Reflecting on photos from her younger years, actress Valerie Bertinelli admitted her memory of the 1980s is somewhat blurry. During a recent appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show," she commented on a picture taken after her marriage to the late Eddie Van Halen, observing her "puffy face" and acknowledging a need for self-care. She confessed to having little recollection of the decade, saying, "I don’t remember anything about the ‘80s."
Bertinelli also expressed remorse for some of her past choices, confessing to feelings of guilt about youthful experimentation. Barrymore lightheartedly compared Bertinelli's sentiments to an "ABC Afterschool Special," referencing her own role in one titled "15 and Getting Straight" and her involvement in Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" campaign, before humorously adding, "until I just said yes."
Bertinelli affirmed that she has come to terms with her past decisions, a sentiment Barrymore echoed. She emphasized the importance of self-compassion, stating, "We coped the way we knew how to cope with a really challenging, strange life. And also, we have to start giving ourselves grace for just trying to learn through stuff."
Barrymore concurred, adding, "We hurt ourselves far more than others." Earlier this year, Bertinelli marked a year of sobriety, following her first Dry January in 2024. At the time, she shared on Instagram her decision to abstain from alcohol, citing her desire to reduce sugar cravings and manage stress. A month later, she proudly announced on TikTok that her sobriety had led to weight loss, noting that her jeans were now loose enough to require a smaller size. In a 2022 podcast interview with Rob Lowe, she candidly discussed past drug use during her marriage to Van Halen, attributing it to the prevalence of cocaine at the time.
