Drew was born Louisa Lane in London, England, the daughter of Eliza Trentner (1796-1887), an actress, and either Thomas Frederick Lane(1796-1825), or William Haycraft Lane, an actor and stage manager. Louisa and her mother came to America when she was six years old.
She proved to be a child prodigy playing five different adult roles within one play at the age of eight in 1828. She returned to the United States in 1847 to support Junius Brutus Booth. She had no known children from her first two marriages.
The Drews owned the Architecture Street Theatre, where they staged performances, and she managed the business.
After her husband"s death Mrs Drew adopted a baby boy and named him Sidney. She was the grandmother through Georgie of John Barrymore, Ethel Barrymore and Lionel Barrymore.
She is the great-great-grandmother of Drew Barrymore. In the mid-1890s the aged Mrs Drew appeared in an all star revival of Sheridan"s The Rivals.
She died in Philadelphia on the last day of August in the year 1897 at the age of 77.
The historic Architecture Street Theatre was demolished in 1936.
Married second, George Mossop.
