- - Drew Barrymore Calls Sean Whalen Her 'Muse' as They Reminisce About 'Never Been Kissed,' 'Charlie's Angels'

Angela AndaloroFebruary 9, 2026 at 9:02 PM

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Sean Whalen (left), Drew Barrymore

Columbia Pictures (2)

Drew Barrymore and Sean Whalen first worked together on the 1999 film Never Been Kissed

The experience left a lasting impact on Whalen, who recently told PEOPLE what Barrymore's kindness and dedication on set meant to him

On an episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, the two talked about their experiences working on the film and Charlie's Angels the following year

Sean Whalen and Drew Barrymore are giving each other their flowers.

In late 2025, Whalen spoke with PEOPLE about his experiences in acting, including his time playing Merkin Burns, assistant to Barrymore's Josie Gellar, in the 1999 film Never Been Kissed. Whalen lauded praise on Barrymore for her kindness and consideration in her first time producing a film.

On Feb. 4, the two enjoyed a chat as part of The Drew Barrymore Show's "Drew's News" segment. Panelist Ross Matthews told Barrymore about Whalen's kind words and she had nothing but kind things to say in return.

"Sean, he was a really amazing working actor and he was sort of everywhere at the time. He was a very hot person to be able to work alongside of, and then he was like a big muse to my partner Nan [Nancy Juvonen] and I, and we asked him to do Charlie's Angels as well."

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Barrymore explained how Whalen portrayed the passenger her character abducts off the plane in the opening scene of Charlie's Angels, adding, "He's just someone that I loved being around. I think he's very funny and talented and I'm so glad that he remembers that."

Just then, Barrymore's on-set phone rings, with Whalen on the line for a chat. The daytime host thanked him for his kind words.

"I heard that you had said such nice things and that means so much to me because I always felt like we were in it together," she said. "We were just kids, you, me and Nan, trying to make fun, good movies together."

Sean Whalen and Drew Barrymore in "Never Been Kissed"

20th Century Fox

Whalen reiterated what it meant to him how she advocated for him on the Never Been Kissed set, adding, "I was blown away. I was just a young, goofy kid and you had no reason to do that."

"I was a young, goofy kid too! And you know, it all felt like such high stakes, those first chances where you have to prove yourself. And if it doesn't go honestly the right way, you really, in our job and in this industry, most likely don't get a second chance to do it."

Whalen says that Barrymore's approach has inspired him in how he handles cast and crew in his own directing and producing endeavors today.

Sean Whalen in "Charlie's Angels"

Columbia Pictures

"You have no understanding how it affected me. I'm directing now and producing, and my first film that I did, they got a crew for me, and I said, 'I'm gonna get the cast.' And just like you, I cast the right people and I went to every one of them and I said, 'I learned this from Drew Barrymore. I want you to bring me whatever you want to do. And I trust all of you.' "

He continued, "I said, the best comedy I ever worked on was Never Been Kissed and I've never forgotten it. I've always let my actors bring what they want because you taught me that."

Whalen's film, Crust, is available on Tubi, Prime Video, and Apple TV.

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”