JULIE ANDREWS is back in the spotlight, talking about her fabled career in her new autobiography, out April 1, called Home: A Memoir of My Early Years.

Hardly a story out of 'Mary Poppins,' Julie's memoir recounts her tough times and close calls in war-torn England and "humble beginnings" living with her family before finding surprise success at a young age.

"We were all struggling and struggling to keep the house we lived in that we all loved so much," Julie tells our own MARY HART. "Compared to other lives, I think it was it was very crazy. My stepfather was an alcoholic and my mother eventually became that way too. Life was difficult, but I didn't know anything else."

Julie says that when her step-father drank too much,"he was an abusive man … but I'd say in the great scheme of things we were pretty lucky. We somehow avoided really bad things [and] managed to pull through."

"I was lucky enough to have a talent," she continues. "I think if I had just been wondering around in a loose way, with no focus, I probably would have been a very sad or disturbed little girl."

Watch ET for more of Mary's interview with Julie Andrews!