The actress and television host explained that she hoped to remove the stigma surrounding menopause by talking about it on her show.

Drew Barrymore explains why she’s so open about having hot flashes on her show: ‘It’s just a natural part of life’

The actress and television host explained that she hoped to remove the stigma surrounding menopause by talking about it on her show.

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and *NME*.

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January 20, 2026 11:11 a.m. ET

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Drew Barrymore attends Broadcasting + Cable Hall Of Fame Awards 33rd Anniversary Gala at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on Sept. 30, 2025 in New York City. Credit:

Manoli Figetakis/Getty

Yes, Drew Barrymore has hot flashes. And no, she’s not going to feel bad about them. **

The Golden Globe-winning actress explained why she’s so open about experiencing the perimenopause symptom on her talk show after having a flare up during a recent interview with *People We Meet on Vacation *star Tom Blyth. **

“There’s nothing more fun than telling an adorable 30-year-old man that you’re having a hot flash. So sexy,” Barrymore said in an Instagram video. “And yet I gotta tell you, I’m at this point where I’m just like, ‘This is what it is. This is not a show. It’s real life. We’re just having conversations. Why should I fake it through that moment? Just be honest about what I’m physically going through.’”

Drew Barrymore and Tom Blyth on 'The Drew Barrymore Show'.

The Drew Barrymore Show

Blyth was in the middle of telling a story during their interview when Barrymore quietly began taking off her shoes. When he commented on her getting extra cozy on set, the *Wedding Singer* star simply notified her guest that she was having a hot flash, shucked off her jacket, and continued their conversation. **

In the video, Barrymore explained that menopause is teaching her to “stop being uptight” about everything.

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“Don’t worry so much. Don’t think you’re gonna pull something off with having people not see you a certain way,” she said. “And some are so bad I can’t fake it through it.”**

Still, Barrymore praised Blyth’s ability to roll with the unexpected moment. “He’s so lovely. He was so cute about it and so sweet,” she said. “I have no idea what that’s like for a young man to have a woman lean over and be like, ‘Do you know about perimenopause or menopause?’”**

But, she emphasized, it was an important discussion for everyone to have. “If we start making it a casual conversation, then it’ll take the stigma out of it,” Barrymore pointed out. “I am not going to be insecure about it. It’s just a natural part of life.”

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A common symptom of menopause, hot flashes cause a sudden and unexpected wave of heat across the upper body that’s often accompanied by sweating and flushed skin, per the Mayo Clinic. It can be treated with medications and by avoiding triggers like heavy clothing, hot weather, spicy foods, and stress.

Barrymore actually experienced her first-ever hot flash while conducting an interview with Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler on *The Drew Barrymore Show* in 2023. **

Since then, she has experienced them several more times while hosting the show, including during Blyth’s interview, a food segment, and while chatting with *Anaconda* stars Paul Rudd and Jack Black.**

Watch Barrymore discuss her hot flashes in the clip above.

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