Drew Barrymore confirms divorce rumours

Actress Drew Barrymore and husband Will Kopelman. Photo / Getty Images

Drew Barrymore has confirmed she is divorcing her husband Will Kopelman but they will continue to be "a family" for their daughters.

The Charlie's Angels star and her partner of over three years were hit with split rumours on Friday and the former couple have now released a statement to confirm the speculation and insist they will be putting their two kids Olive and Frankie first.

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

"Our children are our universe, and we look forward to living the rest of our lives with them as the first priority."

Drew, 41, began dating the art consultant in February, 2011, and they tied the knot at her estate in Montecito, California, estate in June, 2012. Their daughters Olive and Frankie are three and 23 months respectively.

The actress had told Us Weekly magazine in November that marriage requires a lot of comprise.

"My husband and I compromise on a lot of things...," she said. "It's the little things that you can change that can make a relationship stronger. Compromise is about changing yourself for the better. It's an opportunity for you to become a more functional, better person."

This was Drew's third marriage. She was married to bar owner Jeremy Thomas for just weeks in 1994, and comedian Tom Green filed for divorce months after they got hitched in July, 2001. The split was finalised in October, 2002.

The actress made her first appearance post-split news on Saturday, when she attended the Pebble Beach Food & Wine event in support of her Barrymore Wines.

Barrymore debuted a new rose at the event, and appeared to be in a happy mood as she greeted wine lovers and fans in the Grand Tasting Tent at the festival.

- WENN