Drew Barrymore and Daughters to Celebrate 'E.T.' 40th Anniversary With Father Figure Steven Spielberg

Drew Barrymore has big plans to celebrate the 40th anniversary of "E.T." with her daughters and the special father figure in her life, director Steven Spielberg.

The actress revealed that she had been talking with Spielberg about the anniversary celebration, and he agreed that her kids, Olive, nine years old, and Frankie, seven years old, should join in as well.

Barrymore said that Spielberg had seen her daughters grow up in the same way the director has known her for most of her life. In 1982, the actress was about six years old when she filmed the alien movie with Spielberg at the helm.

"I do want to revel in this moment with them and include them and celebrate with Steven," Barrymore said, per People. "He's a big father figure to me."

The Man Who Changed Her Life

In 2021, Barrymore said that Spielberg was the man who changed her life, and she has always looked up to the director as a father. On the other hand, Spielberg considers Barrymore his first child, and the actress confessed that, like any dad, he would get upset or appalled about her behavior in her teens.

Barrymore revealed that Spielberg told her to cover up when she did a Playboy cover shoot. He also never failed to tell her to stop wearing red lipstick in her younger years.

Spielberg also had a say on when Olive and Frankie could get their ears pierced, advising the single mom to hold this off until her daughters are ten years old. Barrymore said that Olive is excited because she will be able to wear earrings soon.

The actress said that her daughters love Spielberg as a father figure as well and their relationship with the director feels like she has achieved full circle. So, when Spielberg said he wanted to celebrate the anniversary of "E.T." with Barrymore and her daughters, the actress could not help but get misty-eyed.

Protective of Her Daughters

As much as she has grown up as a famous Hollywood child star, Barrymore has shielded her daughters from the limelight. She has rarely shared photos of her kids on her social media accounts, and while she remains active on TV because of her talk show, the actress' children have not been featured in her show.

In another interview for Demi Lovato's show, Barrymore said she wants her girls to have a normal childhood. After experiencing the pitfalls of childhood stardom, where she was exposed to parties at a tender age, the actress sees the value of protecting and shielding her kids from the public.

Barrymore shares Olive and Frankie with ex-husband Will Kopelman, who has since remarried Alexandra Michler. Barrymore has said, time and again, that she has the best relationship with the father of her kids and their stepmother. Because of Michler, she and Kopelman can co-parent their daughters better.