Drew Barrymore Says She Doesn’t Want Her Kids Acting Until They’re at Least ‘North of 14, 15’ (Exclusive)

The actress shares her daughters Olive, 11, and Frankie, 9, with ex Will Kopelman

Drew Barrymore’s kids Olive, 11, and Frankie, 10, sometimes ask to follow in her footsteps in Hollywood, but the talk show host, actress and producer isn’t ready to say yes yet.

“When I first had kids, I remember people asking me like, ‘Well, would you want your kids to go into the business?’ And it always gave me such a sad feeling, as if this business was so toxic, like, 'Ew,' ” says the host of The Drew Barrymore Show.

“And I just thought, that's not how I feel about this business at all. It has given me every opportunity under the sun and I couldn't appreciate my life more.”

Barrymore — whose father, grandfather, great-grandparents, great-aunt and uncle were all actors — landed her first commercial at age 11 months, and was cast in E.T. at age 6, followed by films including Firestarter and Irreconcilable Differences.

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Related: Drew Barrymore Recalls Heartwarming Moment Daughter Olive, 11, Surprised Her by Putting on Her Wedding Dress

But her love for show biz doesn’t mean she’s giving her girls the green light. “My kids ask me all the time — they would love to be in film or on social media or sing or whatever. I always just say, ‘School plays, theater camp, everything [yes].'"

"But being in the public eye, [no] until…’ And then they say, ‘Well, what's the number?’ And I always say, ‘I know you want an answer, and I know the fact that I can't give you one that's so specific isn't satisfying, but it's going to be a feeling. It's going to be when I think you're ready.”

When that moment comes, Barrymore will be their biggest cheerleader. “As a parent, I would really love to support my kids when they're older. Again, what number is that? I don't know, but it's not 13 and it's probably not 14. It's up there, but your kid will present themselves in a way where you've got to listen to them and support them and trust them. And I don't know what number that is, but it's probably north of 14, 15.”

Her daughters’ interest in the family business is understandable. Barrymore told PEOPLE in 2022 how she felt drawn to this career: "Something in being a part of my dad's family has been such a cosmic, spiritual, magnetic pull," she said at the time. "I feel so compelled to do what they do."

Last month, Barrymore shared with PEOPLE that she's been having candid conversations with her daughters, noting that she's basing their conversations on "honesty" above all else.

"I'm always talking about honesty. If it's the truth, we're gonna find our way through," she shared.

She added that she tries to encourage her daughters to "ask yourself, without feeling like there's any judgment or blame coming at you, at your part in something."

"I really talk to them about that and how I know it's hard. I'm really aware that we really can only control ourselves and not other people or the exterior world, so when we self-explore, we can find what we can learn from it and what we can do."

Barrymore continued, "I encourage them to ask, 'What is your part in something, and how can we be honest and brave to tell the truth?' Because I don't want them to fear that the truth will get them in trouble. I think it will set us free to get on the right path to figuring anything out."

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Read the original article on People.