Steven Spielberg Says 'E.T.' Made Him Want Kids, Jokes He 'Kind of Adopted' Drew Barrymore

Steven Spielberg is reflecting on how some of his most famous films impacted his personal life, particularly his relationship with E.T. star Drew Barrymore.

The 79-year-old direct spoke at a keynote event at the Hilton Austin Downtown Grand Ballroom last week and shared that making E.T. made him want kids.

“And I remember after making E.T., there was something about that, for me, I didn’t want those kids to go home,” he said, per People.

Then Steven joked that “Drew Barrymore never really went home.”

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“I kind of adopted Drew, and helped co-parent her. right up until last week, when we were on a text together, you know? I’m still very much connected to Drew‘s life. But I love those kids,” he shared.

Drew played the character of Gertie Taylor in the beloved 1982 movie.

In January 2025 during the TCM Classic Film Festival, he and Drew reunited. Steven talked about how she would improvise during filming.

“The camera was rolling and Drew said, ‘I don’t like his feet.’ We used it,” he reflected, adding, “Drew made up a lot of her own dialogue because she was irrepressible.”

The actress said, “I think E.T., for me, is the one I’m the most proud of because it’s the one that changed my life.”