Oprah Winfrey is producing a Broadway musical based on the novel 'The Color Purple'.

The talk show host, who starred in the 1985 movie version of the Alice Walker book, is investing over $1million in the New York show, which will open in December.

She revealed to America's New York Times newspaper: "I hope to open the door to the possibilities for a world of people who have never been, or even thought of going to a Broadway show."

Oprah, who says the $10million musical has always been her "secret dream", was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Sofia in the Steven Spielberg movie.

'The Color Purple' tells the story of a young black girl called Celie, played by Whoopi Goldberg in the 1985 film, growing up in America's Deep South in the early 1900s.

She is abused by her father, who gets her pregnant, and is later physically and mentally bullied by her husband, Albert, played by Danny Glover.

The movie was nominated for a staggering 11 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Original Score.