Drew Barrymore has banned her children from having a career in acting until they're at least 18 years old.

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore

The 40-year-old actress - who found fame at the age of just seven when she was cast in 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial' - has admitted she will support her children, Olive, three, and 18-month-old daughter Frankie if they want to follow in her footsteps but won't allow them to until they're legally adults.

Asked if she would encourage her daughters if they wanted to become actresses, she said: "One hundred percent. [but not at a young age] no! Not even a little. Not until they're 18. I know it sounds crazy, but I want them to be kids. But I would by no means poo-poo a thing I love so much!"

Although Drew has been bombarded with movie roles since she was a youngster, she believes she's learnt valuable lessons from it and would love for her girls, whom she has with her husband Will Kopelman, to take after her.

She added to PEOPLE.com: "People ask in a weird way, 'Would you let them be actors?!' I'm like, 'What are you insinuating, that acting is so horrible?'

"'What is it that you are saying?' It's wonderful, of course I would encourage it! They just have to be kids."

Meanwhile, the 'Miss You Already' star has admitted she's still "trying to figure out" how to parents her little girls.