Drew Barrymore: Age, Children, and Divorce Facts

Few child stars navigate the transition to adulthood as publicly as Drew Barrymore. From her breakout role in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial to hosting her own talk show, she’s lived much of her life in the spotlight. But it’s her role as a mother and her journey through divorce that often draw the most curiosity. This article separates fact from rumor, drawing on verified sources to answer the questions most people ask about her family, identity, and career.

Full Name: Drew Blythe Barrymore · Born: February 22, 1975 · Occupation: Actress, producer, talk show host · Children: Two daughters (Olive and Frankie) · Marriages: One (Will Kopelman, 2012–2016) · Talk Show: The Drew Barrymore Show (2020–present)

Seven key facts, one pattern: Drew Barrymore’s life is a mix of Hollywood royalty and personal reinvention.

The facts below trace her path through career milestones and personal turning points.

The implication: Despite her chaotic upbringing, Barrymore has built an enduring career and a stable family life.

How many kids does Drew Barrymore have?

Drew Barrymore has two daughters with her ex-husband Will Kopelman: Olive Barrymore Kopelman, born September 26, 2012, and Frankie Barrymore Kopelman, born April 22, 2014 (Parade entertainment news). The couple shares custody, and Barrymore has described their co-parenting relationship as amicable (People celebrity family coverage).

Who has custody of Drew Barrymore’s daughter?

Barrymore and Kopelman have joint custody of their daughters. In interviews, Barrymore has said that the split was painful but that they remain friends and put the children first (Scary Mommy parenting website).

The pattern: Barrymore turned her own fractured childhood into a commitment to stable co-parenting.

What happened to Drew Barrymore at 14?

At age 14, Drew Barrymore successfully petitioned a California court to be legally emancipated from her parents. This rare legal step freed her from parental control and allowed her to manage her own career and finances. Her childhood had been turbulent: she was placed in a psychiatric ward at 13 and struggled with substance abuse (ABC News entertainment reporting).

What was Drew Barrymore’s early life like?

Barrymore was born into the famous Barrymore acting dynasty. Her parents, John Drew Barrymore and Jaid Barrymore, divorced when she was nine, and she experienced a chaotic home life. She later said she wanted to raise her own children in the opposite way she was raised (ABC News entertainment reporting).

What this means: Barrymore channeled the legal freedom she won at 14 into a career she could control on her own terms.

What is Drew Barrymore’s gender identity?

Drew Barrymore identifies as a woman. She has not publicly discussed a non-cisgender identity, and she is generally considered cisgender. No credible sources suggest otherwise.

Is Drew Barrymore in a relationship?

As of 2023, Drew Barrymore is not publicly in a relationship. She was married to Will Kopelman from 2012 to 2016, and they have an amicable co-parenting relationship (Parade entertainment news).

Does Drew Barrymore have a partner now?

No public partner has been confirmed since her divorce from Kopelman. Barrymore has said she is focused on her children and her talk show.

Who was Drew Barrymore’s spouse?

Will Kopelman, an art consultant, was her third husband. She was previously married to Jeremy Thomas and Tom Green (People celebrity news).

The pattern: Barrymore’s romantic life mirrors her search for grounding—each marriage a different attempt at stability.

Why did Drew Barrymore leave her husband?

Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman divorced in 2016, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was amicable, and they remain friends and co-parent their daughters. Barrymore described the divorce as painful and said she felt she had failed her children (Scary Mommy parenting website). She also said divorce was her worst fear, stemming from her own parents’ divorce when she was nine (Motherly parenting resource).

Timeline: Drew Barrymore’s Life in Key Dates

• 1975 – Born in Culver City, California (Wikipedia biography reference)
• 1982 – Breakthrough role in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (Wikipedia filmography)
• 1989 – Emancipated from parents at age 14 (ABC News entertainment reporting)
• 1990s – Career revival with romantic comedies (Wikipedia career overview)
• 2000 – Starred in Charlie’s Angels (Wikipedia filmography)
• 2012 – Married Will Kopelman (Parade entertainment news)
• 2016 – Divorced Will Kopelman (People celebrity news)
• 2020 – Launched The Drew Barrymore Show (Wikipedia television career)

The pattern: Each major life event—emancipation, marriage, divorce, career pivot—shows a woman determined to control her own narrative.

Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

What Drew Barrymore Says

“I want to raise my children in the opposite way I was raised.”

— Drew Barrymore, in an interview with ABC News entertainment coverage

“Divorce was my worst fear. I felt like I had failed my children.”

— Drew Barrymore, in a conversation with Scary Mommy parenting outlet

For fans of Drew Barrymore, the journey from child star to talk show host is a testament to resilience. The clear takeaway: she has built a stable family life on her own terms, despite the fractures of her own childhood. For those following her story, the question is not whether she will continue to evolve—but how she will balance the spotlight with the grounded life she fought hard to create. Barrymore’s path suggests that adulthood can be a second act, even when the first was written by circumstance.

For a deeper look into her personal life, including a recent health scare, check out Drew Barrymores health and net worth.

Frequently asked questions