Drew Barrymore thinks "nostalgia" and animals are the "antidote" to depression and the world's ills

She has now told People about her techniques for staying upbeat: "I always find, whether it's on (my series 'The Drew Barrymore Show') or in a magazine or on social media... nostalgia, like animals, give this sense of warmth and humour and joy.

"We need that in the world, we need that, probably very scientifically, we need that hit of something very positive in our brain as we're processing the world at large, as well as our own unique little journeys that are always filled with a lot of pressures and a lot of taking care of people, and a lot of trying to navigate everything.

"I just think animals are the antidote to everything, they just make us feel so good.

"Unlike a lot of things that make us feel good too, they're not very demanding either. We're so lucky to have them."

Drew recently also told People she thinks getting sober was the most "honouring" thing she has done for her alcoholism-plagued family.

Referring to her family history of alcoholism, she said: "I think, for me, stopping drinking is one of the most honouring things I can do to the Barrymore name because we have all been such hedonists.

"Don't look to me as the pillar of health and wellness and having it all together.

"It's just like, 'You know what? This didn't work for our family, and I'm going to stop it.'

"I'm going to be the one to break the link in that chain and maybe my kids and their kids will be better off for it."

Drew comes from a long line of stars including her actor dad John Barrymore, whose siblings were Oscar-winners Ethel and Lionel Barrymore.

He struggled with alcoholism from the age of 14, while her grandad succumbed to it in 1942.