Drew Barrymore Drank To ‘Numb The Ache’ Of ‘Cripplingly Tough’ Divorce From Will Kopelman

The actress-turned-talk present host spoke with PEOPLE for a brand new cowl story about turning to alcohol after the cut up, overcoming that interval in her life and discovering a harmonious new stability along with her ex and his new spouse.

The pair, who’re mother and father to daughters Frankie and Olive — now 8 and 10, respectively — referred to as it quits after almost 4 years of marriage and, trying again, Barrymore stated it was virtually “extra complicated” for her to navigate as a result of there wasn’t one huge factor that precipitated the separation.

“There was no scandal. Nothing went incorrect, which is cleaner, however makes it tougher and extra complicated as a result of there is not The Factor to level to,” she informed the outlet. “We tried so arduous to make it work. [A friend] stated to me, ‘Divorce is the dying of a dream.’ That is precisely what it appears like, one thing so last you possibly can’t get it again.”

Calling the years after her divorce “cripplingly troublesome,” Barrymore stated she coped with all of it by turning to alcohol.

“It was simply making an attempt to numb the ache and really feel good — and alcohol completely did that for me,” she stated, earlier than evaluating the state of affairs to battling dependancy as a toddler.

“After the life I deliberate for my youngsters did not work out — I virtually assume that was tougher than the stuff  as a child. It felt much more actual as a result of it wasn’t simply me. It was about these youngsters that I cared a lot about,” she continued. “After which I most likely cared a lot that I used to be solely giving to them and never taking good care of myself. It was a messy, painful, excruciating stroll by the fireplace and are available again to life form of trajectory.”

She give up ingesting and bought into remedy, telling PEOPLE that “it was my youngsters that made me really feel prefer it’s recreation time.” Her new gig as speak present host additionally gave her “one thing to concentrate on” and “gave us one thing to consider in.”

Whereas Barrymore herself is again on the relationship scene … and sometimes talks about her relationship app expertise and relationship disasters on her present — Kopelman married Vogue vogue director Alexandra Michler in 2021. Drew says they’re now a reasonably strong blended household.

“Will has his facet of the road so fantastically buttoned up with our beautiful stepmother,” Drew stated of his spouse. “We have an superior household dynamic that proves that life goes on. Allie is my favourite individual. I really like her. I really like us all being collectively. These youngsters have an instance of one of many mother and father transferring on and rebuilding one other life for themselves. I am like, ‘Oh, I haven’t got to try this now? Good.'”