5 Surprising Connections Between Billie Burke And Drew Barrymore: From Glinda’s Wand To Hollywood Royalty

The connection between classic Hollywood icon Billie Burke, best known as Glinda the Good Witch, and modern star Drew Barrymore is far more intricate and recent than most fans realize. As of this current date, December 12, 2025, the most talked-about link is a stunning moment of cinematic legacy that unfolded on daytime television, but a deeper dive into the annals of Hollywood history reveals a surprising professional and dynastic overlap. While not directly related by blood, these two actresses are connected by a shared lineage of stage and screen royalty, culminating in a precious, star-topped prop that recently bridged the gap between the Golden Age of Hollywood and today’s blockbuster cinema.

The story of Billie Burke and Drew Barrymore is a compelling narrative of Hollywood's enduring legacy, showcasing how the industry’s past continues to influence its present. From shared screen time with the Barrymore patriarch to a magical artifact passing hands, their intertwined history provides a fascinating look at the interconnectedness of show business royalty across the generations.

The Newest Link: Passing the Glinda Torch on 'The Drew Barrymore Show'

The most recent and highly publicized connection between Billie Burke and Drew Barrymore centers on a moment of pure Hollywood magic that took place on *The Drew Barrymore Show* in late 2023/early 2024. The talk show host orchestrated an emotional surprise for actress and singer Ariana Grande, who is set to play Glinda in the upcoming two-part film adaptation of the Broadway musical *Wicked*.

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The Surprise of the Original Glinda Wand

During Grande's appearance, Drew Barrymore presented her with a spectacular piece of cinematic history: the original prop wand used by Billie Burke as Glinda the Good Witch of the North in the 1939 classic, *The Wizard of Oz*. The moment was a profound gesture, symbolizing the passing of the iconic role from one generation to the next.

• The Prop's History: The wand presented by Barrymore is a significant piece, though it was not actually seen in the final cut of the film. It was originally created for Billie Burke and was used in costume tests and portrait photographs of the star in her famous Glinda gown. This specific wand is one of the last surviving examples made for the production.
• Ariana Grande's Reaction: The *Wicked* star was visibly overcome with emotion, gasping as the star-topped wand was revealed. The surprise underscored the immense legacy of Burke's performance and the weight of stepping into Glinda's iconic shoes.
• Drew Barrymore's Role: As the custodian of this moment, Drew Barrymore—herself a member of a legendary acting family—served as the perfect bridge, connecting the 1939 classic to the modern adaptation. Her act of honoring Billie Burke's legacy brought the historical connection between the two actresses into the current news cycle.

This event solidified a unique, modern-day link, positioning Drew Barrymore as a key figure in celebrating the enduring pop culture impact of Billie Burke's most famous role.

Billie Burke and Drew Barrymore's Hollywood Dynasty Connections

While the "Glinda Wand" surprise is the newest connection, the historical ties between Billie Burke and the Barrymore family dynasty—which Drew Barrymore represents—are deep and professional, rooted in the Golden Age of Hollywood and the Broadway stage.

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Co-Stars in Classic Cinema

Billie Burke’s career resurgence in the 1930s, after the stock market crash wiped out her wealth, saw her star alongside Drew Barrymore’s grandfather, the legendary actor John Barrymore. They were contemporaries who shared the screen in two notable pre-Code films:

• A Bill of Divorcement (1932): This film is considered a career resurrection for Burke and also notably starred a young Katharine Hepburn.
• Dinner at Eight (1933): In this star-studded drama, Burke played socialite Millicent Jordan, while John Barrymore played Larry Renault. This film reunited them on screen after their previous collaboration, highlighting their status as prominent figures in the early sound era.

This shared professional history with John Barrymore—Drew’s grandfather—establishes a direct, albeit generational, link between the two actresses, proving their careers overlapped within the same Hollywood circle.

The Stage and Social Circles

The connection extends to Drew Barrymore’s great-aunt, Ethel Barrymore, the "First Lady of the American Theatre." Billie Burke and Ethel Barrymore were well-acquainted, sharing the same social and professional circles on Broadway and in London during the early 20th century. Burke even appeared in a play at the famed Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York City in the early 1930s. Both women were part of the elite group of actresses over 50 who continued to star in films well into the 1940s and 1950s.

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A Tale of Two Hollywood Legends: Full Biography Profiles

To fully appreciate the connection, it is essential to understand the magnitude of both Billie Burke and Drew Barrymore’s contributions to their respective eras of entertainment.

Billie Burke: The Eternal Good Witch

Mary William Ethelbert Appleton "Billie" Burke (August 7, 1884 – May 14, 1970) was an American actress who transitioned from the Broadway stage and silent films to become one of the most recognizable character actresses in the sound era.

• Born: August 7, 1884, Washington, D.C.
• Died: May 14, 1970, Los Angeles, California.
• Spouse: Florenz Ziegfeld, the legendary theater impresario and creator of the *Ziegfeld Follies*.
• Dynasty: The Burke-Ziegfeld family, a prominent theatrical dynasty.
• Signature Roles: Glinda the Good Witch in *The Wizard of Oz* (1939) and Emily Kilbourne in the *Father of the Bride* film series (1950, 1951).
• Career Highlights: Began her stage career in London at age 18; became a major star on Broadway; successfully transitioned to silent and sound film, and later had her own radio show, *The Billie Burke Show*, in the 1940s.

Drew Barrymore: The Modern Hollywood Scion

Drew Blythe Barrymore (born February 22, 1975) is an American actress, producer, director, and talk show host, representing the fourth generation of the famed Barrymore acting family.

• Born: February 22, 1975, Culver City, California.
• Parents: John Drew Barrymore (actor) and Jaid Barrymore (actress).
• Grandparents: John Barrymore (actor) and Dolores Costello (actress, "The Goddess of the Silent Screen").
• Dynasty: The Barrymore family, one of the most famous and enduring acting dynasties in American history, including her great-aunt Ethel Barrymore and great-uncle Lionel Barrymore.
• Signature Roles: Gertie in *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial* (1982), Casey Becker in *Scream* (1996), Dylan Sanders in *Charlie's Angels* (2000), and host of *The Drew Barrymore Show* (2020–Present).
• Career Highlights: Began acting at 11 months old; became a global child star; reinvented herself as a successful film producer and entrepreneur (Flower Films, Flower Beauty); and became a popular daytime talk show host.

The Enduring Legacy of Hollywood’s Interconnected Stars

The shared story of Billie Burke and Drew Barrymore is a testament to the cyclical nature of Hollywood history. While Drew Barrymore is a direct descendant of the Barrymore acting dynasty, her professional life has been touched by Billie Burke’s legacy in a way that transcends simple coincidence. The historical connection through co-starring with John Barrymore and the recent, powerful gesture of presenting the Glinda wand to the new Glinda, Ariana Grande, frames Drew Barrymore as a living link to the Golden Age. It highlights how the artifacts and legacies of one star—Billie Burke—can become a symbolic bridge, wielded by a star from a different dynasty—Drew Barrymore—to inspire the next generation of performers.

Ultimately, the curiosity surrounding "Billie Burke Drew Barrymore" is answered not by a direct family tie, but by a more compelling narrative: a shared, professional history that spans over 90 years, culminating in a precious, star-topped wand that continues to make magic.