American actress, film producer, and talk show host Drew Barrymore said that she doesn’t need physical intimacy as she thinks that’s not the true meaning of ‘love.’
In a new blog post, the Charlie’s Angels actress revealed that she had not been in an intimate relationship with any man since her split with ex-husband Will Kopelman. The former couple announced their divorce in August 2016 after four years of marriage.
“I have had the honor and a pleasure to actually work on myself and learn what parenting is, again something I was not exactly clear on growing up, and I’ve had many learning curves thrown my way,” she wrote in her latest blog post.
“I’ve been intimidated. I’ve been triumphant. I’ve been asked to be educated in every way I can be.”
The 47-year-old actress added that before becoming a mother to two kids, she used to look for fun, excitement, pleasure, and adventures in a relationship. However, motherhood completely transformed her, and now she has become more cautious in relationships.
“At nearly 48, I have very different feelings about intimacy than I did growing up. I did not have role model parents and I engaged with people in grown up ways since a tender age! I was looking for companionship! validation! excitement! pleasure! hedonism! fun! And adventures!!”
She further added, “Now, because I can’t get in the time machine and change my history. So I now choose to look at it through a positive lens, which is that I lived! I lived a very rich full life.”
“However, after two kids and a separation from their father that has made me cautious, I have had the pleasure of shifting my focus when it comes to love for myself and my two daughters. I know that does not include a man nor has it for a while.”
Barrymore also noted that having two daughters made her realize the true meaning of love and relationships and that having ‘casual hookups’ is definitely not what makes a relationship meaningful.
“The truth is, it’s different for every family and every individual, but I have had to try and find my own way. I’m also raising two daughters, so how we raise girls to be appropriate and empowered and to love themselves and to realize that we live in an age where the images and messages that they will see will also contradict what I have come to believe intimacy is!”
The Never Been Kissed star sparked dating rumors with Kopelman in 2011 by walking arm-in-arm with him one night after having a romantic dinner date.
In 2014, The Friendly Fire actor revealed to People that his relationship with Barrymore started when he least expected it.
“Sometimes whom you least expect is the person you fall for. It was a combination of moments: watching her with my nephew. Traveling with her. Going to museums with her. I knew, adding them up, this was it.”
However, the actress told InStyle in her 2015 interview that she didn’t instantly fall in love with Will right away and it took her some time to develop feelings for him.
“It was never really love at first sight. He was someone who was always reachable on the phone, someone who was a classy human being, someone who has this incredible blueprint of a family that I don’t have,” she said.
According to People, the couple moved in together in September 2011 before getting engaged in 2012.
Immediately after their engagement in February 2012, rumors started saying that Drew and Will were expecting a child together.
“I was walking out of my OB/GYN, and I had just found out I was pregnant,” she said while referring to the rumors that started circulating when she was spotted leaving a doctor’s clinic with Kopelman.
“I walked out of her office, and someone I work with, Chris Miller, got all these calls, ‘We know she’s pregnant. We’re breaking the story.’”
I was stupid enough to carry the sonogram in my hand out with me. I was depressed or saddened, kind of, that I didn’t get to have that be a private thing, a moment, or just to wrap my head around it,” she added.
In June 2012, the couple tied the knot in a simple ceremony.
“The ceremony was a classic, simple, very pretty, garden-inspired wedding. Drew and Kopel are very happy together and the Scream actress is finally ready for a quieter, more family-oriented life,” a source told People at that time.