Drew Barrymore Says She Was Only 13 When She Got Her First Tattoo: “I Love Illegal Tattooing!”

By Samantha Nungesser @samjnungesser
Published May 3, 2023, 10:55 a.m. ET

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Drew Barrymore and Dove Cameron bonded over the unusually young ages they both received their first tattoos during this morning’s episode of The Drew Barrymore Show.

The conversation began when the Schmigadoon! star opened up about getting her first piece of ink at only 14 years old.

“I had this best friend when I was younger,” she began. “They were very fun and I was very introverted. And she had wanted this tattoo for a long, long time — meaning we were both 14.”

While Cameron explained that she “volunteered as tribute” to go first because her friend was afraid of the pain, she said they both ended up getting the tattoos.

Barrymore told her guest, “It’s so funny because I’m so torn. Like, now I’m 48 and a mom of two girls and it all comes full circle. [They ask], ‘When did you get your first tattoo?’ I’m like, … 13….'”

Cameron went on to excitedly tell Barrymore that she has “never met anybody else” who got one that young, to which the talk show host joked, “I totally fully understand and relate! I love illegal tattooing!”

Meanwhile, the singer — who geeked out with Barrymore over sharing similar locations of said tattoos — added that it’s “not” something she would recommend.

“This person who gave us the tattoo was like in somebody’s house, he had ordered it online, and he was like, ‘I have been practicing on oranges. I think I’m ready,'” Cameron recalled. “[The tattoo is] horrendously ugly.”

Reflecting on her similar experience, Barrymore said, “So is mine! And the guy was named Shock. I should’ve known everything!”

However, it’s not too much of a surprise coming from the 50 First Dates actress. Throughout her time in the spotlight, she’s been incredibly open about her fast-paced upbringing, which saw her drinking at nine years old, doing cocaine by 12, getting sent to a mental institution at 13 and becoming emancipated from her parents at 14 — so a tattoo before high school isn’t such a big deal in the grand scheme of her youth.

The Drew Barrymore Show airs on weekdays on CBS. You can check the website for local airtimes.