Bruce Weber / Turn to the Light

"I took this photograph of Drew Barrymore at our house in Bellport on Long Island in 1992 for Interview Magazine.

 

From the very beginning, Nan and I adored her spirit. Drew was a real wild child in those days, but so charming and loving.

 

I had that wonderful feeling like I couldn't take enough pictures of her. She fell in love with one of our dogs, Rain, so I took a crazy picture of her with Jamie Walters and Rain, flopped out on the picnic table with all the food and everything all around them.

 

It was a unique time in my career photographing young actors like Drew-so many of them had an openness and freedom that is hard to imagine now, when everyone's public persona is so carefully crafted.

 

I have an enduring fondness for Drew-I catch her TV show sometimes in the morning and have a laugh, thinking, "Oh my God, she's still at it." Drew has that spirit of a kid, even after a lifetime in the public eye. I admire her for that-I can't imagine anyone young at heart in Hollywood not wanting to be like her.

 

This photo is also a reminder of my assistants' patience-that's Lance Acord on the right holding my Pentax. After working with me, he went on to become an accomplished cinematographer. Our Bellport house had this really tiny hallway-we were all crammed in there together with the equipment and cigarette smoke. Not the easiest conditions to do a light meter reading.

 

But I like how it feels like we're at an entrance to a downtown nightclub, even though it's a little house in a country town.I hope that when actors see work we did together at the beginning of their careers it puts a smile on their face. It certainly has that effect on me."

 

Bruce Weber