Drew Barrymore’s ‘Babes in Toyland’ co-star returns to Hollywood after 29 years

Jill Schoelen, who played Drew Barrymore’s sister in the Christmas cult classic “Babes in Toyland,” is returning to Hollywood for the first time in nearly 30 years.

In the 1986 remake, the 11-year-old Barrymore played Lisa, a young girl who is drawn into the surreal fantasy world of living toys, where she must confront an evil villain plotting to take over Toyland.

“Babes in Toyland,” which Barrymore later called “an incomprehensible masterpiece,” also starred Pat Morita of “The Karate Kid” fame and a young Keanu Reeves before his rise to superstardom.

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Schoelen is returning to his holiday roots. He recently completed a new movie. “Ralph’s Perfect Christmas” It will premiere in 2026 and has released its first seasonal album. “Christmas is Forever.”

Jill Schoelen told Fox News Digital that she was inspired to record a holiday album after filming “Ralph’s Perfect Christmas.” (Lesley Bohm)

“What really pushed me to step away from Hollywood was when I found out I was pregnant with my oldest son, Dante,” Schoelen told Fox News Digital. “The day I found out I was pregnant, I called my managers and said, ‘I’m done.'”

The actress said that she thought about staying in show business for a short time after having her first child.

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“I thought maybe I should be open to going back to work three months after having my baby,” she said. “I called my agents and told them, ‘I think I’m still open to work.’ I had three job interviews and accepted almost all of them.”

But by his third audition, Schoelen had a nagging feeling he couldn’t ignore; He knew it was time to go, and this time for good.

Jill Schoelen says she doesn’t regret taking a break from show business to raise her children. (Mikel Healy)

“I remember auditioning for a really good role that I was about to get,” Schoelen recalled. “‘I thought, ‘I should be home with my baby.’ I called my agents again and said, ‘Okay, I’m really done.’ “I turned that corner and never came back.”

Jill Schoelen, seen here in the 1980s, walked away from Hollywood for 29 years. (Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch via Getty Images)

Schoelen worked quietly behind the scenes, preparing small theatrical performances. He said he never regretted his decision.

“I really wanted to be a full-time mom,” Schoelen said. “I know it’s not a popular thing to say these days, but it’s ‘To each their own,’ as the saying goes. I grew up in a backwards way. In the ’60s and ’70s, most of my friends’ mothers were stay-at-home moms. Not only did my mom work, she also owned her own business and was the president of her company. I had an upbringing that’s more common for a lot of kids today.”

Jill Schoelen with Keanu Reeves in “Babes in Toyland.” (Everett)

“For me — and I can only speak for myself — I don’t think it would be in my best interest to grow up without my family,” he continued.

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Jill Schoelen’s new holiday movie “Ralph’s Perfect Christmas” will be released in 2026. (Next Section Entertainment)

“I didn’t want my kids to be in that position. I wanted to be a full-time mom and a fully present parent. Now, having said that, I think there’s a way to balance both. Maybe I didn’t have to stop working altogether — maybe I just reduced it by 80% instead of 100%. Now that time has passed, I understand the other side.”

Schoelen said that “Ralph’s Perfect Christmas” is his first film in 29 years. Described as “a dark comedy from Santa’s naughty list,” it also inspired the holiday album “Christmas Is Forever,” which featured eclectic covers and an original song, “Mingle and Jingle.”

Jill Schoelen said she is waiting until her children are fully grown to continue acting again. (Next Section Entertainment)

“I took a long break to raise my children,” Schoelen said. “When they got older, I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll go back to work.’ I was so excited to do a Christmas album. I thought, ‘This is a dream, I’ve always wanted to do this. I’ve done a Christmas movie, now I’m going to make a Christmas album.'”

Jill Schoelen’s new holiday album “Christmas is Forever” is available now. (Mikel Healy)

“I also did a Christmas movie in the past,” he grinned.

“Babes in Toyland” was first broadcast on December 19, 1986. Over the years it has become harder for fans to find a quality copy, and it has been in and out of holiday TV rotation.

“Babes in Toyland” has been in and out of holiday TV rotation over the years. (TBM/Alamiye)

Schoelen admitted that he was impressed by Barrymore, who starred in the 1982 hit “ET.” The child star came from one of Hollywood’s most famous acting dynasties.

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American child actress Drew Barrymore on the set of Clive Donner’s 1986 television movie “Babes in Toyland”. (Pierre Perrin/Sygma via Getty Images)

Schoelen quickly began guarding Barrymore on set.

“Drew Barrymore was very popular at the time,” Schoelen said. “‘E.T.’ was my favorite movie of all time, after ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ But I think it’s natural when you’re working with someone so young to look at her as if she were a child. Even though part of her was mature, there was still a side of Drew that was 11, maybe even nine or 10. She was such a young, sweet girl.”

Steven Spielberg and Drew Barrymore pose with ET in Los Angeles, circa 1982. (Mark Sennet/Getty Images)

Schoelen noted that even after filming ended, Barrymore continued to support her on-screen sister.

Drew Barrymore starred alongside “The Karate Kid” star Pat Morita. (Pierre Perrin/Sygma via Getty Images)

“After I did ‘Babes in Toyland,’ she started to be very supportive of the show I was doing in Los Angeles,” Schoelen said. “Drew really championed it and helped promote it in the press. I didn’t know at the time that he was struggling and going to rehab at a young age. I felt terrible not knowing.”

Barrymore, who is now 50 and a mother of two daughters, has previously spoken about her struggle with addiction, which started when she was 12 years old.

Drew Barrymore, who is currently the mother of two young daughters, has previously talked about her struggle with addiction. (Raymond Hall/Getty Images)

“Even though he was so famous and young, at age 11 there was still an innocence underneath all his worldliness; he was still a child,” Schoelen said.

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Drew Barrymore was 11 years old when she starred in the movie “Babes in Toyland.” (Pierre Perrin/Sygma via Getty Images)

“And ‘Babes in Toyland,’ I don’t speak for her, but I imagine the whole point of her character is to get you back in touch with being a kid. And when you think about it, that was a big deal for a girl as famous and iconic as her. And you’re only 11 years old. I imagine she enjoys going back to innocence a little bit.”

Shooting in the middle of a hot German summer was no easy task, but the actors quickly bonded. Reeves, who played her love interest and dated her in real life, was already well on his way to stardom, Schoelen recalled.

Jill Schoelen says everyone knows Keanu Reeves (pictured here) is on his way to superstardom. (CBS via Getty Images)

“He had already lit the fire,” Schoelen said. “The public didn’t know her, but she was on her way. She had a lot of movies to make after ‘Babes in Toyland’. There was a beautiful innocence about her. I’m happy to see what a kind and generous person she was. That’s her true essence.”

Jill Schoelen (center) told Fox News Digital it’s easy to see why “Babes in Toyland” continues to resonate with audiences decades later. (© Courtesy of NBC/Everett Collection)

Today, it’s no surprise that “Babes in Toyland” resonates with fans decades later.

“There was still a lot of innocence in the ’80s,” Schoelen reflected. “I think that’s what people are craving today. There’s so much division and anxiety in the world. We all need more innocence, more light, and more love.”