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Drew Barrymore is well-known for her impressive family legacy in acting. As the granddaughter of John Barrymore Sr., she shares a surprising number of traits with his sister, Drew’s great aunt, Ethel Barrymore, renowned as the 'First Lady of the American Theater.' Ethel, who passed away at 79 in 1959, was a star in her time, much like Drew is today.
Despite being born almost a century apart, Drew and Ethel Barrymore share remarkable commonalities as members of the same iconic acting family.
10. Born into a Legendary Acting Family
Drew Barrymore's connection to a prestigious acting dynasty is well-known, sometimes called 'The Royal Family.' Her grandfather, John Barrymore Sr., was an extraordinary actor famous for his roles in Hamlet and Richard III on stage, and appeared in renowned films such as the classic Grand Hotel.
Ethel and Lionel, Drew's siblings, also carved out highly successful careers in acting. However, the trio's legacy was built upon by a long line of accomplished actors, particularly their mother, Georgiana Drew, their father, Maurice Barrymore, and their maternal grandparents, renowned actor and theater managers John Drew Sr. and Louisa Lane Drew. The family's impressive lineage stretches even further back, making Drew Barrymore at least the sixth generation of actors. Both Drew and Ethel grew up in the shadows of this iconic theatrical dynasty and undoubtedly grasped the immense expectations tied to such a celebrated legacy.
9. Became Independent at an Early Age
Drew Barrymore's unconventional childhood, defined by her bohemian upbringing and early rise to stardom, is widely known. What may be just as surprising is that, at the tender age of 14, she became a legal adult by gaining emancipation in a court of law. While this move was daunting and challenging, Drew has acknowledged that separating from her parents was ultimately the right choice, as it was advised by professionals at the mental health facility where she sought help at the age of 13 during a period of personal turmoil.
Ethel faced a similar crossroads shortly before her 14th birthday, following the death of her beloved mother, actress Georgiana Drew. This heartbreaking loss forced Ethel to mature quickly, making significant sacrifices in the process. She not only had to care for herself but also her two brothers, Lionel and John. Due to the financial strain caused by her grandmother Louisa Lane Drew stepping down from managing the famous Arch Street Theatre in Philadelphia, Ethel was compelled to abandon her dreams of becoming a concert pianist and leave school. Instead, she was thrust into the family business, initially touring with her uncle's stock company and living independently in boarding houses while still underage.
8. Remarkable Physical Resemblance
The striking resemblance between Drew and Ethel Barrymore is truly remarkable. While it's not surprising to see such similarities given that they come from the same family, it's still interesting to note that Drew is only Ethel’s great-niece rather than a direct descendant, making the likeness even more unexpected.
Ethel’s most famous photos show her in later years, with a more matronly appearance. However, when you examine her younger pictures, the striking similarity between her and Drew becomes undeniably clear, even to the point of being eerie.
7. Unlucky in Love
Drew Barrymore has experienced numerous high-profile relationships, including three marriages and at least two broken engagements. None of her marriages endured for long. Her first marriage was at 19, to Welsh bar owner Jeremy Thomas, which lasted from 1994 to 1995. Her second marriage was to comedian Tom Green, from 2001 to 2002. In 2016, Drew separated from her art consultant husband, Will Kopelman, after nearly four years of marriage and two daughters. Drew firmly believes she will never marry again, though she has hinted that she might consider living with someone in the future.
Ethel, who wed millionaire's son Russell Griswold Colt in 1909, had a history of broken engagements and numerous suitors. After 11 years of marriage, she separated from Colt, the father of her three children, and later divorced. Though still in her forties at the time, Ethel Barrymore chose never to remarry.
6. Darlings of the Media
Drew Barrymore has been a media sensation since her breakout role as Gertie in the 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. As she grew into a pop culture icon, both her career and personal life became a constant source of interest for the press. Stories about her many relationships, challenges, and evolution from an at-risk teen to a successful actress, filmmaker, and mother of two were widely covered.
Ethel Barrymore also captured the attention of newspapers and magazines in her time, with her love life frequently making headlines. In her autobiography, she recounts returning to America after her work in England, only to find her romances splashed across the press, often with exaggerated details. The media coverage continued to grow, leading her to grace the covers of major publications such as Time, Ladies Home Journal, and a 1923 edition of McCall’s, which published an article titled ‘At Thirty Every Woman Faces a Crossroads.’
5. Baseball Connection
Ethel Barrymore was a passionate baseball fan, which, along with her love for boxing, might seem surprising considering her reputation as a refined, aristocratic artist and socialite. A 1942 article in The Milwaukee Journal even noted: “She can quote baseball averages almost as well as her lines in ‘The Corn is Green.’”
One of Drew Barrymore’s most beloved films is the baseball-themed romance Fever Pitch (2005), where she portrays a woman who falls for a Red Sox enthusiast.
Drew confessed that when she first started filming the movie, she was ‘a newcomer to the temple of baseball.’ However, over time, she grew to appreciate the fervor of Red Sox fans, stating at the premiere: “I love Boston, I love the team, I love the people who are so emotionally connected to this sport and this team. It’s just amazing.” She added, “It’s wonderful to learn about it, understand the history, and get as superstitious as everyone else.”
4. Addiction Problems
Over the past century, the Barrymore family has become nearly as renowned for their struggles with alcohol and drug addictions as for their acting talents. Drew's addiction issues, which started in her youth, were widely publicized and detailed in her 1990 memoir Little Girl Lost. However, Drew successfully overcame her addiction and now lives a healthy life. Sadly, the same cannot be said for other family members, including her paternal grandfather, whose addiction ultimately led to his downfall.
Ethel Barrymore's struggle with alcohol isn't as widely recognized as the addiction battles faced by other members of the Barrymore family, but she was not exempt from the so-called 'Barrymore Curse.' Eventually, she confronted her addiction. According to the Los Angeles Times, 'Ethel, at 60, finally faced her alcoholism and stopped drinking, abruptly and forever.'
3. Party Girls
The Barrymore women certainly know how to enjoy themselves. Drew's party-loving lifestyle was highly publicized when she was young, frequently seen at edgy spots like the infamous Studio 54, even though she was a child. As The Guardian reports, Drew herself admits she was a 'party girl' from the age of eight, regularly going out 'up to five times a week' with her mother and her mother’s friends.
While things were more reserved during the Victorian era, the popular and young Ethel was known to be a playful and sociable figure. She was often a welcome guest among the high society, reminiscing about lively gatherings with prominent individuals in her autobiography. Notably, she recalled attending house parties in England at the lavish estates of her aristocratic friends.
2. Absentee Fathers
Both Drew and Ethel grew up in households with absent fathers. In 2014, The Daily Express published a quote from Drew where she explained, 'My parents separated before I was born, and my dad was never really able to be a father figure.'
Drew accepted her flawed father, John Barrymore Jr., but she admitted that, as a parent herself, she struggled to understand why he chose to stay distant. Despite their rocky relationship, they grew closer during the final years of his life when Drew cared for him in hospice.
Ethel, along with her two brothers, was raised by others during much of her childhood, as her parents were often traveling. After her mother's death, her father remarried, and Ethel rarely saw him. According to Ethel's autobiography, she didn't even find out about the wedding until the Mother Superior at her boarding school showed her a newspaper clipping. Tragically, Ethel later had to financially support her father in mental institutions after he lost his mind due to years of suffering from syphilis.
1. Multifaceted
Continuing the legacy of her forebears, Georgiana Drew and John Drew Sr., Drew is primarily celebrated for her roles in comedy. Her career highlights include starring in films like Never Been Kissed, Music & Lyrics, 50 First Dates, and Charlie’s Angels. Nonetheless, she has also demonstrated her range through acclaimed performances in dramas such as Everybody’s Fine and Grey Gardens, as well as in suspense films like the 1996 thriller Scream.
Ethel Barrymore is perhaps most famous for her dramatic performances, including her Academy Award-winning portrayal of a dying mother alongside Cary Grant in the 1944 film None but the Lonely Heart. However, her talent spanned a wide array of roles. Her obituary in The Norwalk Hour noted, 'Ethel was the most versatile, ranging from light comedy to tragedy with equal skill.' She showcased her talent for suspense in films like The Spiral Staircase, earning an Academy Award nomination for the role.
