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Drew Barrymoreand Henry Thomas are reuniting 40 years after playing siblings in 1982’sE.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.
Thomas — now 50 and known for recent Netflix hits likeThe Haunting of Hill HouseandMidnight Mass— played Elliott inE.T., a boy who becomes friends with an alien who crash-lands on Earth. Barrymore, 47, played his little sister, her first major big-screen role.
She told PEOPLE last month how sheplans to mark the movie’s anniversarywith her daughters Frankie and Olive.
“I’ve actually been speaking with Steven Spielberg about it,” she shared. “He calls my girls who he held when they were babies, and he’s known them throughout their lives. I do want to revel in this moment with them and include them and celebrate with Steven. He’s a big father figure to me.”
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The anniversary is especially meaningful for the daytime talk-show host because her daughters are around the same age as she was when the film first came out. Spielberg pointed out the coincidence to the actress, who admits she still has trouble believing how synchronistic this all is.
“He’s like, ‘We’re not missing this moment with your kids,’ " she said. “I’m like, ‘Okay. You’re right. We can’t. You’re right.’ This is very emotional and full-circle. My kids are very close to the age that I was whenE.T.came out. Frankie actually is at the age. She is 7, and she will just be turning 8, and Olive is 9. She’ll be turning 10. This is where I’m at, and they love Steven.”
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She added, “They love him and they love his movies, and they love that he’s so important to me, and really was there to give me energy and protection and opportunity, and care the way your family is supposed to. And when that was missing, he really stepped in. Now that I’m a mom and my girls are those ages. It’s so full-circle and so meaningful.”
“When he said we need to celebrate the 40th anniversary with the girls, I cried my eyes out and it’s such a life moment and I’m so proud of where we’re all at. It just feels like such a blessing that everyone is happy and whole and healthy right now,” said Barrymore. “This is so cool. This is life. What? How?”
source: people.com
