Drew Barrymore said one of her daughters suffered a serious electric-bike accident while the family was vacationing in France, ripping "her whole elbow open" and prompting multiple visits to an emergency room.
Barrymore, 50, recounted the episode during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, saying she had canceled plans with Colbert's wife after the incident. She told the host that although she reassured him her daughter was "fine," the injury was intense and required days of hospital care.
The actress said the accident occurred while her daughter was riding an e-bike deep in the mountains. Barrymore said the child, one of two she shares with ex-husband Will Kopelman, 45, "ripped her whole elbow open," and that the family spent "days in an E.R., in and out." She praised the girl's quick thinking, saying the child tore off her bra and used it as a tourniquet to control bleeding.
Colbert reacted to the story by noting the resourcefulness, and Barrymore, who shares daughters Olive, 12, and Frankie, 11, with Kopelman, said the response was simply characteristic of her child. "No! That's just who she is. And I just marvel at her," the actress said on the program.
Barrymore has frequently spoken about how motherhood has reshaped her priorities. During a January appearance on Colbert's show she described her girls as her "North Star" and "my compass," saying parenthood clarified the purpose of her life. She has also discussed her eldest daughter's desire to grow up quickly, saying in 2024 that the nearly 12-year-old "really wants to be 16… going on 25."
On Thursday, Barrymore reiterated her commitment to her children, saying she is "all in" and striving to do her best even while acknowledging her imperfections. She did not provide further medical details or a current status update on her daughter's recovery during the interview.
The incident underscores growing attention to electric-bike safety, particularly for younger riders, but Barrymore's account focused on the family's immediate response and the girl's self-reliance in a frightening situation. The actress closed the segment emphasizing gratitude that her daughter is recovering and expressing admiration for how she handled the emergency.