Steven Spielberg Praises 6-Year-Old Drew Barrymore’s ‘Irrepressible’ Creativity on E.T. Set

On January 25th in New York City, during the TCM Classic Film Festival, Steven Spielberg and Drew Barrymore reunited for a panel discussion about making E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Led by Dave Karger, they reminisced on their shared past, with Spielberg highlighting how six-year-old Drew significantly shaped her character, Gertie.

At our initial encounter with Spielberg, he shared that Barrymore’s inherent self-assurance instantly stood out to him. Instead of passively waiting for him to initiate conversation, she took charge herself. This proactive attitude carried over to the film set, as the improvisational skills she had been tutored in became integral to the movie. Many of her spontaneous lines from that time wound up being included in the final cut.

As reported by People, the director explained that during filming, Drew commented, “I don’t like his feet.” Despite this, they decided to keep the scene. Moreover, Drew frequently improvised her lines since she was full of energy and unstoppable.

“It was gold,” he added.

Day after day, I found myself utterly captivated by Drew Barrymore’s boundless creativity. It seemed as if she could draw inspiration from thin air and transform it into breathtaking ideas right before my eyes. Melissa Matheson, the brilliant screenwriter we lost too soon, couldn’t help but be amazed by the sheer volume of creative genius that Drew was pouring forth. As a director, I can attest to this fact – I still find myself in awe of the ideas Drew would bring to the table.

Drew Barrymore didn’t realize until 2002, on the film’s 20th anniversary, that she had been improvising extensively. When she watched the final cut and saw many of her contributions still included, she recognized that she had gained a lot through the experience. She explained, “I can’t recall where or how it all came from.

In its day, E.T. held the title for the highest box office earnings, a feat that Steven Spielberg later outdid with Jurassic Park in 1993.

Read More

2025-01-28 10:22