LAS VEGAS (July 28, 2006) — Now that Drew Barrymore doesn’t have to stay in character, the actress says she’s ready to learn poker from the pros.
Barrymore, who stars in “Lucky You,” a movie set at the 2003 World Series of Poker, said she missed out on lessons given to other actors by pros such as Doyle Brunson because she plays a lounge singer who doesn’t know much about gambling.
“Now that I don’t have to stay true to the movie for my character, I’m planning to pick up as many tips as I can from the experts so I can go home and kick my friends’ butts,” the 31-year-old actress said.
Barrymore, who starred in “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and the “Charlie’s Angels” movies, appeared at the actual World Series at the Rio hotel-casino to promote her new film, also starring Eric Bana and Robert Duvall.
“Lucky You” is set for release Sept. 8. Poker pro Jennifer Harman plays a role, while a handful of other pros such as Sam Farha and Chris Ferguson make cameo appearances.
Barrymore said she holds regular $20 or $100 buy-in home games with friends and members of her boyfriend Fabrizio Moretti’s band, The Strokes.
But she doesn’t plan to follow actress Jennifer Tilly into playing poker for a living.
“I really couldn’t do that. I made a $200 bet the other night (on blackjack) and I was like thinking it was the craziest thing on the planet,” she said.
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