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15 Jan 2026 5:44
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  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Drew Barrymore "can't control" how closely she sits next to her talk show guests

    The 49-year-old star is known for leaning in as close as possible while in conversation on her self-titled programme and she admitted she had tried to stop after getting "awful" feedback about her habit


    Asked about her decision to sit close to the guests, she said on 'Watch What Happens Live!': "I don't know, I can't actually control it. Because we got focus groups when [The Drew Barrymore Show] launched and it was not good. It was awful."

    And asked if she had implemented her pledge in August last year that she would work on "practicing physical distance" with her guests in 2025, she admitted: "It's not [going] good."

    The 'Miss You Already' star admitted she worries about her breath being fresh when she gets close to her guests.

    Asked if she had ever pulled away because one of her interviewees had bad breath, she said: "All I'm thinking about also is, 'How's my breath?' Here's the best news, no one has had bad breath yet and I am like pupil to pupil and nobody has had bad breath."

    In December, a clip from the 'Drew Barrymore Show' went viral after guest Martha Stewart playfully pushed the host away mid-conversation when she got too close, but the 'Never Been Kissed' actress insisted the lifestyle guru "really does like" her.

    She said: "I think she was just teasing. Like Martha, actually, I've never been able to say this before with confidence, but I can now. I think Martha really does like me.

    "I think the internet just misunderstood the moment and ran with it. When I first was getting to know her I was like, 'I don't think she likes me.'

    "But I think I broke through ... and she doesn't dislike me."

    Drew previously admitted she had been "warned" about getting too close to other people.

    Speaking to her guest, 'Wicked' actress Cynthia Erivo, she said: "I'm so touchy. People have to warn me, they're like, 'Back off a little bit.' And I'm like, 'Why?'

    "Physical connection... I'm single. I'm not dating anyone. I don't have that in my life, but I don't know how I would ever hold back from holding hands, hugging, snuggling.

    "I think if we could all be more comfortable with physical touch, I would like that world."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

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