Barrymore visits Georgetown for ‘Big Miracle’ premiere

While actress Drew Barrymore — keeping with the theme “Alaska Casual” by wearing a floor-length, long-sleeved teal patterned frock (and her new engagement ring) — wouldn’t spill her personal political preferences, she hinted that she needed to take on more issues. “I need to get on the environment too, it’s hard to pick your causes,” she told Yeas & Nays. “I’ve never been very successful in pretending I know how to solve everything, so I try to stay focused on the message, but I do need to branch out more.”

Director Ken Kwapis quickly summed up why Washington should watch the film, a sentiment that many others on the red carpet expressed. “So this is a film about a group of people who set aside their differences and solve a problem, so I think it’s very appropriate that this film premiere in Washington,” he laughed.

That’s because “Big Miracle” follows the real life story of “Operation Breakthrough,” a successful 1988 attempt to save three gray whales that brought together everyone, from Reagan White House staffers to the Soviets.

At the D.C. premiere, some of the real life players were on hand. Alaska Sen. Mark Begich revealed that his current press secretary, Julie Hasquet, even had a role. “For me it’s kind of interesting because my press secretary was a news reporter who covered this story,” Sen. Mark Begich, D-Ala., said. “So when the movie started to be developed, she ended up as an extra in the movie and watched the…actress play her, so for her it was kind of surreal.”

And Barrymore’s muse, environmentalist Cindy Lowry, also attended. “She’s so passionate about issues she cares about and I think she loved this story for many reasons,” Lowry gushed.

Barrymore returned the favor. “I mean the thing that I respect the most about Cindy, other than her wicked awesome personality, is the fact that she will cross boundaries and she will go to like these theatrical and extravagant lengths to get her voice heard,” Barrymore said.