Drew Barrymore has spoken about her half-sister's death. The Blended star publicly addressed the loss, telling Entertainment Tonight in a statement: "Although I only met her briefly, I wish her and her loved ones as much peace as possible and I'm so incredibly sorry for their loss."A 47-year-old woman was found unresponsive in a car in National City, San Diego on Tuesday morning.
Her identity was later confirmed as Jessica Barrymore, Drew's older half-sister, who would have celebrated her birthday on Thursday. National City police currently have the cause of death as "unknown".
Drew Barrymore's half-sister has been found dead
The deceased and Drew share the same father, actor John Barrymore. Jessica's mother, former actress Nina Wayne, was his fourth wife. He married her after divorcing Drew's mother, Jaid Mako.
Former child star had little contact with her extended family after divorcing her parents as a teenager. She recently spoke about her feelings towards her mother. "My relationship with my mom is so complicated," she told Marie Claire magazine in January while pregnant with her and husband Will Kopelman’s second daughter Frankie. "I've always been empathetic toward my mom, and I was even more so when I had a kid and we had a really amazing conversation about it.
Drew Barrymore and husband Will Kopelman
"However, it hasn't enabled me to lessen the distance. It's the hardest subject in my life. I've never just been angry with her. I've always felt guilt and empathy and utter sensitivity. But we can't really be in each other's lives at this point." ET star Drew had something of a troubled childhood, and checked into rehab when she was just 13 years old.
She has said being welcomed into Will’s family gave her a different perspective of how a family environment could be. "I didn't think I would ever get to experience that," she said. "This is so safe and positive and healthy because they have their values intact. It was huge for me. And that's what I want for my family."