Drew Barrymore's First Movie and Early Career Facts
Drew Barrymore's first movie was the 1982 Steven Spielberg-directed film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, in which she played the lead role of Gertie. The film became the highest-grossing movie of 1982 and is widely cited as the project that launched her career as a child actor. According to Box Office Mojo, E.T. earned over $435 million in the United States and Canada during its original theatrical run, making it one of the top-grossing films of its era.
The movie was produced by Universal Pictures and Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, with principal photography taking place in California. Barrymore was cast at age seven after a widely covered audition process, and the role required extensive on-set time with the animatronic puppet of E.T., operated by a team of puppeteers. The film's commercial success led to multiple sequels, merchandise, and long-term cultural relevance, with E.T. frequently ranked among the greatest science fiction films of all time.
Drew Barrymore's First Movie Role and Performance Details
In E.T., Barrymore's character Gertie is the younger sister of Elliott, the boy who befriends the stranded alien. Her performance includes several iconic scenes, such as the moment she communicates with E.T. using a Speak & Spell toy and the emotional farewell sequence during the film's climax. Critics and audiences frequently highlight her naturalistic delivery and emotional range for a child actor at the time.
Key Scenes and Production Notes
Production notes indicate that Spielberg tailored several scenes specifically to Barrymore's instincts, including the sequence where Gertie hides E.T. in her bedroom. The film's visual effects team, led by Carlo Rambaldi, created the animatronic E.T. puppet, while John Williams composed the score. The movie was shot on 35mm film using practical effects, with minimal digital enhancement, and went on to win multiple Academy Awards, including Best Original Score and Best Visual Effects.
Impact of Drew Barrymore's First Movie on Her Career
The success of E.T. established Barrymore as a prominent child star and led to roles in films such as Firestarter and The NeverEnding Story during her teenage years. Despite personal and professional challenges during her adolescence, she transitioned into adult roles with films like Never Been Kissed and 50 First Dates, maintaining a presence in both film and television.
Barrymore later founded Flower Films, a production company that has produced and starred in numerous films and television projects. She has received multiple awards and nominations, including a Screen Actors Guild Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her early work in E.T. remains a central reference point in profiles of her career, with the film consistently cited as the catalyst for her decades-long presence in the entertainment industry.