Drew Barrymore is an American actress, producer, director, model, author, and entrepreneur who frequently makes headlines for several reasons. Apart from her acting career, she owns a production company with Nancy Juvonen, under the name ‘Flower Films.’ She even owns a range of cosmetics under the same name. Her other business ventures include a range of wines and clothing lines. If we talk about her body tats, the actress has several small and subtle tattoos and all of them hold special significance for her. Here’s what we know of Drew Barrymore’s tattoos and their meanings.
1. ‘Flowers’ Tattoo
Tattoo: ‘Flowers’ Tattoo below her waistline.
Meaning: Drew Barrymore’s very first tattoo is also one of her least favorites as she wanted daisies but the tattoo artist inked an assortment of flowers on the left side of her stomach.
2. ‘Cross’ Tattoo
Tattoo: ‘Cross’ Tattoo near her right ankle.
Meaning: Cross on Drew’s right ankle is probably her biggest tat. Though not much is known about this tattoo, Drew says that the tattoo is inspired by the script of Poison Ivy (1992) and interestingly, the character had a similar tat. The tat features a big cross wrapped in flowery vines. Generally, a cross tattoo is a symbol of one’s spirituality and religion.
3. ‘Crescent Moon’ Tattoo
Tattoo: ‘Crescent Moon’ Tattoo on her right toe.
Meaning: There is a small crescent moon on Drew Barrymore’s right toe. Rumors were that it was a friendship tat. Crescent moon tattoos are called the symbols of birth cycles, fertility, and womanhood.
4. ‘Cherubs with Cross’ Tattoo
Tattoo: ‘Cherubs with Cross’ Tattoo on the right side of her lower back.
Meaning: 3 cherubs are holding a cross-bearing Drew’s mother’s name, Jaid, on her lower back. The tat features a simple cross surrounded by angels. The tattoo is a tribute to her mother.
5. ‘Cherub’ Tattoo
Tattoo: ‘Cherub’ Tattoo on her lower back.
Meaning: Another tattoo on Drew’s lower back, which is typically a tramp stamp location. It features a cherub holding a banner that says, Jamie. ‘Jamie Walters’ is the name of Drew’s ex whom she dated from 1992 to 1993.
6. ‘Butterfly’ Tattoo
Tattoo: ‘Butterfly’ Tattoo below her belly button.
Meaning: One of the most well-known Drew’s tattoos is a butterfly tattoo that sits near her belly button. This tattoo has always had a strong symbolic meaning to Drew. It represents new beginnings, rebirth, good times, blessings, progress, and good times.
7. ‘Bird’ Tattoo
Tattoo: ‘Bird’ Tattoo on her right forearm.
Meaning: Drew has got a simple outlined butterfly tattoo on her arm which represents new beginnings, freedom, joys, happiness, and rebirth.
8. ‘BREATHE’ Tattoo
Tattoo: ‘BREATHE’ Tattoo on her left forearm.
Meaning: The word ‘BREATHE’ is inked in a stencil-like font on Drew’s left forearm that continues till her wrist. The tattoo is a reminder to herself to embrace calmness and be level-headed. In an interview Drew was asked about this tattoo, to which she replied,
I find that even though it’s on my wrist and even though I need to do it survive, I forget to breathe I don’t think I’ve ever reacted in a situation, especially that’s tense or heightened, after taking a deep breath that I wasn’t better than the way I would have reacted if I hadn’t taken that breath.”
9. ‘Olive and Frankie’ Tattoo
Tattoo: ‘Olive and Frankie’ Tattoo on her right wrist.
Meaning: On April 1, 2016, Drew got inked the names of her two daughters Olive and Frankie inked on her arm. He uploaded the pictures of this tattoo on her Instagram account. One of her pictures of this tattoo is captioned as,
Getting a great little lifetime note on my arm.”
Drew Barrymore while getting her daughters’ names inked on her arm on April 1, 2016.
In 2013, there were rumors that Drew would be going under painful laser treatment to get her tattoos removed as she wanted to get convert to her then-husband Will Kopeeman’s Jewish faith. For the conversion, she was supposed to laser off her tattoos, as according to Jewish culture, she would be unable to be buried in a traditional cemetery if she still has those tattoos on her body. However, the couple got split in 2016.
After getting the tattoo of her daughters inked on April 1, 2016, the couple (Drew and Will) released the statement of their separation on April 2, 2016. They got officially divorced on August 3, 2016.
10. ‘home is where we are’ Tattoo
Tattoo: ‘home is where we are’ tattoo on her right forearm.
Meaning: Drew uniquely celebrated Mother’s Day 2021 by getting the tattoo ‘home is where we are’ inked on her talk show ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ to pay tribute to her daughters on May 7, 2021. The tattoo was inked by Ink Master star, Ryan Ashley DiCristina. On the show, she explained,
Home is where we are and wherever life takes you, if you are lucky enough to be alongside people you love, then to me, that became the definition of home. I never knew what home was until I had my daughters. I thought, ‘I’m gonna make us a home that will be forever and so strong,’ and then life changed and our plans changed. When I was in rental apartments, or not knowing where life was going, or so upset that the plans I tried to solidify for my kids had changed, it really led to the discovery of what home really means for me — and that is if we are together, wherever we are, home is where we are.”
On May 7, 2021, she uploaded the picture of this tattoo on her Instagram handle with the caption,
I did it!! I got a tattoo on our show today! Home Is Where We Are.
It has such a special meaning to me and my daughters. In case you missed today’s show, go to @thedrewbarrymoreshow youtube channel to see the process. Thank you to the talented @ryanashleymalarkey !!!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQqLBU8sjHQ
