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Jill Schoelen, who starred as Drew Barrymore’s sister in the 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 little girl who enters the world of living toys, where she must face an evil villain who plans to take over Toyland.
“Babes in Toyland” — which Barrymore later called “an obscure masterpiece” — also featured Pat Morita of “The Karate Kid” fame and a young Keanu Reeves before he hit the big time.
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“Babes in Toyland,” the 1986 Christmas cult, starred Keanu Reeves, Jill Schoelen and Drew Barrymore. (Everett)
Schoelen is returning to his holiday roots. He recently completed a new movie, “Ralph’s Perfekt Christmas,” which will premiere in 2026, and released his first album of the season, “Christmas Is Forever.”
Jill Schoelen told Fox News Digital that she was inspired to record a holiday album after recording “Ralph’s Perfekt Christmas.” (Lesley Bohm)
“What made me leave 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 ambassadors and said I was done.
The actress said that after welcoming her first child, she briefly considered staying in the game business.
WATCH: JILL SCHOELEN OPENS UP ABOUT ‘BABES IN TOYLAND’ AND HER HOLLYWOOD RETURN
“Maybe three months after I had a baby, I realized that I had to open up and go back to work,” she said. “I called my agents and said, ‘I think I’m still open to work.’ I had three job interviews and almost got them all. “
But by his third interview, Schoelen had a nagging feeling he couldn’t ignore – he knew it was time to go, and this time, for good.
Jill Schoelen said she does not regret giving showbiz a break to raise her children. (Michael Healy)
“I remember sitting in the audition with a good part that I was going to get,” Schoelen recalled. “I thought, ‘I need to be home with my baby.’ I called my agents again and said, ‘Okay, I’m really done.’ I turned that corner and never went back.”
Jill Schoelen, seen here in the 1980s, walked in Hollywood for 29 years. (Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch via Getty Images)
Schoelen worked quietly behind the scenes, producing small theater shows. He said he never regretted his decision.
“I really wanted to be a full-time mom,” Schoelen explained. “I know that’s not often said these days, but as the saying goes, ‘To each his own.’ I grew up backwards. In the ’60s and ’70s, many of my friends’ moms stayed at home. My mother not only worked, but also had her own business and was the president of her company. I was brought up in a normal way for most children today.”
Jill Schoelen and Keanu Reeves in “Babes in Toyland.” (Everett)
“For me – and I can only speak for myself – I don’t think it would have been beneficial for me to grow up without my parents,” he continued.
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Jill Schoelen’s new holiday movie, “Ralph’s Perfekt 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 full-time parent. Now, having said that, I think there was a way to balance the two. Maybe I didn’t have to stop working entirely – maybe just cut back by 80% instead of 100%. I understand the other side now that time has passed.”
Schoelen said “Ralph’s Perfekt Christmas” is his first film in 29 years. Described as “a dark comedy from 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 grew up to pursue acting again. (Next Chapter Entertainment)
“I took a long break to raise my children,” said Schoelen. When they got older, I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll go back to work.’ I enjoyed making the Christmas album. I thought, ‘This is a dream – I’ve always wanted to do it. 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. (Michael Healy)
“And I’ve done a Christmas movie in the past,” he laughed.
“Babes in Toyland” premiered on Dec. 19, 1986. Over the years, it became difficult for fans to find a good quality copy, and it came in and out of the holiday TV rotation.
“Babes in Toyland” has been in and out of the holiday TV rotation over the years. (TBM/Alamy)
Schoelen admitted to being hired by Barrymore, who starred in the 1982 hit “ET.” The child star is from one of Hollywood’s most famous acting masters.
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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 defended Barrymore in the set.
“Drew Barrymore was very popular at the time,” Schoelen said. “‘ET’ was my favorite movie of all time next to ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ But I think it’s natural when you work with someone so young to treat them like a child. Although part of him was mature, there was a side of Drew that was still 11—maybe nine or 10. She was a sweet little girl.”
Steven Spielberg and Drew Barrymore pose with ET in Los Angeles, circa 1982. (Mark Sennett/Getty Images)
Schoelen noted that even after filming ended, Barrymore remained supportive of her big on-screen sister.
Drew Barrymore starred alongside Pat Morita of “The Karate Kid” fame. (Pierre Perrin/Sygma via Getty Images)
“After we did ‘Babes in Toyland,’ he was very supportive of the show I was doing in Los Angeles,” Schoelen said. “Drew really stood up for it and helped promote it in the press. I didn’t know at the time that he was struggling and had gone to rehab when he was younger. I was devastated that I didn’t know.”
Barrymore, now 50 and a mother of two daughters, has previously spoken about her battle with addiction, which began when she was 12.
Drew Barrymore, who is now a mother of two teenage girls, has opened up about her addiction problem. (Raymond Hall/Getty Images)
“Even though he was famous and young, he was innocent underneath everything he had in the world at 11 years old – he 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 think that everything about her character was that it brings you back in touch with being a child. And if you think about it, that was very important for a girl of her status, who is already famous and respected. And she is only 11 years old. I can imagine that she is happy to return to innocence.”
Filming in the middle of a hot German summer was no easy task, but the actors quickly bonded. Schoelen recalled that Reeves, who played her love interest – and fell in love with her in real life – was on his way to becoming an actor.
Jill Schoelen said everyone knew Keanu Reeves (pictured here) was on his way to stardom. (CBS via Getty Images)
“He’s already fired up,” said Schoelen. “The public didn’t know her, but she was on the road. She had a lot of movies lined up after ‘Babes in Toyland.’ There was a beautiful innocence about him. I am glad to see that he continues to be a kind and generous person. That is his true essence.”
Jill Schoelen (center) told Fox News Digital that it’s easy to see why “Babes in Toyland” continues to resonate with audiences decades later. (© NBC/Everett Collection)
Today, it’s no surprise that “Babes in Toyland” still resonates with fans decades later.
“There was still a lot of innocence in the ’80s,” Schoelen said. “I think people today are longing for that. There’s a lot of division and anger in the world. We could all use more innocence, more light and more love.”
