Drew Barrymore is writing her autobiography.

The 40-year-old actress has signed a deal with Dutton to publish a collection of essays about her life, and despite facing a number of troubled times - including her parents divorcing when she was nine, entering rehab at 14 and two failed marriages - she has promised the memoir will be ''humerous''.

She said: ''I love stories that are humorous, emotional and welcoming, and that is my goal in writing this book.''

The 'Charlie's Angels' actress - who has children Olive, two, and Frankie, 10 months, with husband Will Kopelman - hasn't yet titled the book but the publishers have released details about what she plans to write about.

According to Dutton, the tome will include stories about her ''living on her own at 14 (and how laundry may have saved her life), getting stuck in a gas station overhang on a cross-country road trip, saying goodbye to her father in a way only he could have understood, and many more adventures and lessons that have led to the most important thing in her life, which is motherhood.''

Ben Sevier, publisher of Dutton, added: ''We are thrilled to welcome Drew Barrymore, a true American icon, to the Dutton list, and can't wait to help bring her wonderful writing to the world.''