Home / Arts and Entertainment / "E.T." Trauma Haunts "Ted Lasso" Star, Seeks Closure on Drew Barrymore's Show
"E.T." Trauma Haunts "Ted Lasso" Star, Seeks Closure on Drew Barrymore's Show
27 Sep, 2025
Summary
- "Ted Lasso" star Jason Sudeikis reveals childhood trauma from watching "E.T."
- Drew Barrymore, who starred in "E.T." as a child, offers to help Sudeikis overcome his PTSD
- Sudeikis equates his appearance on Barrymore's show to "exposure therapy" for his "E.T." trauma
In a surprising revelation, "Ted Lasso" star Jason Sudeikis has opened up about the lasting impact the classic film "E.T." had on him as a child. Appearing on "The Drew Barrymore Show" earlier this week, Sudeikis confessed that the 1982 sci-fi family film "ruined my life" when he first watched it as a young boy.
"When I was 3 or 4, there was like a re-release [of E.T.], and my dad took me and my sister, and he said, 'Oh! This is the best film ever, you're gonna love this film!'" Sudeikis recalled. "And toward the end of the film, I was crying so much I turned to my dad and I said, 'Why have you brought us to this?'"
Barrymore, who was just 6 years old when she starred in the film as Elliott's younger sister Gertie, could empathize with Sudeikis' sentiment. "In all sincerity, I can't even make a joke, I had experiences like that where a film just destroyed me so much," she admitted. Sudeikis jokingly added, "Oh, yeah, [E.T.] ruined my life."
The actor went on to equate his appearance on Barrymore's show to "exposure therapy" as he continues to grapple with the lingering trauma from his childhood viewing of the beloved film. Barrymore assured Sudeikis that she hopes to help him overcome his PTSD through their candid conversation.
