10 things drew together the lives of two iconic Barrymore women, weaving a tapestry of talent, tragedy, and triumph that stretches across a century. While Drew Barrymore is a household name today, she hails from a storied dynasty that also produced the celebrated stage legend Ethel Barrymore, often hailed as the First Lady of the American Theater.
Even though they are separated by nearly a hundred years, the two share a striking collection of experiences, habits, and quirks that prove fame runs in the family. Below, we count down the ten most compelling ways Drew mirrors her great‑aunt.
10 things drew: A Quick Overview
10 Born Into an Acting Dynasty
It’s no secret that Drew entered the world already draped in the glitter of a famed theatrical lineage, affectionately dubbed “The Royal Family.” Her grandfather, John Barrymore Sr., earned acclaim for his commanding stage turns in classics like Hamlet and Richard III, and later starred in cinematic gems such as the timeless Grand Hotel.
The Barrymore trio—John, his sister Ethel, and brother Lionel—each carved out impressive careers of their own. Yet their brilliance rested on foundations laid by earlier generations: parents Georgiana Drew and Maurice Barrymore, as well as maternal grandparents John Drew Sr. and Louisa Lane Drew, who were both celebrated actors and theater managers. Tracing the family tree back even further reveals that Drew Barrymore represents at least the sixth generation of Barrymore performers. Both she and her great‑aunt Ethel grew up under the weight of a celebrated name, fully aware of the expectations that accompany such a heritage.
9 Were on Their Own at an Early Age
Drew’s childhood was anything but conventional; the bohemian whirlwind that surrounded her meant she faced adult responsibilities far sooner than most. At just fourteen, she secured a court‑ordered emancipation, effectively becoming a legal adult. While the decision was daunting, it was recommended by the mental‑health professionals caring for her after she entered a treatment facility at thirteen, a move that ultimately helped her regain control over her life.
Ethel experienced a comparable trial just shy of her fourteenth birthday when her beloved mother, actress Georgiana Drew, passed away. Suddenly thrust into adulthood, she shouldered the care of her two brothers, Lionel and John, while also confronting financial strain after her grandmother, Louisa Lane Drew, stepped down from managing Philadelphia’s Arch Street Theatre. Forced to abandon her aspirations of becoming a concert pianist, Ethel left school and entered the family trade, touring with her uncle’s stock company and living solo in boarding houses while still a teenager.
8 A Strong Physical Resemblance
The visual similarity between Drew and Ethel is strikingly evident. While it’s expected that relatives share traits, the fact that Drew is Ethel’s great‑niece—rather than a direct descendant—makes the likeness all the more remarkable.
Most widely circulated photographs of Ethel capture her later years, presenting a matronly figure. Yet a side‑by‑side glance at youthful portraits of both women reveals an uncanny echo of facial features, from the shape of their eyes to the curve of their smiles.
7 Unlucky in Love
Drew’s romantic résumé reads like a tabloid bestseller: three marriages and at least two broken engagements. Her first marriage, to Welsh bar owner Jeremy Thomas, lasted from 1994 to 1995 when she was just nineteen. The second, a whirlwind union with comedian Tom Green, dissolved after a year (2001‑2002). Her most recent marriage to art consultant Will Kopelman ended in 2016 after nearly four years, leaving her resolute that she will not walk down the aisle again, though she remains open to cohabitation.
Ethel’s love life was similarly turbulent. She wed millionaire Russell Griswold Colt in 1909, but the marriage suffered two broken engagements and a string of suitors before she eventually separated after eleven years. By her early forties, Ethel finalized a divorce and never remarried, choosing to focus on her career and children.
6 Darlings of the Media
From the moment Drew burst onto the silver screen as the endearing Gertie in E.T. the Extra‑Terrestrial (1982), the press has followed her every move. Her evolution from a child star to a multifaceted actress, filmmaker, and mother provided endless fodder for headlines covering her relationships, personal challenges, and professional triumphs.
Ethel, too, was a media magnet in her era. Upon returning to the United States after a stint in England, her romances became tabloid staples, often embellished for public consumption. Her visibility landed her on the covers of major magazines such as Time, Ladies Home Journal, and a 1923 issue of McCall’s featuring the article “At Thirty Every Woman Faces a Crossroads.”
5 Baseball Connection
Ethel’s enthusiasm for America’s pastime surprised many who imagined her solely as a refined stage actress. A 1942 piece in The Milwaukee Journal highlighted her ability to quote baseball averages with the same fluency as her theatrical lines in The Corn Is Green.
Drew’s most notable baseball‑related role arrived with the 2005 romantic comedy Fever Pitch, where she portrayed a woman who falls for a die‑hard Red Sox fan.
Admitting she was initially a “newcomer to the temple of baseball,” Drew grew to love the sport, expressing at the film’s premiere: “I love Boston, I love the team, I love the people that are so emotionally affected by this sport and this team. It’s just great.” She added that immersing herself in the game’s history and superstitions made the experience truly special.
4 Addiction Problems
Over the past century, the Barrymore name has been linked as much to substance struggles as to artistic achievement. Drew’s battle with addiction began in childhood and was chronicled in her 1990 memoir Little Girl Lost. She eventually overcame these challenges, forging a healthier path forward.
Ethel’s own struggle with alcohol, though less public, formed part of what’s been dubbed “The Barrymore Curse.” At sixty, she confronted her alcoholism head‑on, quitting drinking abruptly and permanently, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
3 Versatile
The Spiral Staircase 1946 📽️🍿🥤 Ethel Barrymore, Dorothy McGuire, George Brent Drama Mystery Thriller
Following the footsteps of ancestors Georgiana Drew and John Drew Sr., Drew became best known for her comedic chops, dazzling audiences in films like Never Been Kissed, Music & Lyrics, 50 First Dates, and Charlie’s Angels. Yet she also proved her range with critically praised dramas such as Everybody’s Fine and Grey Gardens, as well as the suspense‑filled thriller Scream (1996).
Ethel, meanwhile, earned an Academy Award for her poignant turn as a dying mother opposite Cary Grant in None but the Lonely Heart (1944). Critics lauded her versatility, noting she could glide from light comedy to heart‑wrenching tragedy with equal finesse. Her skill in suspense shone through a nomination‑winning performance in the chilling classic The Spiral Staircase.
2 Absentee Fathers
Both women grew up with fathers who were often absent. In 2014, The Daily Express quoted Drew saying, “My parents split up before I was born, and my dad was just never capable of being a father.” She later reflected on her father John Barrymore Jr.’s limited presence, wishing he’d fulfilled a more traditional paternal role. As an adult mother herself, Drew found it challenging to reconcile her father’s distance, though she cared for him during his final years in hospice.
Ethel’s upbringing mirrored this pattern. After her mother’s death, her father remarried and was rarely seen. According to Ethel’s autobiography, he didn’t even inform her of his new marriage; she learned of it only when a Mother Superior showed her a newspaper clipping. Later, when her father’s mental health deteriorated due to syphilis, Ethel took the painful step of arranging his care in a mental institution.
1 Party Girls
The Barrymore women certainly knew how to celebrate. Drew’s youthful exuberance manifested in frequent outings to legendary hotspots like Studio 54, a habit she described as being a “party girl” from the age of eight, according to The Guardian. She and her mother’s friends would hit the town up to five nights a week, embracing a whirlwind social scene.
Ethel, though living in the more restrained Victorian era, was no stranger to lively gatherings. She recalled in her autobiography a series of spirited house parties hosted by aristocratic friends in England, where she mingled with high‑society guests and reveled in the era’s social customs.