This Future Star Lived in House with Fungus & Cleaned Toilets — People Stunned by Pics of Her Modest Apartment Now

This actress followed in her parents’ footsteps at a young age, as she made her debut at five when she starred in Ken Russell’s sci-fi and horror film “Altered States.” However, her rise to fame came at the age of seven when she acted as Gertie in Steven Spielberg’s “E.T. the extra-terrestrial.”

As she thrived as a child in the entertainment industry, the actress’s life at home was a mess, her parents having divorced. “I didn’t have parents, I was the parent to them. It was all totally upside-down. So I didn’t know what I was doing. When people would talk to me about parenting, I felt like an outcast,” shared the movie star.

The actress faced struggles with substance abuse, labeling herself a “party girl” from a young age. At seven, she was adding Baileys to her ice cream. By eight, she was frequenting outings with her mother and friends up to five times a week. At 11, the actress had developed a drinking problem.

By the time she was 12, she had become a drug addict. A year later, the actress cut her wrists and was hospitalized. Unable to handle the lifestyle, her mother sent her to a psychiatric institution at 13 and visited her occasionally.

By this time, the actress had already been to rehab at 12 and relapsed at 13. At 14, after leaving the psychiatric institution, where her mom sent her because she couldn’t deal with her anymore, the movie star legally emancipated herself from her parents.

Still, she pointed out that her mother’s decision to place her in an institution was challenging but ultimately beneficial. Despite the darkness and duration of her stay, lasting a year and a half, she recognized the necessity of the discipline it instilled.

Given her unconventional upbringing, she felt it provided a crucial transformation she needed. The actress admitted, “It was the best thing that happened to me. It taught me boundaries. Until that point, I had none.”

Aside from her parents, this movie star had a godfather in Steven, who directed her in “E.T. the extra-terrestrial.” As a child, she had once asked her mother if the director could be her godfather and Steven accepted.

Despite his open-door policy, the actress hesitated to seek his counsel during tough times, preferring to handle challenges privately. After posing for Playboy at 19, Steven cautiously sent her a quilt with a note saying, “Cover up.” However, the actress wasn’t done living wild and making mistakes along the way.

Even after legally divorcing her parents, it still wasn’t easy for the actress to pick a sober and straightforward way to live. After leaving her parents’ care, she described the experience of living on her own at 14 as weird and challenging.

The film star had to navigate running an apartment at a young age, encountering issues like fungus growth and feeling unsafe in a dangerous neighborhood. The fear of sleeping alone was compounded by the presence of alley cats nearby, making her feel overwhelmed and terrified.

The actress’s circumstances kept taking a turn for the worse. At 15, she was facing unemployment as an actor and resorted to cleaning toilets by age 16. By her mid-20s, she had been married and divorced twice.

The movie star in this story, who dealt with insobriety, substance abuse, and cutthroat media vitriol, is Drew Barrymore. Her mom is Jaid Barrymore and her father is John Drew Barrymore. The actress’s dad is known for starring in productions such as “The Big Night,” “The Centurion,” and “Invasion 1700.”

Proud of her acting heritage, Drew boasts a lineage spanning seven generations, which includes her renowned grandfather, John Barrymore. Sadly, alcoholism, a prevalent family trait, tragically led to his demise in 1942.

Drew is now in her late forties, and unlike her grandfather, she has managed to turn her life around. In 2021, she took a trip down memory lane to see how far she has come. In this journey, she showcased her first apartment that she lived in when she was 14.

As much as the neighborhood is green and gated today, Drew said when she lived there it was risky and unclean. The house’s windows had bars on them for security reasons. The actress admitted that living there was scary but was glad that now, she is no longer afraid.

Now, Drew lives in a simple but gorgeous apartment that she has showcased on social media. In a cozy corner of her house sits a plush grey chair, where Drew lounges with her beloved dog by her side.

In another side of her house, Drew is seen seated on the floor, cuddling her cat, with a rug and woven carpet beneath them. She leans against the edge of a beige couch adorned with throw pillows, as she enjoys the warmth and comfort of her cozy living space.

The actress’s living room exudes warmth and charm, adorned with flowers gracing the windowsill and TV stand. Artistic paintings line up the walls, adding beauty to the room. A magnificent TV stand also takes center stage, proudly displaying the television atop it.

The house’s kitchen showed off on TikTok, is clean and crisp, with white cabinets sporting elegant brown countertops. A white cooker gleams in the corner while on one shelf, bottled ingredients are neatly arranged.

Meanwhile, a wall-mounted knife rack adds both functionality and style to the space. Amidst this organized space, Drew Barrymore is seen diligently cleaning and restocking drawers, ensuring everything is in its proper place.

In other TikTok clips, Drew can be seen showcasing her culinary skills in the kitchen, dancing while cooking eggs. Later, she dresses up and settles in with a freshly brewed drink to enjoy her meal.

In another video, the actress unveils a sleek new kitchen island. Drew meticulously arranges the kitchen island for a meal, setting out knives, forks, plates, and wine glasses.

She lighted candles for a cozy ambiance before settling down. Her tiered kitchen island, serving as a table, also features a convenient space to store utensils after cleaning up post-dinner.

A TikToker remarked, “I love how normal your kitchen is 🥰.” Another user joined in, saying, “A normal celebrity kitchen is refreshing to see. I have the exact same stove 😁.” “Your stove is so humble ❤️,” agreed a third commenter.

Others appreciated Drew’s relatability. “I love how real she is!” one fan exclaimed. Another chimed in, “This is not how I imagined her kitchen 🥰 that’s real life for us 😂🥰.” “A real used kitchen. I think Drew might be an original,” commented another fan.

In another TikTok video that went viral, Drew showed her cozy bedroom before and after she cleaned it. Before she cleaned up, the room was messy. The bed was strewn with sheets, left unmade.

Clothes were haphazardly tossed on a nearby chair, while books were scattered across the table and floor. Makeup, oils, and small boxes cluttered the floor, alongside more books strewn about. The bathroom dresser was adorned with small mirrors, lip balms, and makeup kits, all in disarray.

After Drew’s cleaning spree, the room transformed. The closet was neatly arranged, with everything in its place. The table was cleared, with just a few well-arranged books atop it.

There were no items scattered on the floor, and the carpet was clean and open. The bed was neatly made, and the bathroom dresser was immaculate, with newly arranged items neatly placed on top.

In yet another recent TikTok video, Drew proudly showcased her collection of tattoo balms, body creams, and oils, as she used them in her bathroom.

The actress’s bathroom exuded elegance and functionality with its spacious layout and fine white and black tiled floors. Framed pictures adorned the walls, adding a personal touch to the space. A sleek stand held an array of neatly arranged toiletries, ensuring easy access and organization.

Back in 2021, Drew posted a video of herself about to start Spring cleaning, which she revealed gave her a sense of control. She hoped the sense of control she got from cleaning would give her boundaries and safety.

The actress was in her room, sitting on the floor. She pulled her hair pulled back into a tidy bun, signaling her readiness to tackle the task at hand. Boxes filled with shoes and clothes littered the floor, awaiting organization.

Drew was excited to clean the main closet, which stood open, drawing her attention as she focused on clearing out clutter and bringing order to her space. Clean, organized, and orderly are the words that can describe Drew’s life today.

Today, Drew is a doting mother to her daughters, Olive and Frankie, despite never having role models to teach her how to parent well. She shares her kids with her third ex-husband, Will Kopelman. Drew was previously married to Jeremy Thomas and Tom Green before Will.

The “Bad Girls” film star remembered feeling a fear unlike any she had experienced before when she and Will parted ways. It surpassed even the anxiety she felt as a 14-year-old living independently.

With two beloved children to consider, her concern deepened, realizing her life now revolved around them as well. Nevertheless, the actress noted, “I am so glad that my kids won’t be having to live on their own at 14. And that’s as healing to the 14-year-old me as it can get.”

Drew also expressed that while she values love and humor, she recognizes the importance of assuming her role as a parent rather than trying to be her children’s friend. She admitted that she is not perfect and will make mistakes but she will always do her best in raising her daughters.

The actress juggles motherhood and her career, which is now thriving. In 2023, she won the award for Best Host at the MTV Movie & TV Awards. In 2022, Drew was awarded the Webby Special Achievement Award for her incredible work with “The Drew Barrymore Show.”

The actress has also been nominated for other prestigious awards such as the People’s Choice Awards, Primetime Emmy Awards, and Daytime Emmy Awards. Drew is a producer and director, credited for productions such as “Whip It,” “Santa Clarita Diet,” “Princess Power,” and “How to Be Single.”

Drew, who has changed her life completely for the better, has also not given up on love after her third divorce. She has dipped her toes in the dating world and revealed that she met the person she has been sort of dating for the last few years on “Raya,” a membership-only dating app.

As much as she is exploring the dating scene, Drew emphasized that her main focus remains on her daughters. Drawing from her own experiences growing up in an industry characterized by vanity, the actress hopes to leverage these lessons to become a better parent to her kids.