The Helplessness of Steven Spielberg: Drew Barrymore's Childhood on the Set of E.T.

Steven Spielberg has spoken about feeling helpless while watching Drew Barrymore be "robbed of her childhood" during the making of E.T. The director and child star formed a close bond on set, with Drew calling him "the only person in my life to this day that ever was a parental figure." Spielberg revealed that he felt helpless as he wasn't her dad, but he did become her godfather. Drew has been open about her tumultuous childhood, with her mother exploiting her and taking her to Hollywood parties and nightclubs when she was young.