One of the most honest lines in E.T. was improvised by Drew Barrymore, 6 years old

Barrymore's improvisation is a great example of how child actors' innocence, active imagination and lack of self-awareness can make them such compelling performers. This is one of the reasons why Steven Spielberg systematically uses child actors in his films. His films are often awe-inspiring stories about the wonders and difficulties of adolescence, a pivotal period that shapes the rest of our lives. Spielberg often sees the world through the eyes of children and turns them into nuanced characters with a wide range of conflicts, emotions and goals.

The director seems much more connected to his inner child than most other filmmakers of his generation. As film critic Leonard Maltin observed in an “E.T.” 40th Anniversary Featurette: “Steven Spielberg has the gift of penetrating the inner child in each of us because he himself has that quality.” In addition to the “E.T.” As children, he drew incredible performances from Haley Joel Osment as a lonely robotic orphan in "A.I.: Artificial Intelligence," from Christian Bale as a hopeful World War II prisoner in "A.I.: Artificial Intelligence." Empire of the Sun" and Ke Huay Quan as the faithful Short Round. in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom", among others. Watch behind-the-scenes videos of "E.T." with a little Drew Barrymore, you can see how Spielberg fosters a supportive and enjoyable atmosphere on set for his young actors, one that perfectly matches their playful and creative spirit.