Drew Barrymore Drank To ‘Numb The Ache’ Of ‘Cripplingly Troublesome’ 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 break 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 dad and mom to daughters Frankie and Olive — now 8 and 10, respectively — referred to as it quits after practically 4 years of marriage and, wanting again, Barrymore mentioned it was nearly “extra complicated” for her to navigate as a result of there wasn’t one massive factor that prompted the separation.

“There was no scandal. Nothing went mistaken, 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] mentioned 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 mentioned she coped with all of it by turning to alcohol.

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

“After the life I deliberate for my children did not work out — I nearly suppose 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 children that I cared a lot about,” she continued. “After which I in all probability cared a lot that I used to be solely giving to them and never caring for myself. It was a messy, painful, excruciating stroll by means of the hearth and are available again to life form of trajectory.”

She stop ingesting and obtained into remedy, telling PEOPLE that “it was my children that made me really feel prefer it’s sport time.” Her new gig as speak present host additionally gave her “one thing to deal with” and “gave us one thing to consider in.”

Whereas Barrymore herself is again on the relationship scene … and infrequently 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 stable blended household.

“Will has his facet of the road so superbly buttoned up with our attractive stepmother,” Drew mentioned of his spouse. “We have got an superior household dynamic that proves that life goes on. Allie is my favourite particular person. I like her. I like us all being collectively. These children have an instance of one of many dad and mom shifting on and rebuilding one other life for themselves. I am like, ‘Oh, I haven’t got to do this now? Excellent.'”