Child Actress Drew Barrymore Found Parental Support in Director Steven Spielberg During Making of 'E.T.'

Drew Barrymore asked Steven Spielberg to adopt her when she was 7 years old while filming E.T. because her own father was abusive.
Spielberg became Barrymore's godfather and helped maintain her childlike wonder during filming of E.T. by shooting in continuity.
Spielberg kept the E.T. puppet operators on set at all times to preserve the magic of the film for Barrymore.
Barrymore stayed with Spielberg's family on weekends, visited amusement parks together, and was given a cat named Gertie.
Despite declining legal adoption, Spielberg was a parental figure for Barrymore and they remain close today.