US actress Drew Barrymore Tuesday brushed off a sexy magazine photo shoot showing her locking lips with co-star Ellen Page as nothing more than two friends having fun, like "loveable puppy dogs."

The pair, who star in the new film "Whip It" a roller derby romp, were snapped in a smouldering kiss for the upcoming October issue of Marie Claire magazine.

"We're just loveable puppy dogs and we have affection and fun and we're frolicky," said former child star Barrymore, who makes her directorial debut in "Whip It," which premiered at the Toronto film festival.

"That kiss is emblematic of all of us just going, 'We found some awesome friends here and that party continues' and that is a rare and beautiful thing on a film."

And she added: "People can read into it what they want and I find that delicious and funny."

Set in the world of roller derby, which is making a grassroots comeback after being knocked in the 1970s as sexual exploitation of women and not a real sport, "Whip It" stars Page as an unlikely beauty contestant seeking to belong.

It is her first major role since her Academy Award-nominated performance in "Juno," which premiered in Toronto in 2007.

The film also stars Juliette Lewis, Jimmy Fallon, Eve and Alia Shawcat.