Barrymore: Spielberg my mentor

Drew Barrymore learned everything she knows from Steven Spielberg.

The actress was just five years old when she starred in the iconic director's 1982 hit 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial', and the pair have been firm friends ever since.

The 34-year-old star said: "I've spent my whole life working with more than 60 directors, so I've picked up all kinds of tips. Steven Spielberg has been a big help. He gave me great notes. He's a wonderful mentor."

Drew's relationship with Steven is so strong, she even pays tribute to him in her latest film 'Whip It', a film about a roller derby which she directed and also stars in.

She explained to Empire magazine: "My favourite scene in ‘Whip It’ is actually the food fight, which is an homage to ‘E. T.’, when we had that big food fight in the lunch room."

But the quirky star didn't enjoy shooting other scenes of the film as much.

She recently revealed she was left black and blue when a training session with Detroit Derby Girls star Racer McChasHer went wrong.

Drew explained: "We were wrestling and rolling around on the track, one of our skates and both our body weights were on my thigh. I had a bruise that was a foot long and a foot wide. My entire leg was covered."