, which would go on to produce several of her films, including "Never Been Kissed" (1999), "Charlie’s Angels" (2000), and "50 First Dates" (2004).

Barrymore starred in Wes Craven’s hit thriller "Scream", playing the iconic role of Casey Becker in the film’s opening scene.

Barrymore made her directorial debut with the coming-of-age tale "Whip It", about a rebellious teenager who joins a Roller Derby team. She also starred as Edith Bouvier Beale in the TV movie "Grey Gardens", earning a Golden Globe Award for her performance.

Barrymore was awarded the Screen Actors Guild Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film for her portrayal of Little Edie in "Grey Gardens".