Lily Collins Reveals She's Writing a Very Personal Memoir: 'It's Like Having My Diary Published'

Photo: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty

In the movie The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, actress Lily Collins plays Clary, a girl who fights demons of the literal and personal kind — all while sporting dagger-high heels and perfect curls.

Collins, 27, will prove she is just as much a warrior in her upcoming memoir, Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me, in which she says she’ll share details about some “extremely difficult” past relationships.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Collins discusses her collection of inspirational essays, which will be published through HarperCollins in March 2017. Beyond dating, Collins’ book will explore body image, her famous family (dad is musician Phil Collins) and finding her confidence.

“It’s definitely like having my diary published,” says Collins.

Some may raise their brows at Collins declaring she has a less-than-fabulous life (though their brows probably can’t compete with her own famous arches). But despite being raised by a famous dad, the actress has paved her own way in Hollywood starring in movies like Mirror Mirror, Stuck in Love and The Blind Side.

Next up, is her lead role in Rules Don’t Apply (out Nov. 23), directed by Warren Beatty, who she says helped inspire her to write her memoir by teaching her to “just let go.”

“I was put into many situations throughout the years in acting, in Warren’s film especially, where you’re in an intense situation and you have to fight your way through it, go through the emotions, and live and breath those scenes,” says Collins, who also had to get through intense emotions and “dark places” when she was writing.

Some of these “dark places” included past relationships. Collins is careful not to identify any of her ex-boyfriends in the book.

“It was not about attacking, it was about showing how you can be given situations in life and turn them into lessons,” she says about her decision to write about her love life. “It takes knowing what you don’t want to know what you do want.”

Though Collins wouldn’t confirm whether or not she is dating anyone, she made it clear she loves herself as is — unfiltered and unapologetic — and so should any potential mate.

“If you’re into it, great,” she says with a laugh. “If you’re not, nice to meet you.”

Collins first thought of writing a memoir a year and a half ago with the goal to help other young women feel less isolated about problems they face.

“This is my way to open up conversation with young women and say, ‘Hey, we’re all the same,’ ” says Collins.

She adds she was inspired to share her story because of her young followers on social media and after attending WE Day events where teens speak out about various issues.

“They’re so open and honest and inspiring about their stories,”says Collins. “It really encouraged me to be brave like them.”