Drew's Directoral Debut

Drew Barrymore is best known for starring in and producing such films as "Charlie's Angels," "Fifty First Dates," and "Never Been Kissed."

For her directorial debut she choose a documentary entitled "MTV's Choose or Lose: The Best Place to Start."

On Thursday's The Early Show, Drew speaks to co-anchor Harry Smith about what she learned about the country and her own politics.

"It was always my aspiration in life to become a director and I just thought that doing it in this format, in this forum, documentaries, would be a really interesting way to begin. The subject interested me," says Barrymore, "and it was of the most educational experiences in itself on a filmmaking level, as well as learning how our system works, what's important and how to know yourself personally better and get out there and vote for what you believe should be the world you want to live in and those around you that you love."

Her movie follows her nationwide journey to see how young people feel about voting and the impact young voters could have on the election in November.

In the process she speaks to students, educators, politicians, and celebrities.

"You know, I'm not trying to change the political process," she says, "and how my vote really does affect the world. Because you think that one vote doesn't count. I spoke to so many people who had that attitude. And - I didn't think that it counted or not. I really just didn't know. And I realize how much it really does count. Whether it's so many elections coming down to so few votes or if everybody has that apathetic attitude, nothing really will change. And the personal empowerment that you get when you realize you have the ability to change the world, and Russell Simmons said this great thing. He said, you know, 'People don't realize that their vote is as important as Bill Gates' vote, because it's one vote.' "

Drew's documentary will be airing throughout the month on MTV, which is owned by the same parent company as CBS. She hopes the fact that her movie will reach young viewers on MTV will help start a dialogue in families.

"I think that from my experiences in the last year, most of the kids who are interested and aware of politics of why voting is important, [it] is because someone in their family was speaking to them about it. And I am one of those kids who did not have that. Therefore, I found myself at 28 years old, completely clueless and wanting to start learning at that point in my life. It's certainly never too late. But I just think it's so wonderful to speak about it amongst your family, amongst your friends, amongst your loved ones."

She says she didn't support one party or another in the movie "because I didn't want to alienate anyone. And I don't know where I stand. I just want to find the right person." She adds, " Although I have come to learn how much I care about foreign policy at the same time too. So, that, I'll be thinking about, you know, when I pick the person I want to, too."

Facts About Drew Barrymore:

• Born Drew Blythe Barrymore in Los Angeles, Calif., on Feb. 22, 1975. Part of a famous acting family, she was in television commercials as a baby.
• In 1980, made her TV-movie debut in "Bogie" (CBS), playing Leslie Bogart as a child. Also made her first film appearance in a bit part in "Altered States."
• In 1982, she played Gertie, the younger sister, in "E.T., The Extra-Terrestrial."
• In 1984, when she was just 9 years old, she started drinking (date approximate). She played the title character in the sci-fi thriller "Firestarter;" and starred as a young girl divorcing her parents in "Irreconcilable Differences."
• In 1985, started smoking marijuana (date approximate).
• In 1986, starred in a TV remake of "Babes in Toyland."
• In 1987, began abusing cocaine (date approximate).
• In 1989, was institutionalized in a rehab center-cum-mental institution after a failed suicide attempt (date approximate). She lived with musician and recovering addict David Crosby and his wife, Jan, for close to a year after her treatment.
• In 1990, at age 15, filed papers to become legally emancipated from her parents in order to work the same hours as 18-year-olds (date approximate).
• In 1991, she lived with film director Tamra Davis and her husband briefly.
• In 1992, she had her first starring film role, in "Poison Ivy"; she also had her TV series debut as regular, had featured role in the short-lived summer serial "2000 Malibu Road" (CBS). She also was directed by Davis in "Guncrazy" (shown at film festivals before airing on Showtime prior to its 1993 theatrical release).
• In 1993, Played 'Long Island Lolita' Amy Fisher in the TV movie, "The Amy Fisher Story."
• In 1994, she founded the production company, Flower Films, Inc.
• In 1995, she was cast as the flirtatious Holly in "Boys on the Side," also featuring Whoopi Goldberg and Mary-Louise Parker. Barrymore also starred opposite Chris O'Donnell as his free-spirited, mentally ill romantic interest in "Mad Love."
• The following year, she made a cameo appearance as a high school student targeted by the killer in "Scream;" played featured role as Edward Norton's fiancee in Woody Allen's "Everyone Says I Love You" and had singing voice dubbed.
• In 1998, she starred opposite Adam Sandler in the popular romantic comedy "The Wedding Singer" and she played a character based on Cinderella in the romance "Ever After."
• In 1999, she starred as an awkward twenty-something reporter who returns to high school for an undercover assignment in the romantic comedy "Never Been Kissed." It is the first film produced by her production company Flower Films
• In 2000, she co-starred with Cameron Diaz in big-screen version of the 1970s TV series "Charlie's Angels," also produced by her production company Flower Films
• In 2001, she was executive producer and played supporting role of an English teacher in the critically acclaimed film "Donnie Darko," screened at Sundance. She also had the leading role of a woman who got pregnant as a teenager and then raised her son as a single mom in "Riding in Cars With Boys," directed by Penny Marshall.
• The following year, she played the female lead in "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," directed by George Clooney.
• And in 2003, she reprised her role in "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle." The movie was produced by Barrymore's company, Flower Films, with her partner Nancy Juvonen, and has grossed over $250 million in worldwide box office.
• In 2004's "Fifty First Kisses," Adam Sandler plays a man who falls in love with Lucy (Drew Barrymore), a woman with short-term memory loss.