Drew Barrymore Opens Up About 'Tragic' Divorce: 'I Took It Really Hard'

Mar 29, 2022 by apost team

Drew Barrymore is most known for being an actress and talk show host of her own television show. She also has work credit as a director, producer and businesswoman, proving that there's nothing that she can't tackle. While Barrymore has conquered her professional career time and again, she has also made some pretty remarkable changes in her personal life as the years have gone by.

The actress first rose to fame during her childhood as she starred in a plethora of films, one of her most popular being "E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial." She went on to find success in adulthood as well, landing leading roles in many movies throughout the 1990s and 2000s, including a long string of films starring alongside fellow actor Adam Sandler. Some of her more notable films include "50 First Dates," "Never Been Kissed," and "Charlie's Angels." 

Barrymore is known for having a bright, bubbly personality and always being a beacon of hope and light. However, she has faced some personal challenges over the years and has been extremely open and candid about them. By sharing her story on her talk show called "The Drew Barrymore Show," as well as revealing more in tell-all interviews, Barrymore has revealed bits and pieces about her life.

In 2011, Barrymore began dating Will Kopelman and they were married in 2012. Their daughter Olive was born that same year and their second daughter Frankie came along in 2014. The couple stayed married for four years and divorced in 2016. Keep reading to learn more about Barrymore's divorce and what she continues to struggle with as a parent.

According to People, after Barrymore divorced Kopelman, she went through a challenging time with her mental health. She said on "The Drew Barrymore Show," "I went through a really painful divorce and I wasn't doing very well." She shared with guest Machine Gun Kelly that she sought professional help during this time in her life. 

Being a mom was a big motivation for Barrymore, as her daughters are the most important people in her life and they rely on her. "I had these two kids I had to fight for and I needed help. So I started reaching out to different people and eventually I made some big sweeping changes in my life. I got on a whole new track. Not back on track, but a whole new one that I helped build," she said. 

It has been six years since her divorce and Barrymore is considering putting herself back on the dating market. Unfortunately, she has some fears about dating as a mom. "I don't know how to date with kids… I'm not there yet. I have two young girls and I'm like...I don't want to bring people home," she explained on her talk show to guest Bobby Berk. 

While dating is not out of the question for the mom of two, Barrymore says that it would have to be with the right person. "I think it would take me a very long time to meet someone and get to know them before I could even ever introduce them to my daughters," she said. Admitting these feelings to Berk made Barrymore begin to tear up. She clearly cares about the well-being of her daughters very much. 

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Barrymore shared in an episode from October 2020 with guest Willie Geist that she was serious about her daughters staying close to her ex-husband's family. "His family and I sort of made the most important choice: to be so together and united and connected," she said. "That's, I guess, what they call family ... And I know from not growing up with any family whatsoever that that was the last thing I wanted to do for my daughters."

The actress added: "I think that's why I took (the divorce) so hard. (I) was, like, oh, the ultimate promise I wanted to make with you and for you was to have this amazing family. And I found them. And there's something not working that isn't livable. How tragic is that?"

The divorce was a significant loss in Barrymore's life and it still affects her several years later. "At first ... I couldn't make sense of it," she shared. "And if I even spoke about it, I would've just become a blubbering — I really did not take divorce well. I took it really hard. Even now, I'm just like, oh, it's such a painful thing."

One of the hardest parts for Barrymore was adjusting her perspective after her divorce and seeing the good still left in her life. The talk show host said, "It took me five years to be able to speak with strength, articulation, perspective, hindsight, and see everything we did right. Because when we were getting divorced, it felt like everything was just wrong. ... I think it applies to everyone who thinks that something will be forever and it's not."

Are you a fan of Drew Barrymore? What do you think about her struggles after her divorce? Let us know and feel free to pass this on to your friends and family.