Actress Profile: Drew Barrymore

Source: Warner Bros

DREW BARRYMORE has been a favorite of film audiences for almost three decades. She is also enjoying success behind the camera as a producer under her own Flower Films banner, which has produced such hits as the romantic comedies "Never Been Kissed" and "50 First Dates," and the actioners "Charlie's Angels" and "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle." In addition to producing the "Charlie's Angels" features, Barrymore joined Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu to star in both films, which, together, grossed more than a half billion dollars worldwide.

She has also earned praise from both critics and audiences for her performances in a wide range of comedies, including "The Wedding Singer" and "50 First Dates," both opposite Adam Sandler; "Fever Pitch," in which she starred with Jimmy Fallon under the direction of the Farrelly brothers; George Clooney's acclaimed biographical satire "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," with Sam Rockwell; Penny Marshall's "Riding in Cars with Boys"; "Home Fries," opposite Luke Wilson; and "Never Been Kissed," which marked Barrymore's producing debut. She more recently starred in "Music and Lyrics," opposite Hugh Grant, and the drama "Lucky You," for director Curtis Hanson, and also lent her voice to the animated features "Beverly Hill Chihuahua" and "Curious George."

This past summer, Barrymore directed the roller derby comedy "Whip It!," in which she also stars with Ellen Page and Juliette Lewis. She also stars in the upcoming film "Everybody's Fine," with Robert De Niro, Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell.

Barrymore made her feature film debut at age five in the 1980 science fiction thriller "Altered States." However, it was her scene-stealing performance as the precocious Gertie in Steven Spielberg's 1982 blockbuster "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" that catapulted the young actress to stardom. She went on to star in the thriller "Firestarter" and the comedy "Irreconcilable Differences," for which she earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Her many other film credits include "Cat's Eye," written by Stephen King; "Far from Home"; "Poison Ivy"; "Guncrazy," for which she received another Golden Globe nomination, for Best Actress; "Bad Girls"; Herbert Ross' "Boys on the Side"; "Mad Love"; "Batman Forever"; Woody Allen's "Everyone Says I Love You"; Andy Tennant's "Ever After"; and Wes Craven's horror hit "Scream," which launched a successful franchise.