Valerie Bertinelli Reflects on Her ’80s Lost Decade: “I Don’t Remember Anything About That Time”

Valerie Bertinelli Reflects on Her '80s Lost Decade: "I Don't Remember Anything About That Time"

Valerie Bertinelli Reflects on Her ’80s Lost Decade: “I Don’t Remember Anything About That Time”

Valerie Bertinelli has admitted that the 1980s remain a blur for her, especially when it comes to her behavior during that period.

During a recent appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, the actress, known for her role in One Day at a Time, was asked to reflect on several photos from her life, including one from her marriage to late guitarist Eddie Van Halen in 1981. As a photo of her from that time appeared on the screen, Bertinelli candidly remarked, “I look at that and think: ‘That is a puffy face, and someone who needs to start taking care of herself.’” She added, laughing, “I don’t remember that. I don’t remember anything about the ‘80s.”

Though the details of the decade remain fuzzy, Bertinelli openly discussed her struggles with guilt over past behaviors, particularly her experimentation during her younger years. This prompted Drew Barrymore to quip, “That’s such an ABC Afterschool Special term. Were you ever in one of those?”

Bertinelli hadn’t been part of an Afterschool Special, but Barrymore had. “I was, of course. Oh yeah. 15 and Getting Straight,” she said with a wink, recalling the 1989 CBS special she filmed with Tatum O’Neal and Corey Feldman about drug prevention. Barrymore added with a laugh, “I was an Afterschool Special!”

Valerie Bertinelli Reflects on Her '80s Lost Decade: "I Don't Remember Anything About That Time"
Valerie Bertinelli Reflects on Her ’80s Lost Decade: “I Don’t Remember Anything About That Time”

She continued, revealing that she was also part of the famous “Just Say No” campaign with Nancy Reagan during the 1980s. However, she joked, “…until I just said yes.”

As they laughed about their pasts, Bertinelli shared that she’s made peace with her earlier decisions, and encouraged Barrymore to do the same. “Listen, I forgive us for all of that,” she said. “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 agreed, adding, “We hurt ourselves far more than others.”

Both women have been open about their past struggles with drugs. In her 2015 memoir Wildflower, Barrymore shared that she was sent to a treatment facility for 18 months at the age of 13 to battle her drug and alcohol addictions.

For Bertinelli, the 1980s marked a time when she experimented with drugs while married to Van Halen. Reflecting on that period in a 2022 appearance on Rob Lowe’s Literally podcast, she revealed, “Cocaine was everywhere and easy to get.” She admitted that she was “a prude now” but had partaken for several years. Eventually, she knew it was time to get sober after realizing she could no longer bear the sound of birds chirping. “When I would hear birds chirping, I would just get so tense,” she recalled. “And it took me years before I enjoyed a sunrise and enjoyed the birds chirping. Now, it’s why I look forward to it.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

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