Famous at seven, drinking at nine and in rehab by 14, Drew Barrymore’s childhood is one of Hollywood’s most cautionary tales. Perhaps, then, it’s no surprise that she is determined to keep her daughters, Olive, three, and Frankie, one, away from the limelight.
In an exclusive interview with Grazia at a Sunglass Hut ‘Punked Up’ afternoon tea during London Fashion Week, the actress, 40, said, ‘I would not let them [act]. I want them to be kids. They might hate me for it, but there is no way until they are 18. If they are 18 and still serious about it, of course I’d support that. I’ll take it one step at a time.’
Discussing the perils of A-list mothering, she added, ‘[My kids] know me as the one who wakes them up every day and takes them to classes and gets them dressed. They don’t see me as some famous figure. You make your work a positive thing so your kids see that work is empowering, but then spend more time with them than everything else, so they see that it doesn’t take you away from them.’
Drew, who has her own cosmetics line, Flower Beauty, also spoke about comparing lifestyle empires with close friend Gwyneth Paltrow. ‘I’ve known Gwyneth since I was seven years old,’ she said. ‘She is so lovely and funny and she’s going to do a beauty line now, too.’ Far from being competitive, she added, ‘Everybody really supports each other and wants each other to do well. It’s the time for women to be good to other women and root each other on'.