Drew Barrymore Reflects on Her Complicated Relationship with Her Estranged Father

Drew Barrymore's journey to fame was far from smooth sailing.

From a young age, she experienced the highs and lows of Hollywood stardom, navigating the perils of fame.

By the time she was 14 years old, she had already seen it all.

The Guardian reports that at just 11 years old, Barrymore developed a drinking problem.

By 12, she was experimenting with substances and became an addict.

At 13, overwhelmed by the pressures of her life, she even attempted self-harm and had to be hospitalized.

Eventually, at the age of 14, she emancipated herself from her parents.

A photo recently shared by the actress captures her parents, a young John Drew and Jaid Barrymore.

Barrymore's relationship with her parents was far from ideal.

In a heartfelt post on Father's Day, the actress and author opened up about her complicated father, John Drew Barrymore, whom her mother, Jaid, separated from when she was just nine years old.

Describing her dad, now deceased, the 45-year-old actress wrote, “My mom chose a wild card for my dad.

He was a mad poet hedonist man child!

But I understood that as a kid,” as reported by People.

Despite her father's absence and the legal separation from her parents, Barrymore claims to have no “baggage or dad issues.”

On social media, she revealed, “I think I would have liked to have a dad who didn't look so out there.

Or who stayed.

Or was capable of anything really.

But his wildness runs through me.

His gifts are here.”

John Drew Barrymore was not only an alcoholic but also abusive towards his daughter.

The List reports that their first meeting didn't go well, with Barrymore being subjected to his karate moves, which made her cry.

This incident led her to cut ties with him for years.

Despite the challenges she faced growing up and the similarities she shared with her father, Barrymore managed to overcome her inner demons and resist temptations.

She emerged as a successful actress, starring in hits such as Never Been Kissed and Charlie's Angels.

Reflecting on her journey, she wrote, “His demons to overcome are mine to break!

I love him not for who I wanted him to be, but for who he was.

And as I look at all the photos of dads today, doing their dad job, sure, there is my tiny self that wished for him to fit in.

But he never did.

And I'm not sure I did either.

And I'm not sure what anything is supposed to look like, or what it really is beyond the images?!”

Now a mother of two daughters, Olive and Frankie, aged 7 and 5 respectively, Barrymore acknowledges the impact her parents have had on her own parenting style.

Today reports that while her childhood wasn't ideal, she has learned valuable lessons from her parents.

She wrote, “Both my parents have played a major role in who I am as a parent.

And none of it looks perfect.

But it functions with so much love.

And togetherness.

And availability.”

Despite not having a picture of a perfect dad to show off, Barrymore embraces her own story.

She believes that her father gave her the gift of life, a wicked sense of humor, and the wildness that she truly cherishes, as reported by Today.

In her book Wildflower, she shares the responsibility she took on for her father's hospice care when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2001.

Three months before his passing, he told her, “You were born perfect.”