by Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith

Leave it to Drew Barrymore--whose life has already been one big riches-to-rags-to-riches fairy tale--to reinvent the story of Cinderella.

Her very own guardian Anjelica RealVideo | QuickTime | Don't Know |

In Ever After, Barrymore's very '90s version of the classic fairy tale, there's no pumpkin or fairy godmother. But there is a spirited Cinderella with girl power to spare.

Much of that strength comes from Drew herself. It's why Ever After doesn't play like just another warmed-over remake. It's also why she has been able to make the remarkable transformation from child star to teen casualty to minimogul.

The 23-year-old Barrymore, whose early fame and wild-child excesses are well documented, has successfully taken charge of her career in recent years, working with Woody Allen (Everyone Says I Love You), helping discover the sex appeal of Matthew McConaughey (Boys on the Side), delivering a killer cameo in Scream and turning The Wedding Singer into a sleeper hit.

On the personal side, the once outrageous Barrymore has been committed to actor Luke Wilson (Bottle Rocket, Scream 2) for two years--that's like a silver anniversary in Drew years.

With all that going for her, it's no wonder this Cinderella's not exactly waiting around to be rescued by the handsome prince.

the interview