6 minute read
CELEBRITY: DREW BARRYMORE
5 minutes with... DREW BARRYMORE
Drew Barrymore, America’s sweetheart, visited Australia for the Wanderlust True North events held in Sydney and Brisbane. The intimate event featured Drew sharing heartfelt stories and candid conversations with Aussie icons such as Michael Klim, Dannii Minogue, Tones and I, and G Flip. Retail Beauty was fortunate enough to attend Drew’s show at Sydney’s ICC Theatre, which included a mass meditation.
by Michelle Ruzzene
ON FINDING BALANCE:
The struggle is so real. But I’m like, if you’re going to choose to sit on the couch watching Netflix, can you give yourself permission? This is actually one of the things I worked on with Barry (psychotherapist Barry Michels) during one of our sessions. We created these cards— sometimes we made ten in a session, and sometimes just one. One card simply had the word “permission” on it. Isn’t that a beautiful word? It’s something we often don’t give ourselves. I’m learning that people are good and kind and wonderful, and I’ve always loved that about them. I know I have things that are broken, but I can and will fix them. New problems will always arise, but I’m starting to believe that I’m capable of handling them.
WHY SAYING ‘NO’ IS IMPORTANT:
Launching a show during the pandemic (The Drew Barrymore Show launched in September, 2020) was crazy. I get to meet people and talk to them all the time now. When I was 14, I was convinced I would never escape the narrative in my head—the one that said, “You’re a bad girl. You do bad things.” That’s something I’ve struggled with for a long time. Now, as a mum with two daughters (Olive, 11, and Frankie, 10) I’m realising how important it is to set boundaries, something I didn’t have growing up. I had so much access to everything, but no one really told me “no.” Kids need to hear “no,” and we need to be okay with their discomfort when they do. It’s important for all of us to have guidelines and boundaries.
ON BOUNDARIES AND PARENTHOOD:
I never understood what boundaries were until I became a parent. When you give birth, everyone starts talking about boundaries. I didn’t have parents who set boundaries, so I didn’t know how to set them myself. Now, I see that boundaries are crucial, especially in a world where we have so much access to everything. It’s important to protect our kids, but it’s equally important to protect ourselves. We live in an increasingly intense world where we’re inundated with information and stimuli. I’ve realised that I drank in the past because I didn’t want to hear the voices in my head—I didn’t want to be present with myself.
WHY SHE’S PRIORITISING A SAFE SPACE WITHIN HERSELF:
I’ve come to understand that I need to be a safe place for myself—a place I can turn to when the outside world gets too loud or scary. We can’t control everything out there, but we can control how we feel inside. I’m learning to create a space within me that’s quiet, free of criticism, and aware of what I need to fix and improve. It’s about trusting ourselves and being that safe harbor in a wild world. I’ve always prioritised being a safe place for others, but now I’m working on being that for myself as well.
ON BEING A PEOPLE PLEASER:
Absolutely, I’m a people pleaser. I always thought if everyone else was happy, then I’d be happy too. But then you realise you have to take care of yourself—take care of number one. It’s not selfish; it’s necessary. I used to be so comfortable with being outward, engaging with others, and giving everything I had. But that wasn’t the best place for me. I’ve been trying to realise that I deserve to be a safe place for myself, just like I am for others. It’s something I’ve been working on for the last five years or so.
TIME IS PRECIOUS:
I’ve always been fascinated by people—their stories, their potential. Every person is capable of so much. All our heroes are just humans, which means we’re capable of greatness too. I think we often forget to be kind to ourselves, even though we’re so good at giving patience and grace to others. I want all of us to spend the rest of our lives being kinder to ourselves. We deserve it. Time is our most precious commodity, and we should use it to be our own safest place.
WHY HUMOUR IS IMPORTANT:
I love humour. It’s the greatest coping mechanism, the most magical of magic carpets. Those people who can make you laugh are invaluable. Humour has gotten me through the darkest and lightest times, and everything in between. If we can be good to each other, have a sense of humour, and be good to ourselves, that’s the recipe for a really magical life.
HER SCARIEST ROLE YET:
Starting my career so young, I’ve always been engaging with people, and I loved it. But playing characters is one thing; being yourself is another. When I started this show, being myself—without any veneer—was the scariest thing I’ve ever done. It takes so much bravery just to be who you are. But that’s what makes you, you. We have to respect and appreciate ourselves, even when the world tries to tell us otherwise.
BALANCING PUBLIC LIFE WITH PERSONAL BOUNDARIES:
I’ve learned that people don’t always respect your time or your boundaries unless you make it clear. I used to prepare so hard for interviews that I’d end up telling people their own stories instead of letting them share. I’ve had to learn to balance being prepared with being present and allowing others to express themselves.
ON BEING KIND:
I want everyone to know that you are capable of so much, and you deserve to be kind to yourself. The world is a challenging place, and we often do a number on ourselves with self-criticism. But if we can be our own safe place, if we can be good to ourselves and others, and if we can maintain our sense of humour through it all, that’s a pretty magical way to live.
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