Drew Barrymore: “ET” reunion with Steven Spielberg

Almost exactly 42 years ago, on October 12, 1982, “ET – The Extraterrestrial” conquered German cinemas. Now director Steven Spielberg (77) and Drew Barrymore (49), who made her breakthrough as a child star with the film, celebrated a special reunion. They posed together on a red carpet in New York and even held hands.

The reason for the meeting was not the anniversary of “ET”, but another anniversary. Steven Spielberg founded the Shoah Foundation 30 years ago. The organization, which was created as part of the filming of “Schindler’s List,” honors the memory of the Holocaust through video interviews with victims.

Drew Barrymore wasn’t the only female star who attended the gala. Meryl Streep (75), Whoopi Goldberg (68) and “Will & Grace” actress Debra Messing (56) were also guests. At least Barrymore and Streep seemed to have agreed on their outfits; they were both wearing some kind of tuxedo.

Drew Barrymore: Very special relationship with Steven Spielberg

Drew Barrymore and Steven Spielberg have had a very special relationship for more than 40 years. The actress, who was seven years old when filming “ET,” once described the director in a 2023 interview as the “only father figure” she ever had in her life. Spielberg, in turn, is said to call Drew Barrymore his first child.

In fact, Steven Spielberg is the godfather of Drew Barrymore, who comes from a large family of actors. The “ET” maker often played the babysitter and took little Drew to Disneyland. But even he couldn’t prevent his goddaughter from slipping into the drug swamp. At the age of nine, Barrymore was drinking alcohol regularly and at the age of twelve he started drinking cocaine.

Over the years, Steven Spielberg repeatedly came forward to admonish her, according to Drew Barrymore. He was “horrified” when she wore red lipstick for the first time. When the actress and current talk show host appeared naked in “Playboy” in 1995, he sent her a message with the words “Cover yourself.”