Drew Barrymore Says She Lost Everything at 13 — and That It Became the Lesson That Saved Her

Drew Barrymore says the most important lesson she’s ever learned came at 13 years old, during what she calls the absolute lowest point of her life. Speaking to her audience on The Drew Barrymore Show, she opened up about how her teenage years nearly broke her—and how that breakdown became the thing that taught her how to survive.

“When I was 13, I truly lost everything,” she said. “Nobody wanted to work with me. And I understood why.” She didn’t blame anyone. Instead, she looked inward. “From my own doing,” she added, pausing to reflect. It was a turning point that forced her to grow up quickly and rethink everything about the life she thought she had.

Barrymore, who started working before her first birthday and rose to global fame in E.T. at age 7, has long been candid about her chaotic teen years. But this moment felt different—quieter, more resolved. She didn’t just talk about hitting rock bottom. She talked about what it built. “I try to look at things as they’re opportunities,” she said. “Nothing is for naught. It’s all bricks—and eventually, those bricks will build a structure.”

The lesson, she says, is simple but everything: gratitude. “Don’t take anything for granted. Don’t be jaded. Be appreciative and work really hard.” It’s a mindset she carries into every project, every appearance, and every risk she takes. Her childhood nearly destroyed her. But it also gave her the foundation she builds on today.