10 Life Lessons Drew Barrymore Is Teaching Her Daughters Olive And Frankie In 2025

As of December 2025, Drew Barrymore's most cherished and pivotal role is not as an iconic actress or a successful talk show host, but as a mother to her two daughters, Olive and Frankie. The star, who grew up in the harsh spotlight of Hollywood, has been exceptionally candid in recent interviews about crafting a childhood for her girls that is stable, private, and filled with the kind of unconditional love she often lacked. Her current focus is on a unique blend of "over-parenting" and teaching radical self-acceptance, a philosophy that has evolved significantly since her 2016 divorce from their father, Will Kopelman. The world is fascinated by how the former child star of *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial* is navigating motherhood, especially with daughters who are now entering their challenging pre-teen and early teen years. Drew is actively working to shield them from the industry she knows so well, while simultaneously teaching them profound life lessons about aging, career, and the complexities of an untraditional family dynamic. Her recent insights, often shared on *The Drew Barrymore Show*, paint a fresh picture of a mother dedicated to breaking generational cycles.

Drew Barrymore: Full Biography and Family Profile

Drew Blythe Barrymore is a celebrated American actress, producer, talk show host, and businesswoman, known for her magnetic personality and remarkable career longevity. She is a direct descendant of the legendary Barrymore family acting dynasty.

• Full Name: Drew Blythe Barrymore
• Date of Birth: February 22, 1975
• Place of Birth: Culver City, California, U.S.
• Parents: John Drew Barrymore (Actor) and Ildiko Jaid Mako Barrymore (Jaid Barrymore)
• Spouses: Jeremy Thomas (m. 1994; div. 1995), Tom Green (m. 2001; div. 2002), Will Kopelman (m. 2012; div. 2016)
• Children: Olive Barrymore Kopelman and Frankie Barrymore Kopelman
• Career Highlights: *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial* (1982), *The Wedding Singer* (1998), *Charlie's Angels* (2000), *50 First Dates* (2004), *Grey Gardens* (2009), *Santa Clarita Diet* (2017–2019).
• Business Ventures: Founder of the production company Flower Films, and the beauty brand Flower Beauty.
• Current Project: Host and executive producer of the daytime talk show, *The Drew Barrymore Show* (since 2020).

Meet Olive and Frankie: The Heart of Drew's World

Drew Barrymore has two daughters, both of whom she shares with her third ex-husband, art consultant Will Kopelman. The actress has made a concerted effort to keep her children's lives out of the intense public scrutiny she faced as a child star.

Olive Barrymore Kopelman

Olive is the eldest daughter, born on September 26, 2012. As of late 2025, she is 13 years old. Drew has shared that Olive is often the more introspective and reserved of the two, possessing a curious and artistic nature, much like her father's family. Olive's birth was a life-changing event for Drew, who has repeatedly stated that becoming a mother finally gave her the stability she had always craved.

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Frankie Barrymore Kopelman

Frankie is the younger daughter, born on April 10, 2014. She is 11 years old as of late 2025. Drew describes Frankie as the more outgoing, spirited, and humorous child. The sisters have a close bond, and Drew often shares sweet, though carefully curated, anecdotes about their dynamic, such as a recent fun fact that Olive and Frankie watched *50 First Dates* with Adam Sandler's daughter, Sunny Sandler, showcasing their connection to Hollywood royalty but in a private, family setting.

The Evolving Rules of Drew's 'Over-Parenting' Philosophy

Drew Barrymore has openly described her parenting style as "over-parenting," a term she uses to mean being intensely involved and protective, a direct response to her own turbulent, unsupervised childhood. This philosophy is constantly updated with new lessons and boundaries, reflecting the current challenges of raising young girls in the digital age.

1. Delaying the Hollywood Entry

Perhaps the most critical rule for Drew is delaying her children's entry into the entertainment industry. Having started her career at 11 months old and achieving global fame with *E.T.* at age 7, Drew understands the pitfalls better than anyone. She has stated she will not allow Olive or Frankie to act until they are legal adults, ensuring they have a secure, normal childhood foundation first.

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2. The Power of the 'Untraditional' Family Dynamic

Drew and Will Kopelman finalized their divorce in 2016, but they have maintained a highly functional co-parenting relationship. Drew is open about the fact that her ex-husband has remarried—to Alexandra Michler—and she has embraced their blended family. She teaches her daughters that family love can exist in many forms, even if it doesn't fit the traditional mold. This transparency is a core lesson in emotional maturity.

3. Embracing Co-Parenting with a Unified Front

Despite the divorce, Drew and Will live close to each other in New York City to ensure stability for the girls. They share a commitment to raising their daughters with a strong sense of community and family, often spending holidays and important milestones together. This unified front helps the girls feel secure, minimizing the emotional toll of the split.

4. Teaching a Positive Outlook on Aging

Drew has been vocal about her decision to embrace natural aging, avoiding plastic surgery and excessive cosmetic procedures. This is a deliberate lesson for Olive and Frankie. She wants her daughters to see aging as a privilege and a natural part of life, rather than a problem to be fixed, a message she shared in a recent interview with *NewBeauty*.

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5. Prioritizing Career and Motherhood Simultaneously

In a recent conversation with *Real Simple*, Drew discussed the delicate balance of prioritizing her career while being a dedicated mother. She models for her daughters that a woman can be both a successful professional—running Flower Films and hosting *The Drew Barrymore Show*—and a loving, present parent. This teaches the girls the importance of personal ambition alongside family responsibility.

6. The 'Dr. Aliza' Parenting Tip

In early 2024, Drew credited Dr. Aliza Pressman, a developmental psychologist, with sharing a parenting tip that "changed her life." The advice centered on the power of acknowledging and reflecting a child's feelings, rather than immediately trying to fix the problem or dismiss the emotion. This focus on emotional validation is a key tool in her current parenting toolbox.

7. Instilling a Strong Work Ethic

While she protects them from acting, Drew instills a strong work ethic through her business ventures, like Flower Beauty. She wants her daughters to understand the value of entrepreneurship and hard work, showing them that her success is a result of producing and creating, not just performing.

8. The Importance of Privacy and Boundaries

Unlike many celebrity parents, Drew rarely posts clear photos of her daughters' faces on social media. This strict boundary is a lesson in privacy. She is teaching Olive and Frankie that their personal lives are theirs alone and that they do not owe the public access to their childhoods, a stark contrast to her own experience.

9. Learning from the Barrymore Family Legacy

Drew often references the tumultuous history of the Barrymore family, a dynasty riddled with addiction and instability. By being open about her own difficult childhood, including being institutionalized at 13, she is teaching her daughters about resilience, the consequences of poor choices, and the power of breaking generational cycles to create a healthier future.

10. Teaching the Value of Empathy and Humor

Through her talk show, Drew constantly models empathy and a sense of lightheartedness. She encourages Olive and Frankie to be kind, compassionate, and to use humor to navigate life's challenges. Her "over-parenting" is ultimately rooted in a desire to give them the safe, loving, and emotionally aware upbringing she missed, ensuring they are well-adjusted, confident, and grounded women.