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ARTICLES - "Never Been Better"

Never Been Better by Amy Brooks
Teen People, May 1999

Doing double duty as star and producer of the new movie Never Been Kissed, Drew Barrymore says she's never been better.

Eyes closed, smile wide, Drew Barrymore is lying atop a straw mat on a remote beach on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Blissed out and makeup-free, she looks every inch the poster girl for some getaway vacation. In fact, the 24-year-old doesn't seem the slightest bit sad about being newly kuakahi. (That's Hawaiian for single.)

In January, Drew boarded a plane at the Los Angeles airport by herself and, until this reporter's arrival five days later, remained that way. Seeking seclusion, she forewent the deluxe resort route most celebrities take, opting instead to rent a small house. On her own, Drew hiked Kauai's rainforests; swam and snorkeled its seas; and enjoyed some solitary breakfasts, lunches and dinners on its beaches. Although she's made an acquaintance or two along the way, her only constant companion has been The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook.

Sure, actress has plenty of friends she could've invited along. But after a hectic year of moviemaking-not to mention a couple of months spent coming to terms with the demise of her two-year relationship with Home Fries costar Luke Wilson, 27-Drew decided it was high time she bonded with her newest and most-cherished best friend: herself. And on this, the last day of her first-ever solo holiday, she swears that he trip couldn't have been more enjoyable.

"Sometimes it's strange, because I don't have love in my life-in the boyfriend sense," Drew says, gazing out at the ocean on a sunny, picture-perfect tropical afternoon. "But I have it from myself. I no longer have the fear of being alone, because I am alone, and it's not scary. It's cool to find out that you don't need a boyfriend to be happy."

That's a revelation of sorts, coming from Drew, who's spent much of her late teen and adult years in serious relationships-with Luke, Hole guitarist Eric Erlandson and ex-90210 star Jamie Walters. And then there was her much-talked-about 1994 marriage-for six weeks-to Jeremy Thomas.

Drew says that she and Luke parted amicably and that they even still hang out together when they're both in L.A. "Luke and I are really good friends, and we really love each other," she says, adding that since their split last December, "I have a greater peace in my relationship [with Luke]." Then she giggles and clarifies: "As in peace and love, not piece of the pie."

At dinner that evening, a potential suitor-in the form of a tiny green frog-hops by her table. Without hesitation, Drew, who's well known for her love of all creatures great and small, scoops it up and begins stroking it. Alas, the affection doesn't transform it into a prince; instead, the little guy pees on her hand. "Gross!" hollers Drew, somewhat disgusted. But she's over the frog's unintentional slight by the time she sets if free in the grass. "It's okay," she says, laughing. "It happens."

Leaky frogs aside, Drew's life has had something of a fairytale quality of late. Last year, she starred I two hits: The Wedding Singer, as the object of Adam Sandler's affection, and Ever After, as a Cinderella with girl-power. Now, with Fox 2000's romantic comedy Never Been Kissed -- the first movie to bloom from Drew and partner Nancy Juvonen's Flower Films -- Drew takes on the dual roles of leading lady and producer. A trailblazer for actresses under 30, Drew's one of few in her age group to proactively co-running her own production company. "I wanted to produce because I know that work, no matter what job you're in, can be done with respect," she says. "It doesn't have to be competitive or political. This is an opportunity to help make that happen."

Five days a week, Drew and the six-member, all-female staff of Flower Films keep busy with such tasks as reviewing scripts and meeting with screenwriters. "The theory was that if someone put six months into writing the script, then we should at least give them the time of seeing them, " says Nancy, who can take credit for bringing Never Been Kissed to Drew's attention. "I pitched her the story one night when all of The Wedding Singer guys were over at my house. I was too excited to wait," Nancy recalls. "The next day, Drew came into the office and said, 'I read it. I love it. Let's do it!'"

Never Been Kissed is the story of Josie, a geeky Chicago newspaper copy editor, who's given a plum assignment: to return to high school undercover and report on the inner workings of the city's public schools. Josie must also confront her own traumatic teenage past (back then, her chubby, zitty appearance earned her the nickname Josie Grossy) and the fact that all these years later, she's yet to engage in a deep, meaningful lip lock (thus, the film's title).

In a brave move, Drew signed herself up to play the unglam heroine-a part that required her to wear a frumpy wardrobe and a healthy helping of cosmetically created pimples. "The other day, I was fortunate enough that I could work my own in there," she says with a laugh. "It's usually when you want a clean face that you have the big volcanoes, and then, when you need the zits, you don't have them there."

But Drew connected with her character, zits and all. "I love playing [Josie] because I relate to her more when she's in 'Grossy' mode," she says. This, from a women who once modeled for a series of Guess? ads? "Absolutely! When she's more attractive [later in the film], I almost feel less comfortable in her skin. I feel like I'm so in touch with what it's like to feel awkward. I can understand that feeling."

"I related to the script so much," Drew continues. "I wanted to talk about, for one, feeling good about who you are and naturally embracing that. A person's looks are never going to make you love them or like them."

Drew in Charge
The time: August 1998. The place: John Burroughs Middle School, Los Angeles. Never Been Kissed director Raja Gosnell calls "cut!" and Drew instantly sets Josie aside and slips into producer mode. She disappears into a classroom rigged as a viewing room, pulls on a set of earphones and intently watches a playback of the last scene, one of the film's biggest moments. Seconds later, after quietly conferring with Raja, Drew returns to the set, focused and serious. When the cameras begin rolling, suddenly Drew is Josie-awkward and homely-again.

Off-camera, Drew's adopted a touch of homeliness as well: a pair of flowered, old lady-ish slippers. Right down to her toes, the first-time producer has helped foster exactly the kind of laid-back atmosphere she dreamed of.

However, Drew is dead set against anyone calling her "boss." Surveying the nearby crowd of energized extras who are playing the school's students, she says, "I would never think of myself that way. I think of myself as part of a team- Democracy rules."

Basic Instincts
Drew's natural producing abilities first surfaced when Scream slashed its way to success in 1996. While the terror she displayed in the film's chilling opening sequence silenced audiences worldwide, it was her creative acumen that caught the attention of the movie's producers. It was Drew's call to turn down the role of heroine Sidney (played by Neve Campbell) in favor of the doomed Casey. "I just thought how great that would be, and how audiences wouldn't feel safe, if they saw the person they assumed was the lead get killed," she says.

But there's a distinct irony in Drew's recent emergence as one of Hollywood's elite: After all, it was celebrity excess that nearly ended her career a decade ago. "That was just part of my destiny, and I'm grateful for the vast experiences," Drew says of her rocky adolescence and young adulthood, which included a bout with drugs and alcohol that began when she was 11; legal emancipation from her mother, Jaid, at 15 (they aren't close today); and the publication of her best-selling memoir, Little Girl Lost.

The consummate survivor, Drew has always managed to turn her negative experiences into positive life lessons. "Instead of being a misanthrope, I found my philanthropic side through [my experiences]," she says. According to Nancy, Drew's Strength lies in her ability to view life as a work in progress. "The most incredible thing about Drew is that she sets out to learn," Nancy says. "She allows her mind to change." That open attitude has helped her weather the tough times, both on the set and off.

As one of Never Been Kissed's producers, Drew has made a priority of developing a comfortable working environment. "I have experienced it on both sides," she says, "and I thought, 'Wait, there's a chance I can do something about this.' When there is mutual respect, it's so much better. We've created an atmosphere here that is completely equal on every level. The director and the producers, the actors and the crew all eat together. No one goes in their separate sections. I think that works."

At times, being on the set is like attending a pep rally, according to actor David Arquette, 27, who plays Josie's very cool older brother, Rob. "Yesterday, everyone was cheering after takes," he says. "I was like, 'Oh, my God! This can't go on! We can't cheer every time we do a damn take. If we do, I'm gonna walk out of here thinking I'm Lord Olivier of something.'" The cast has reportedly since complied with David's wishes: Now they just tell him that he "sucks" after every take.

Michael Vartan (The Pallbearer), 31, who plays Drew's handsome young teacher, Sam Coulson, is equally gushy when talking about his boss (oops!). "She's one of the main reasons that I got this part," he says, relaxing in his trailer. "I heard through the grapevine that she really fought to get me in this film. To a studio, I'm still a nobody, so this is a great opportunity. It's funny how, when nice people are at the head of something, it sort of trickles down."

Fun and Games
Michael is the reigning champion at Electronic Hand-held Yahtzee, the cast's favorite downtime activity. Around here, high scores at this numbers game are almost as important as nailing that perfect take. A monitor keeps track of everyone's best. Under Michael's impressive 692, he's written "Enough said." Although Drew lags behind with a mere 480, her note reads "It's a very good feeling."

Yet when it comes to acting, no one can beat Drew. She's a seasoned veteran next to relative newcomers Jessica Alba (Idle Hands), 17; Marley Shelton (Pleasantville), 24; and Jordan Ladd, 24, who make up the evil in-crowd troika that delights in tormenting poor Josie. "We were filming a scene in a classroom one day, and we were watching Drew," says Jessica. "The camera was moving all over in different positions and, by surprise, it came to us. But we were caught up watching Drew-she's so hysterical."

"We were totally fixated," adds Jordan. "She has such an incredible face and so many expressions, we were mesmerized by her."

Leelee Soieski (Deep Impact, Joan of Arc), 16, who plays Josie's nerd pal, Aldys, agrees: "She's totally free, but in control at the same time. You don't feel her worries."

What, Drew worry?
Not in Hawaii this evening, as she prepares to return to L.A. for a grueling publicity tour that will include her first time hosting Saturday Night Live since she appeared in E.T. at age seven. As she rolls up her mat and heads for the house, Drew seems calm and contemplative. Taking a final look at the ocean, she finds the perfect metaphor for her life's philosophy. "I would rather just be the balcony," she says, when asked how Hawaii's helped to change her outlook. "The view is constantly changing. And, you know what? I don't think I'm as vast as the view-I'm just a little balcony. But it has a good, sturdy railing."

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