Drew Barrymore has opened up about the cruel beauty standards that were imposed on her during her childhood.

In an episode of The Drew Barrymore  Show, published on January 14, the 50-year-old actress became emotional while looking at a photo of her younger self.

The Charlie’s Angels star recalled hearing comments that she "was too heavy" and no longer resembled how she looked in E.T., the role that made famous at just seven years old.

"This picture… It just breaks my heart," she said.

Barrymore added, "I was 10 years old and I was just told by everybody, ‘You don’t look how you did in E.T. You’re too heavy. You’re not blonde enough. You’re not old enough. You’re too young. You’re not tall.’ And everybody just started getting involved in the way I looked."

She revealed that the negative remarks had been going on for several years by that point.

Looking back at her younger self’s eye in the photo, the Blended actress stated, "It’s like, I don’t know what I’m supposed to be for other people. And you don’t know yourself at 10."

She further shared that after years of struggle, she has now found clarity and strength at 50.

"What I’m so relieved about now is that it’s four decades later… I do know what’s important now, and the look in my eyes is so clear," she admitted.

Toward the end of the episode, the Golden Globe-winning artist emphasised the importance of not only helping yourself but also supporting others facing the same challenges.

"You can not only rescue yourself, but you still have a lot of room to help rescue other people, for them to rescue themselves. So it’s circular, it’s giving, it’s owning, and it’s maybe, I dare say… healthy?" she concluded.

Drew Barrymore made her acting debut in a commercial at 11 months old. Her first film role came at age four in the science-fiction horror film Altered States.