Because of the prominence of the Barrymore name in the world of theatre, her move onto the stage began with much publicity including a 1939 cover of Life.

In 1942, she signed a contract with Universal Studios who capitalized on her Barrymore name with a major promotional campaign billing her as "1942's Most Sensational New Screen Personality."

However, alcohol and drug problems soon emerged and negative publicity from major media sources dampened her prospects.

After less than three years in Hollywood, and six significant film roles at Universal, Barrymore's personal problems ended her career.

She squandered her movie earnings and her inheritance from her father's estate, and when her mother died in 1950, Diana was left with virtually nothing from a once-vast family fortune.

That may never be possible.”[4] The following year, Warner Bros. released a movie version of Too Much, Too Soon starring Dorothy Malone as Barrymore and Errol Flynn as her father.