Drew Barrymore On ‘Being Silly With’ Robert De Niro

First Published: December 4, 2009 5:57 PM EST Credit: MIRAMAX

Caption Robert De Niro and Drew Barrymore in ‘Everybody’s Fine’

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Robert De Niro is known for his serious roles in such films as “Raging Bull” and “Taxi Driver,” but on the set of “Everybody’s Fine,” co-star Drew Barrymore said the actor got silly with her.

“I was very tactile with him,” she said of her efforts to make their characters’ father-daughter bond stronger. “We had meals together… I was always grabbing his hand or his arm, just being silly with him. I just thought that gave us a connection.”

And the outgoing star said she even had a nickname for the iconic actor.

“[I called him] Daddy D,” she smiled.

“Everybody’s Fine,” due this Friday, is the story of a father (De Niro) reconnecting with his kids – and Drew said she’s seen the movie cause tears.

“I’m so glad to be part of something that’s such an emotional journey,” she said of the film. “All my friends, they’re crying at the end.”

Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.