We first met Drew Barrymore when she was just a 7-year-old kissing an extraterrestrial. Twenty-seven years later, she's stepped behind the camera to direct her first feature film, the roller derby flick Whip It. She also stars as the hilarious walking contradiction Smashley Simpson—a peace-and-love hippie who can't resist a good fight in the rink. Oprah.com caught up with Barrymore about loving derby, directing and the future of women in film.
RB: What attracted you to this film?

DB: For me, it was very personal. I feel like I have a lot to share emotionally about the nature of a mother-daughter relationship, and even though mine has different results than the film, I felt that I could sort of convey some of the things women go through. I'm also at a point in my life where I really see both sides, so for me it was fun to try to have empathy and an understanding for what the mom is going through as well as the daughter. Plus, I believe in achieving your goals in life and finding your dreams. Women need to find a support system out there—a group of friends who keep you very real and inspire you to do better and laugh with you along the way. And I love seeing women do physically capable things. I'm not that physically capable, so it's so fun to go attempt it and celebrate that.
Published 02/08/2010

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