Drew Barrymore on Her ‘AARP The Magazine’ Cover: ‘It’s So Beautiful!’

NEW YORK — Sitting in the audience of The Drew Barrymore Show feels like being part of an enthusiastic, vocal and supportive sisterhood.

The star’s syndicated talk show, which airs daily, tackles challenging issues such as substance abuse, difficult mother-daughter relationships, aging and mental health. But on this freezing late-January day, the audience is all women, and the show is devoted to all things menopause. Naomi Watts, 56, and Brooke Shields, 59, are on hand to promote their topical new books and their own experiences with mood swings and night sweats. ​

AARP'S CEO Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan, left, Drew Barrymore and Brooke Shields in front of the February/March cover of "AARP The Magazine."

CBS

The taping at the CBS Broadcast Center in midtown Manhattan takes roughly an hour plus, and it showcases Barrymore in all her candid glory. Clad in a tan pantsuit and chunky heeled loafers, she exudes unbridled enthusiasm for the topic. Being proactive and informed about menopause symptoms made her feel less alone and “less dreadful,” Barrymore says during a panel discussion with Watts, Shields and psychiatrist Judith Joseph, M.D., and OB GYN Suzanne B. Gilberg‑Lenz, M.D. ​

“I didn’t really even understand what my symptoms were,” Barrymore says. “I figured I was starting to get a fever.” 

Drew Barrymore and Booke Shields share a few laughs during a taping of "The Drew Barrymore Show." The episode covered the topic of menopause and airs Monday, Jan. 27.

CBS

Menopause is part and parcel of aging, and Barrymore is an advocate for educating yourself and communicating with your doctors. But despite the challenges of going through menopause, she loves being on the cusp of 50. “I’ve never been more happy, clear-headed, functional,” she tells the audience about approaching her milestone age. “I’m starting to let go in ways that I’ve only dreamt I could ever.” ​Her sense of personal well-being aside, hitting the half-century mark will make her a member of AARP, which is dedicated to the needs of the 110 million Americans who are 50-plus.