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Tag: Drew Barrymoore

  • Janet Jackson and Drew Barrymore Reveal Iconic Movie Roles They Turned Down

    Janet Jackson and Drew Barrymore Reveal Iconic Movie Roles They Turned Down

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    Janet Jackson and Drew Barrymore are looking back at their acting careers and revealing some iconic movies they passed on.

    The singer made a surprise appearance on Friday’s episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, and in a preview clip, Jackson shared which legendary superhero she almost played.

    After being asked if she was supposed to star in The Matrix, she responded, “No.” Jackson added that she couldn’t remember the film’s name but knew who got the role when she turned it down.

    “It was…this is horrible,” the Good Times alum said. “I can’t remember the film, but Halle Berry played Storm.” Barrymore exclaimed in response, “X-Men?”

    “I couldn’t because I was just embarking on the Janet tour,” Jackson continued. “But I think that’s what you’re confusing it with. It wasn’t The Matrix.”

    Berry debuted her superhero Storm in the 2001 movie, adapted from the Marvel comic book, and reprised her role in X2X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men: Days of Future Past.

    Barrymore, who can relate to Jackson as she has also passed on projects that she later regretted, proceeded to recall another big film role she didn’t take, instead signing on to something else at the time.

    “It’s so hard when you, like, are thinking of doing a film and then you don’t end up doing it,” she explained. “I have so many of those experiences. I’ve never said this out loud, Boogie Nights. There was a moment where we were talking about Boogie Nights and I think it’s when I went and did Ever After [A Cinderella Story] and I went in a very different direction.”

    While the 50 First Dates actress didn’t share which role she was considered for, the 1997 film Boogie Nights ultimately starred Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds and Heather Graham.

    The Poetic Justice star hasn’t appeared on the big screen in more than a decade, so when asked if she would be open to returning, she responded, “I would for sure.” 

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    Carly Thomas

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  • Hollywood Flashback: In 1986, Drew Barrymore Saved Christmas in ‘Babes in Toyland’

    Hollywood Flashback: In 1986, Drew Barrymore Saved Christmas in ‘Babes in Toyland’

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    Nearly four decades ago, NBC brought Babes in Toyland back to life with an all-star cast. The holiday project was based on the 1903 operetta, which features Victor Herbert’s score — including Christmas staple “Toyland” — and a libretto from Glen MacDonough that draws together numerous Mother Goose characters. It followed such previous adaptations as a 1934 Laurel and Hardy film, a 1960 Shirley Temple-led TV version and a 1961 Disney movie starring Annette Funicello. 

    Filmmaker Clive Donner — whose 1965 comedy What’s New Pussycat? marked Woody Allen’s first produced screenplay — directed Babes in Toyland from a script by Paul Zindel (Mame). Shot in Munich, it starred 11-year-old Drew Barrymore as Lisa, who has no interest in toys until she gets magically transported to Toyland on Christmas Eve, where she teams up with the Toymaster (Pat Morita, fresh off The Karate Kid Part II) to stop the villainous Barnaby Barnicle (Richard Mulligan) from taking over the realm. Rounding out the cast were Eileen Brennan as Mother Hubbard and an early-career Keanu Reeves playing Jack Be Nimble. NBC’s take featured new music from Oscar-winning composer Leslie Bricusse, who would visit the production from his home in France to help the cast nail the tunes. Mulligan — in his first role as a villain and his first musical — enjoyed everything that the locale had to offer and quipped to THR at the time, “If my wife doesn’t drag me away from German cheese and noodles very soon, they’ll have to widen the TV screen for a new and plump Richard Mulligan.” 

    Babes in Toyland aired Dec. 19, 1986, and developed a cult following — but had been tough to track down until recently. Among those celebrating November’s Blu-ray release of a shortened version was actress Jill Schoelen, who played Reeves’ love interest and also dated him in real life. “My memories of working with Drew is how sweet and joyful she is,” Schoelen shared on Instagram. “I was so happy to shoot a Christmas film and with a wonderful cast.”

    This story first appeared in the Dec. 15 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.

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    Kimberly Nordyke

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