Drew Barrymore was addicted to drugs at AGE 12, suffered a 'mid-life crisis' at 14, and drowned in drink after a crushing divorce... but as she finds new fame for her ultra-'NORMAL' life, FEMAIL reveals the truth about how she overcame her scandalous past

Drew Barrymore has played many roles on the big screen, earning herself huge success, fame and wealth. 

To many, her brilliant ability to pivot from one character to the next, go from a fairytale princess to a screaming murder victim, is a sign of her stellar acting skills. However, to those who know her best, it is a talent that has come - at least in part - from her own very raw experiences.

Because, at the age of 49, Drew has lived out more lives than many could ever imagine. Having been thrown in front of the cameras before she turned one, by the age of 15, the actress had already been through a drug addiction, rehab, and even suffered a 'mid-life crisis'. 

Her breakout role in the hit film E.T. established Drew as a bona fide Hollywood child star. But from there came the age-old struggle that so many young actors have faced - a battle to move past the fresh-faced, doe-eyed roles that established their careers in search of something more serious and grown-up. 

Ultimately, Drew managed to pummel her way past that barrier, taking on a wide variety of roles, both personally and professionally, over the years. But it is a journey that has been marred by many a hurdle. 

The star survived a remarkable life of extreme highs and lows - entering rehab when she was just 13 years old after developing an addiction to alcohol and cocaine at the age of nine and then later emancipating herself from her parents at 15, before accusing her mom of 'exploiting her' and wishing her 'dead.' 

Drew (seen in 2023) has been a staple in Hollywood for many decades after she was thrusted into the spotlight as a child

 However, life in the fast lane soon caught up to the actress and she found herself in the middle of a tumultuous childhood (seen in 1982 at age seven in ET)

Despite her many ups and downs, Drew (seen in 1987) has no regrets about her past as it has transformed her into the humble star she is today 

Despite her rocky youth, Drew took the hurdles with grace and continued to wear her heart on her sleeve as she wed and divorced three times before she decided to uproot her life and go from living in a flashy Los Angeles mansion to a 'normal' New York residence as she ultimately found her place as a talk show host, where she healed the wounds of her past. 

The 49-year-old actress faced many challenges before she decided to settle into a slow and peaceful life, and become a part of people's every day life as a talk show host. 

Her chaotic childhood, which saw her visiting Hollywood nightclubs as a kid and entering a facility to help overcome her addiction for the first time at the age of 13, pushed her to become the rom-com heroine that everyone fell head over heels for, and ultimately the humble woman she is today. 

Drew has always been candid about her past - including about how her mother, Jaid, profited from her and her talents before sending her off into the dark depths of fame. 

After she shot to fame, the star found herself spiraling - placing the blame on her mother, who wanted to find her role in Hollywood through her daughter. 

Last year, while speaking to New York Magazine, the Charlie's Angels actress opened up about her true feelings regarding her mother and said that she 'couldn't wait' for her mother to 'be gone,' as she admitted that she feels envious of her friends who have lost their parents.

Later on in the interview, Drew pulled back and confessed that she regretted making the comments that she did about her mother - adding that she would always 'care,' despite their rocky past.

Drew's forgiving heart grounded her through life, helping her find her way in Hollywood as the girl next door who everyone can't help but love. 

Despite her many ups and downs, Drew has no regrets about her past as it has transformed her into the humble star she is today. As the 49-year-old once again comes to the forefront of headlines due to her 'normal' home, FEMAIL has laid bare how the actress went from troubled child star to quirky and lovable talk show host. 

A rocky road to fame: Drew's childhood was doomed after her father left her and she got addicted to drugs

Drew has been transparent about her infamous childhood and how her push into fame saw her falling down a dark road of addiction

Drew (seen with her parents) revealed that her father, late actor John Drew Barrymore, was a 'violent alcoholic' and left the picture when she was young

Following her father's departure from their lives, Drew's mother (seen with the star in 1982), who was an aspiring actress herself, 'wasn't prepared' to raise a daughter alone

Drew has been transparent about her infamous childhood and how her push into fame saw her falling down a dark road of addiction. 

Before even stepping in front of the cameras, Drew had to come face-to-face with her father's behavior. 

In the past, the 49-year-old revealed that her father, late actor John Drew Barrymore, was a 'violent alcoholic' and left the picture when she was young.

On her Instagram account, she admitted that she had no significant relationship with him, but said that she had not been left with any 'daddy issues.'

The star began: 'My mom chose a wild card for my dad. He was a mad poet hedonist man child! But I understood that as a kid. Somehow I have zero baggage or dad issues.

'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. His demons to overcome are mine to break!'

Following her father's departure from their lives, Drew's mother, who was an aspiring actress herself, 'wasn't prepared' to raise a daughter alone.

The star previously told The Mail On Sunday: 'I didn't have parents, I was the parent to them. It was all totally upside-down.' Drew is seen with her mother as a child in 1984

By the time she was 13, she found herself at the 'lowest' point of her life and went to rehab twice in hopes of turning her life around (she's seen with her parents in 1982)

The star previously told The Mail On Sunday: 'I didn't have parents, I was the parent to them. It was all totally upside-down.'

The star made her TV debut at just 11 months old in a dog food commercial before hitting her breakout role at just seven years old as Gertie in the blockbuster E.T. 

It was then that her troubles turned from bad to worse as she was pulled into the nightlife scene by her mother, who was desperate to be a part of the popular club herself. 

She soon found herself experimenting with drugs from an early age. She previously told People magazine how she had her first drink at nine, smoked pot at 10 and started using cocaine at 12 - at which point she was briefly blacklisted from Hollywood after getting a reputation for being a 'party girl.'

By the time she was 13, she found herself at the 'lowest' point of her life and went to rehab twice in hopes of turning her life around before it was too late.

From partying tween to beloved actress: Drew found herself in rehab at 13 before becoming a rom-com star 

Following her time in rehab, Drew's mom decided to have her daughter sent to a psychiatric institution for 18 months at the age of 13 (Drew seen in 1983)

And while the actress struggled grappling with her childhood when it was occurring, in the years following she noted that the entire experience made her much stronger (seen in 1982)

Following her time in rehab, Drew's mom decided to have her daughter sent to a psychiatric institution for 18 months at the age of 13. 

Speaking to The Guardian in 2015, Drew recalled feeling 'terrible' and 'alone' as a child, adding that she was 'very angry' about her 'parents not being there' for her.

'When I was 13, that was probably the lowest,' she said. 'Just knowing that I really was alone, it felt terrible.

'It was a really rebellious time. I was very, very angry. If you search deep down in me, it's like, why am I so angry, man? And it's like, OK, because my parents weren't there,' she said.

And while the actress struggled grappling with her childhood when it was occurring, in the years following she noted that the entire experience made her much stronger. 

She noted that being 'locked up in an institution' gave her 'amazing discipline' while referring to her time there as 'boot camp' that she 'needed.'    

'I needed that whole insane discipline. My life was not normal. I was not a kid in school with normal circumstances. There was something very abnormal, and I needed some severe shift,' she told the outlet. 

At 15, Drew decided she needed a fresh start and got emancipated from her parents before going out to live on her own at an apartment in West Hollywood. 

Her career quickly took off and by the age of 23 she found herself in the world of rom-coms and became a beloved star for her roles in The Wedding Singer, Never Been Kissed, and 50 First Dates. 

At 15, Drew (seen in 1984) decided she needed a fresh start and got emancipated from her parents before going out to live on her own at an apartment in West Hollywood

Her career quickly took off and by the age of 23 she found herself in the world of rom-coms and became a beloved star for her roles in The Wedding Singer and 50 First Dates (pictured)

She then later reflected on her rocky past and revealed that even many years later, she was still focusing on healing. 

While speaking to Norm Macdonald, Drew joked that she got her 'midlife crisis' over at 14. 

Drew revealed that she's continuing to focus on working through her past trauma, but admitted that doing so while her mother is still 'on this planet' has been a complicated process.

In an Instagram video, the TV host attempted to shed further light on what her healing journey has looked like, as she insisted that she would never 'wish that her mother was dead.'

'I have been vulnerable and tried to figure out a very difficult, painful relationship, while admitting it is difficult to do while a parent is alive,' she said.

'For those of us who have to figure that out in real time cannot wait, as in they cannot wait for the time, not that [they wish] the parent is dead.' 

She then later reflected on her rocky past and revealed that even many years later, she was still focusing on healing (seen  with her mother)

The actress struggled with finding herself after she divorced. Drew started drinking heavily again when her marriage to Will Kopelman fell apart in 2016 

The actress struggled with finding herself after she divorced. Drew started drinking heavily again when her marriage to Will Kopelman fell apart in 2016.

She previously told People: 'It was just trying to numb the pain and feel good — and alcohol totally did that for me.

'The drinking thing for me was a constant, like, "You cannot change. You are weak and incapable of doing what's best for you. You keep thinking you will master this thing, and it's getting the better of you."'

But she has since successfully overcome her demons and, in 2022, she discussed her sobriety in an essay published in Take Care Of Yourself - December's edition of her monthly magazine titled, Drew.

A huge part of journey to find self-love came in 2020, when she started her talk show, The Drew Barrymore Show. 

Her 'necessary' journey to peace: Drew fought against all odds to find happiness in herself as a talk show host 

In 2020, Drew added talk show host to her resume as she made her start on-air talking to people from all paths of life

Not only did the talk show help her heal her past wounds, it also helped her overcome her shame following the divorce (seen during an episode of The Drew Barrymore Show)

Following her third split, the star questioned if she was worthy of love and noted that she had so 'much shame'

In 2020, Drew added talk show host to her resume as she made her start on-air talking to people from all paths of life. 

Not only did the talk show help her heal her past wounds, it also helped her overcome her shame following the divorce. 

Drew Barrymore was married to Jeremy Thomas from 1994 to 1995, to Tom Green from 2001 to 2002, and to Will from 2012 to 2016. She and Will share daughters Olive, 11, and Frankie, 9. 

Following her third split, the star questioned if she was worthy of love and noted that she had so 'much shame.' 

On an episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, she admitted: 'I had so much shame around divorce and for some reason something happened and I said, "I'm no longer willing to feel this way."

'And it just lifted from me. And I just thought, when you get a divorce, you're saving the precious commodity we have on this planet, which is only our time.

'When you're truly in a situation that isn't functioning the way that optimally it hopes and wishes to be, we accept that and we improve our quality of life by moving forward. And divorce now to me, I don't have shame around it. I'm totally liberated.'

And her journey to freedom didn't just include getting over the shame she held from her divorce, it also saw her downsizing her life (seen on an episode of her show)

Drew was most recently praised by fans for her authenticity after she shared a rare glimpse at her 'normal' home

And her journey to freedom didn't just include getting over the shame she held from her divorce, it also saw her downsizing her life. 

After her split, Drew moved to New York to be closer to her family and while most celebrities flaunt their lavish properties around, she proved that she was happy with the simpler things in life by moving into a 'normal' home. 

After sharing a rare glimpse inside her home, she was praised by fans for her authenticity - leaving TikTok viewers stunned at just how 'normal' the property looked.

The actress and talk show host - who has an estimated net worth of $125 million - went viral on TikTok after she shared a clip of herself cooking and tidying up her home as viewers claimed they didn't know it was 'possible' that an A-lister like Drew could live in a 'normal house.'

Drew - who recently showed off a transformation of her messy room - is frequently praised for her down-to-earth attitude and in a recent post on the social media app, she offered up yet another example of how she shies away from the stereotypical celebrity lifestyle.

The 49-year-old actress and talk show host went viral on TikTok after she shared a clip of herself cooking, trying on clothes, and tidying up her home

Drew previously shared a $6.35 million home with her ex-husband (seen)

Drew is frequently praised for her candid attitude and has now once again showed fans there's more to love after she shared a look at her living space

The actress was applauded for her 'modest' home, with many viewers voicing their surprise that the multi-millionaire had such a 'small' cooking space - while others admitted that they had expected to see Drew living in a much more over-the-top mansion.

As she nears the age of 50, the single mother admitted to People in December last year that 'this has been the best decade of my life, without question.'

'It wasn't just the most awesome, it was the one where I feel like I've slayed more dragons than I ever have in my whole life,' she said.

On the topic of positivity and happiness, she added, 'As a kid and even in my 20s and 30s, happiness seemed like this very giddy, excited optimism. It is a choice. You have to work for that. It is hard to get to some days. And so when you've harnessed it, that feels like such a better victory.'