LONDON , England ( CNN ) -- She 's only 34 , but Drew Barrymore has spent a lifetime in Hollywood . Since her acting debut aged seven the petite star known for her free-spirited energy and girl power credo has acted in and produced more than 40 films -- all of which she has drawn on for her directorial debut , `` Whip It . '' Hollywood actress , producer and now , director , Drew Barrymore on the set of debut feature `` Whip It . '' `` I 've learned a lot in the time that I 've been in this business and I wanted to apply all those lessons in the first film I directed , '' she told CNN at the movie 's Los Angeles premiere Wednesday . `` Whip It '' tells the story of Bliss Cavendar , a misunderstood Texan teenager forced to follow in the footsteps of her beauty pageant mother . Should actors direct films or should they stick to the day job ? Tell us below in the SoundOff box . But life takes a turn when Bliss , played by Ellen Page of `` Juno , '' discovers the rough and tough world of female roller derby . She joins a team called the Hurl Scouts , rechristening herself Babe Ruthless . Page -- who Barrymore has called the `` angel '' of her story -- leads a cast of wild women on skates , including Juliette Lewis and Barrymore herself , who plays Smashley Simpson , a hippie with anger issues . Barrymore , who has led a varied Hollywood career since `` E.T . '' launched her as a child star in the 1980s , said directing her first film was a dream come true . `` I 've been waiting to make this film my whole life and to tell this story , '' she told CNN last month at the comedy drama 's world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival . Based on the novel `` Derby Girl '' by Shauna Cross , who also wrote the screenplay , `` Whip It '' continues the girl power spirit of earlier Barrymore projects like the `` Charlie 's Angels '' franchise . Over the years Barrymore has become a bankable actress , with roles in a stack of frothy rom coms like `` The Wedding Singer '' and `` 50 First Dates '' under her belt . Barrymore has also explored more serious fare , most recently earning critical acclaim for her portrayal of eccentric Little Edie Beale in the TV movie `` Grey Gardens , '' as well as moving into producing . Her production company , Flower Films , produced both `` Charlie 's Angels '' movies . Barrymore has said that , naturally , she was nervous about making her first feature film . She was unsure of whether she 'd be able to pull it off , but did n't let fear stop her from taking on the challenge . She was drawn to the varied elements of the `` Whip It '' screenplay , which covers themes of love and friendship , as well as a conflict , between Bliss and her mother , played by Marcia Gay Harden . Barrymore may have been a newbie at directing , but actress Page was impressed with her skills . Page told CNN that working with Barrymore was `` absolutely mind blowing '' and called it one of the best experiences she 's had . What does Barrymore attribute her success to ? `` I think if you respect the people you work with and you show up prepared and confident , then what you give is the room to have fun and give them the floor . '' The film opens across the U.S. Friday .
Drew Barrymore made her directorial debut with girl - powered ` ` Whip It '' Actress and producer Barrymore says making the film was a dream come true . Ellen Page of ` ` Juno '' stars as a teen who joins a female roller derby team . Barrymore says she drew on ` ` all those lessons '' from her years in Hollywood .