Oprah's reluctance to accept the role was due to fear she would embarrass herself after being stung badly following the failure of Beloved, she told the New York Daily News.
This crisis of confidence came despite winning an Oscar nomination for her acting debut in The Color Purple in 1985.
'I mourned that [Beloved] for a long time, she told the paper. 'I went into - I wouldn't say severe depression, but I could tell that this sadness I was feeling had sort of taken me over.
'I felt like I was behind a veil. I had literally said to myself, "If I am depressed, who am I going to talk to?"'
The newly-weds: Jimmy Kimmel and his new wife Molly McNearney attend the star-studded opening night at the Regal Cinema
More famous faces: actor Cuba Gooding Jr - here with his wife Sara Kapfer - is also on the castlist
Stellar cast: Bold in blue: Actress and comedienne Kym Whitley joins a host of stars at the premiere on Monday night, while singer, dancer and actor Elijah Kelley plays Charlie Gaines
First on board: David Oyelowo - here with Jesse Williams - was the first big name to sign up, according to Lee Daniels
The TV icon bounced back but the experience put her off the idea of acting again.
And when The Butler role came knocking she said: 'It did scare me very much.I said to [Lee Daniels], "I just don't want to embarrass myself".' Lee said, "You won't. Trust me!" I said it was me I have to trust.
'When you have a big, big so-called failure such as that, you have to look at it for what it can teach you.
'How can it grow you up so that you don't have to go through that kind of suffering again? It doesn't mean you won't have it again, but that - that impact - cannot happen again.'
Star of the show: Forest penned his signature for the dozens of waiting fans
Meet and greet: James Marsden signed autographs for fans outside the event
Just gorgeous: Keisha Whitaker (left) wows in a beautiful pale peach gown, Gladys Knight stuck to black and white while TV actress Holly Robinson Peete (right) is bang on trend in black pencil skirt and lemon blouse
But it looks like it will be a different story this time around with the movie already hotly tipped for Oscar glory.
By accepting the role, Oprah she joined a glittering cast which also includes Lenny Kravitz, Vanessa Redgrave, Mariah Carey, Terrence Howard, John Cusack and Robin Williams.
The film is released in the U.S. on August 16.
Hotly anticipated: Oprah and Forest as Gloria Gaines and Cecil Gaines in The Butler
TRAILER: Oprah Winfrey, Forest Whitaker star in The Butler
Source : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2391086/Oprah-Winfrey-dazzles-shocking-pink-dress-Lee-Daniels-The-Butler-premiere-LA.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
