Real-Life Reader Biographies present the lives of contemporary role models for young readers. These are the stories of real men and women who, despite many obstacles, followed their dreams. Drew Barrymore comes from a family of famous actors. Like the Barrymores before her, she is blessed with acting talent. Unfortunatley, she also inherited the family"s predisposition toward alcohol and drug abuse. Drew has been acting all her life. When she was just 18 months old, she starred in a dog food commercial. Not yet out of her twenties, Drew seems to have done it all. She has acted in "B" movies, blockbuster hits, and television series, she has posed nude in magazines and done a series of risque blue-jean commercials; but, more importantly, Drew has overcome her alcohol and drug addictions—something many of her family members were never able to do. Though not all of Drew"s films have been box-office successes, most will agree she is a highly talented actress.