The world finally got the red carpet reunion we've been needing, and it only took a little under 40 years.
On Thursday, Drew Barrymore and Ke Huy Quan presented Steven Spielberg with the first-ever TIME100 Impact Award at the Time100 Gala. The famed director gave both actors their first major film roles.
The reunion immediately reminded fans of the child actors' red carpet photos from the 1984 Youth in Film Awards.
At 12 years old, Quan was cast in Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in 1984. Barrymore was launched into stardom in Spielberg's iconic 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial when she was just seven.
Both actors were nominees at the 1984 Youth in Film Awards, Barrymore for best young actress in a motion picture for her role in Irreconcilable Differences and Quan for best young supporting actor in a motion picture for his performance in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
So it's only appropriate—just shy of four decades later—the duo honored Spielberg with his award.
Quan shared of Spielberg:
“Steven introduced me to this world where his imagination lived and invited me in."
"He showed me how much fun we can have when we let creativity be our guide.”
And Barrymore added her entire life could be traced back to "a choice made by one person."
“He not only changed my life, but I am so happy to be here to honor him tonight to thank him for changing all of our lives.”
“Every person on the planet has a story, and Steven has made us all feel so connected, not only in the movie theaters but in life itself. ”
The twitterverse was absolutely in awe of the full-circle moment.
Spielberg himself gushed about the former child actors.
"I have never been more proud in my working career than being able to find in 1981 6-year-old Drew Barrymore and in early 1983, 11-year-old Ke."
"I was so lucky to find them both, and they have not changed in all those years."
Both Quan and Barrymore were included on the 2023 TIME100 list of most influential people.
The TIME100 Gala is currently streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
Congrats to all three!
