Drew Barrymore Talks 'Hard Time' in First Post-Split Interview: 'I Kind of Knew Life Was Heading in a New Dire

Obviously, not everything in Drew Barrymore's life has been going smoothly recently.

The 41-year-old actress and her husband, Will Kopelman, confirmed they were splitting on Saturday, and in her first interview since the news broke, Barrymore opens up about going through a difficult time "a couple of months ago." Although no papers have been filed yet, a source previously told ET that talk of a separation has been going on since October 2015.

"I had a really hard time a couple of months ago and kind of knew life was heading in a new direction," Barrymore tells PopSugar candidly while promoting the release of her new Barrymore Wines Rosé. "I called someone that I really trust, respect, and believe in, because he has always been the conductor of grace. I said, 'What's your advice?' And he said, 'You put one foot in front of the other.'"

WATCH: Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman Split After 3 Years of Marriage

"I hung up the phone and I thought, 'That is why I call this person,'" the mother-of-two recalls. "It's not only succinct, but it's almost physically productive and life-choice productive. It's just great advice. It's a kind of way in which to live, and I want to be like him. I want to be like that. I want to put one foot in front of the other."

Barrymore also gets emotional while talking about her children: 3-year-old Frankie and 1-year-old Olive, who turns two years old later this month.

"She doesn't want the worry. She needs to know it's going to be OK," she says, describing one of her daughter's strong personality. "It's the only way she will allow herself to be vulnerable. . . . She's mad when something hurts her. She doesn't go to a weak place. Every little girl can only be made to feel safe if they know the parent is solid."

Barrymore, of course, had a notoriously troubled childhood, entering rehab at age 14, and successfully petitioning for juvenile emancipation from her parents. In her 2015 book, Wildflower, the actress revealed that she still had a complicated relationship with her mother, Jaid Barrymore, though she continues to support her financially.

"The only thing I care about, my life's mission and the only thing that matters as of now is that my daughters know what our lives were like, how we lived, and how much I love them," Barrymore says. "For them to know that they were not just loved, but, like, ridiculously, utterly, life-alteringly loved. That's the only reason I'm here now!"

The Charlie's Angels star certainly seems to be taking everything one step at a time since the split, appearing to be in good spirits at the Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival in Northern California on Saturday. Barrymore happily promoted her new rosé, even pouring wine for fans.

WATCH: Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman Release a Joint Statement One Day After Calling It Quits

On Friday, ET confirmed that Barrymore had called it quits with Kopelman, an art consultant, after more than three years of marriage. The two confirmed the news in a joint statement a day later, noting that they will always be "a family."

"Sadly our family is separating legally, although we do not feel this takes away from us being a family," Barrymore and Kopelman said to People. "Divorce might make one feel like a failure, but eventually you start to find grace in the idea that life goes on."

Watch the video below for more on the breakup.

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