Drew Barrymore’s Unlikely Start: From Child Star to Coffee Shop Worker

Drew Barrymore once worked a regular job at a Los Angeles coffee shop. This happened in the early 1990s after she became legally emancipated. The actress was just 14 years old and needed to pay her bills. She detailed this chapter of her life in her 2015 memoir, Wildflower.

Her friend had a job at a coffee shop in the Valley. Barrymore needed to find work closer to her rental home. She did not have a driver’s license to commute far.

The Struggles of a New Barista

Barrymore got a job at a popular LA spot called the Living Room. Coffeehouses were central to social life at the time. She has been candid about not excelling in the role.

She wrote that she was not great at her job. Her experience was limited to acting and “wild life experiences.” This made the learning curve steep.

Her boss had hired her on a novel idea. The concept was having a former child actor behind the counter. He was patient but grew increasingly irritated with her mistakes.

A Pivotal Moment Behind the Counter

One particular incident stood out in her memory. Her boss walked in while she was washing dishes. He sharply told her not to use the abrasive side of the brush.

He was exasperated. The pastry cases were getting scratched and foggy. Customers could no longer see what was inside them.

This moment highlighted the disconnect between her past and present life. She was a famous actress learning a humble trade. The experience grounded her during a tumultuous time.

The story of Drew Barrymore’s coffee shop job reveals her resilience. It shows a determined young woman building her own path. Her early struggles shaped the successful host she is today.

Thought you’d like to know

Q1: How old was Drew Barrymore when she worked at the coffee shop?

She was 14 years old. She had recently been emancipated from her mother. This meant she was legally responsible for her own finances.

Q2: What was the name of the coffee shop?

Barrymore worked at a Los Angeles spot called the Living Room. She described it as a place where people poured out onto the street every night. It was a popular hangout in the early 1990s.

Q3: Why did Drew Barrymore need a job at 14?

She was legally emancipated and had to pay her own bills. This included rent for her home. Acting jobs were not consistent at that time in her life.

Q4: Was she good at her coffee shop job?

By her own admission, she was not great at it. She wrote about her boss’s patience wearing thin. A specific incident involved her scratching the pastry cases while washing dishes.

Q5: Where did she share this story?

She detailed the experience in her 2015 memoir, *Wildflower*. The book shares many personal stories from her life. It provides a candid look at her journey from child star to adult.