Oprah Winfrey is simply dazzling in a shocking pink wrap dress at Los Angeles premiere of Lee Daniels' The Butler

t's hard to ignore the queen of the TV talk show Oprah Winfrey at the best of times.And when she's dressed in a shocking pink, figure-hugging dress and taking command of the red carpet, to overlook her would be frankly impossible.
The chat-show queen and sometime actress stepped out at the Los Angeles premiere of Lee Daniels' The Butler on Monday night - in which she takes on her first major movie role since the 1998 flop Beloved.

Knockout: the chat-show host knows how to dress to grab attention on the red carpet

Oprah ensured she was a talking point in the bright dress which she teamed with pewter peep toe pumps and hooped earrings.

She embraced co-star Forest on the red carpet, hugging him and holding his hands for photographs.

Their co-star Minka Kelly, who plays Jacqueline Kennedy in the film, opted for a bright red dress, black high heels and a half beehive style updo.

Making an arrival: You know when the legendary Oprah Winfrey is in town

Suits you: Oprah carries off the brightest of bright pink dresses with aplomb

Friend of the stars: even acclaimed actor Forest Whitaker wants to pose with Oprah

She joined co-star James Marsden, who plays President John F Kennedy, in signing autographs for fans waiting on the street outside the Regency Theatre in the Westwood area of Los Angeles.

Cast members Cuba Gooding Jr and Jane Fonda, who plays Nancy Raegan also arrived at the screening, with Fonda sporting a beige trouser suit and matching shoes.

In the movie, Forest Whitaker portrays the butler Cecil Gaines and Winfrey his wife Gloria in a story inspired by the life of Eugene Allen, a White House butler who served eight different US presidents.

Embraceable you: Oprah hugged Forest before the screening

Altogether now: David Oyelowo, Lee Daniels, Oprah Winfrey, Forest Whitaker line up for the group shot

Oprah, 59, took some persuasion to take the role, according to director Lee Daniels in an interview with The Daily Beast.

He said: 'She auditioned - but I begged and pleaded with her to. David [Oyelowo] was on board first, and he didn’t have to audition, and then Oprah came in to do a reading with Forest.

'I knew immediately that the chemistry was a Molotov cocktail. Magic. They read the birthday scene where they find out that their son Charlie is dead. And it took me about seven or eight months to convince her to take the part.'

Give us a twirl: Minka Kelly, who plays Jackie Kennedy, looks cute as a button in this pretty, red dress

Iconic role: Minka plays Jacqueline Kennedy in The Butler

The two first ladies: MInka Kelley and Jane Fonda cross generations

Golden girl: Jane Fonda, who plays former First Lady Nancy Reagan in the movie, shimmers in a gold trouser suit

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