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

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

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

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

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“Babes in Toyland,” a 1986 Christmas cult classic, starred Keanu Reeves, Jill Schoelen and Drew Barrymore. (Everett)

Schoelen returns to her vacation roots. She recently completed a new film, “Ralph’s Perfect Christmas,” scheduled to premiere in 2026, and released her seasonal debut album, “Christmas Is Forever.”

Jill Schoelen told Fox News Digital that she got the idea to record a holiday album after filming “Ralph’s Perfekt Christmas.” (Lesley Bohm)

“What really pushed me to step away from Hollywood was finding 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 agents and said, ‘I’m done’.”

The actress said that after welcoming her first child, she briefly considered staying in show business.

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“Maybe three months after I had my baby, I thought I should be ready to go back to work,” she said. “I called my agents and said, ‘I think I’m still ready to work.’ I had three job interviews and almost got them all.”

But by her third audition, Schoelen had a nagging feeling she couldn’t ignore: She knew it was time to walk away, and this time, for good.

Jill Schoelen has said she doesn’t regret giving showbiz a break to raise her children. (Mikel Healy)

“I remember going to an audition for a really good role that I was about to get,” Schoelen recalls. “I thought, ‘I need to be home with my baby.’ I called my agents back and said, “OK, I’m really done. “I took that step and never looked back.”

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

Schoelen worked quietly behind the scenes, producing small theater shows. She said she never regretted her decision.

“I really wanted to be a full-time mom,” Schoelen said. “I know it’s not popular to say these days, but as the saying goes, ‘To each his own.’ I grew up backwards. In the 60s and 70s, most of my friends’ mothers stayed at home. Not only did my mother work, but she also owned and served as president of her business. I was raised in a way that is more common among many children today.”

Jill Schoelen alongside Keanu Reeves in ‘Babes in Toyland’. (Everett)

“For me – and I can only speak for myself – I don’t think it was in my best interest to grow up without my parents,” she continued.

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Jill Schoelen’s new Christmas movie, “Ralph’s Perfect Christmas,” will premiere in 2026. (Next chapter 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 was a way to balance the two. Maybe I didn’t have to stop working completely — maybe just cut back 80 percent instead of 100 percent. I understand the other side now that time has passed.”

Schoelen said “Ralph’s Perfect Christmas” was his first film in 29 years. Described as “a dark comedy of Santa’s Naughty List,” it also inspired his holiday album “Christmas Is Forever,” which features eclectic covers and an original song, “Mingle and Jingle.”

Jill Schoelen said she waited until her children were fully adults to start playing again. (Next chapter 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 excited to make a Christmas album. I thought, “This is a dream, I’ve always wanted to do this.” I made 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)

“And I’ve already made a Christmas film,” she smiles.

“Babes in Toyland” first aired on December 19, 1986. Over the years, it became difficult for fans to find a good quality copy, and it drifted in and out of the holiday television rotation.

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

Schoelen admitted she was struck 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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The young American actress Drew Barrymore on the set of Clive Donner’s TV movie, “Babes in Toyland”, in 1986. (Pierre Perrin/Sygma via Getty Images)

Schoelen quickly became protective of Barrymore on set.

“Drew Barrymore was very popular at the time,” Schoelen said. “‘ET’ 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 like a child. Even though part of her was mature, there was a side of Drew that was still 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. (Marc Sennet/Getty Images)

Schoelen noted that even after filming ended, Barrymore remained supportive of her on-screen big sister.

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

“After I did ‘Babes in Toyland,’ she became very supportive of a show I was doing in Los Angeles,” Schoelen said. “Drew really championed her and helped promote her in the press. I didn’t know at the time that she was struggling herself and had gone to rehab at a very young age. I felt bad for not knowing.”

Barrymore, now 50 and a mother of two daughters, has previously spoken about her struggles with addiction, which began when she was 12.

Drew Barrymore, now a mother of two young daughters, has previously spoken out about her struggles with addiction. (Raymond Hall/Getty Images)

“Even though she was so famous and so young, she still had an innocence underneath all her worldliness at 11 — she was still a child,” Schoelen said.

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

“And ‘Babes in Toyland,’ I don’t speak for her, but I guess the whole thing about her character is that it puts you back in touch with being a kid. And when you think about it, that was such a big deal for a girl of her stature, already famous and iconic. And you’re only 11. I guess she enjoyed getting her innocence back.”

Filming in the middle of a hot summer in Germany was no easy task, but the actors quickly became friends. Schoelen recalled that Reeves, who played her love interest — and dated her in real life — was already on his way to stardom.

Jill Schoelen said everyone knew Keanu Reeves (pictured here) was on his way to stardom. (CBS via Getty Images)

“He had already started the fire,” Schoelen said. “It’s just that the public didn’t know him, but he was ready to go. He had several films in the works that he would do after ‘Babes in Toyland’. There was a beautiful innocence about him. I’m happy to see what a kind and generous person he continues to be. That’s his 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. (© NBC/courtesy 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 said. “I think people today want that. There is so much division and angst in the world. We could all use more innocence, more light and more love.”