Drew Barrymore Opens Up About Childhood Body Shaming
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| The actress recalls how early criticism about her appearance affected her self-image. |
An acclaimed actress and talk show host recently reflected on the emotional toll of being judged for her appearance at a very young age — an experience she says shaped her self-image for years.
During an episode of her daytime show, the 50-year-old star displayed a childhood photo and admitted that seeing it still stirs difficult feelings. She explained that when she was around 10, adults and industry figures often compared her to her earlier film roles and openly commented on her weight, hair color, height, and overall look.
According to the host, these unsolicited remarks made her feel like she wasn’t meeting expectations — especially at an age when she didn’t even understand who she was yet. A guest appearing on the episode expressed shock that a child had been subjected to such scrutiny.
The actress went on to describe how long it took to separate her sense of self from other people’s opinions. Today, she says that maturity has given her clarity and confidence she never had as a child. She noted that reaching this place took many internal battles and years of emotional growth, but it taught her that happiness and self-worth aren’t determined by outside approval.
She emphasized that understanding one’s own value can take time, and that it’s okay if the journey is slow — what matters is eventually realizing that everyone deserves to feel secure and happy in their own skin.