Celebrity Poker Player: Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore is another Hollywood celebrity that wants to become a poker expert. When the movie “Lucky You” with Erik Bana in 2007 filmed that was set at the World Series Of Poker. Although in her movie, she was a lounge singer who knows little about poker - Drew Barrymore was apparently bitten by the poker bug, and now she really wants to become a great poker player!




In order to stay true to her character, a lounge singer, Barrymore focused on her role and not on picking up poker tips as talked to the other actors by professional players, such as the Godfather of Poker- Doyle Bronson.



Surrounded by other poker's greatest including, Jennifer Harman, Daniel Nugreanu, Chris Fegurson, and Mike Matusaw that Barrymore was craving to learn poker even more.

Her co-stars in the “Lucky You” film also experienced poker lessons from some of poker's best as part of assuming their roles as poker players. Since Drew Barrymore missed those lessons to do her part as the lounge singer - she's ready to get some poker lessons now.


Academy Award-winning director Curtis Hanson said, "With millions of people watching poker weekly on television, it was important to capture the authenticity of the game and its players. To that end, the poker tables in “Lucky You” are primarily populated by poker players, not actors pretending to be poker players. Our stars trained for months in order to convincingly play side by side with top poker professionals cast in fictional roles."

Add to this the fact that the trailers for the movie are emphasizing the romance between the Eric Bana and Drew Barrymore characters, rather than the angle that would seem to be a surefire marketing hook: poker.


Thankfully, poker realism looks set to be the order of the day with Hanson eschewing the movie cliché of hands regularly turning up four of a kind and straight flushes.


The Lucky You movie is a drama-comedy about a gambling addict competing against his legendary father in the World Poker Championship. With Eric Bana, Robert Duvall, Drew Barrymore. Hollywood is betting big on a batch of poker films hoping to cash in on the betting boom.


Barrymore holds a regular $20 or $100 buy-in home games with friends and members of her boyfriend Fabrizio Moretti's band, The Strokes.

But she doesn't plan to follow actress Jennifer Tilly into playing poker for a living.



"I really couldn't do that. I made a $200 bet the other night and I was like thinking it was the craziest thing on the planet," Drew Barrymore said.




With her sexy style and facetious personality we'd be happy just having Drew Barrymore hits the poker table now and then at some major events. Of course though - we'd all like to see her up against the likes of Jennifer Tilly.

“Now that I don’t have to stay true to the movie for my character, I’m planning to pick up as many tips as I can from the experts so I can go home and kick my friends’ butts.” So, save a seat at the table, Drew Barrymore is on her way!




Photo courtesy of http://www.drewbarrymore.com | http://www.maxim.com

Another One Bites The Dust

Justin and Drew are dunzo! Aw man, I was rooting for them! I even nicknamed them Drustin. Whatev, I guess they're still friends.

- Erin Dustin

Drew's Charitable Heart

By the time yesterday's Oprah had ended, Drew Barrymore had not only expressed her feelings about her cutie of a boyfriend Justin Long, but more importantly, made the HUGE announcement that she was donating $1 million to the World Food Progamme.

Barrymore, a UN ambassador and the current Vogue cover girl, appeared on Monday's Oprah for a big give of her own during the themed show. After both her and Long were questioned about their blossoming romance by Winfrey, (we'll get to that a little later) Barrymore presented a check for $1 million dollars to the World Food Programme, which will help feed children in Africa. Barrymore, who has worked with the charity since 2005, has already made two trips to Kenya and seen for herself what a big impact she is making. "I have seen with my own eyes what a difference a simple cup of nutritious porridge can make in a child's life," the actress told Winfrey. "It helps them learn, stay healthy, and sets them on track for a bright future." Best friend Cameron Diaz even phoned in, expressing how proud she was of her donation, saying that she was "choked up."

Barrymore, like I mentioned before, also opened up about her and Long's relationship. Both "fresh" out of the shower after using the hotel shampoo, (Barrymore revealed after Winfrey asked why she smelled so good) Barrymore described Long as her best friend and the relationship as "healthy, productive, supportive and full of humor," also stating that they were having an "excellent time."

And what does Long have to say about his lady love?

"She smells good," Long told Winfrey. "She's beautiful," he said, "and funny. The most compassionate person I've ever met."

Definitely rooting for Drustin!

- Erin Dustin