Article: For her first time behind the camera, Drew Barrymore hurtled into the world of roller derby. Not only did she call 'Action,' she got into the action - skates and elbow pads on.

BY JANICE PAGE | GLOBE CORRESPONDENT

The first time I saw a leg whip, it blew my mind.

This was back around 1970, when Saturdays almost always found me in front of the television with my dad, watching a double-barreled assault of roller derby and wrestling. In those days, roller derby was essentially wrestling on eight wheels, much more spectacle than sport, critics will tell you. But all I remember is: It was fast. It was showy. It was brutal. And, unbelievably, it was made for girls.

Drew Barrymore beams brighter than a pigtailed child star whenever people share these kinds of reminiscences, which they're doing quite a lot now that "Whip It" is about to hit theaters and the 34-year-old ...

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