Hollywood actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore has revealed how a surprising late-night phone call from John F. Kennedy Jr. led to one of the most memorable magazine covers of the 1990s — her Marilyn Monroe-inspired photoshoot for George magazine.
During the March 5 episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, the 51-year-old actress revisited the story behind the famous 1996 cover, explaining how the idea came together unexpectedly while she was at home in bed.
Barrymore recalled receiving a late-night call from Kennedy, who at the time co-founded the politics-and-pop-culture magazine George with Michael J. Berman. The call quickly turned into a creative discussion about a bold concept for the magazine’s cover.
Reflecting on the cultural spotlight surrounding Kennedy and his wife Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy in the mid-1990s, Barrymore compared their fame to that of modern celebrity power couples.
“They were at the pinnacle of being as big as Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce,” Barrymore said. “Their lives weren’t peaceful. Paparazzi followed them everywhere they went.”
Kennedy pitched the controversial idea of Barrymore recreating Monroe’s iconic look, referencing Monroe’s famous 1962 “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” performance for Kennedy’s father, John F. Kennedy.
Initially cautious about the sensitive historical reference, Barrymore said she asked Kennedy directly how he wanted the photoshoot to be interpreted.
“I wanted to know the tone — whether it was tongue-in-cheek or something more serious,” she explained.
According to Barrymore, Kennedy’s instructions were clear.
“He said he wanted it to be straightforward — sensual, confident and not over-the-top or mocking,” she recalled.
The photoshoot, captured by renowned fashion photographer Mario Sorrenti, went ahead with that vision. Barrymore later heard that Kennedy and his team were pleased with the final images.
George magazine, launched in 1995, aimed to blend politics with pop culture and remained in publication until 2001.
Tragically, Kennedy and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy died in a plane crash near Martha’s Vineyard in July 1999. The magazine ceased publication two years later, marking the end of a unique chapter in media history.