Oprah on being childless and unmarried

Oprah Winfrey has given an insight into her decisions to not marry or have children, despite being with her partner for the last 33 years.

Speaking to People magazine, the billionaire former TV host revealed that she did consider having children when she became engaged, even buying an additional apartment for more space for children.

But after discovering "the depth of responsibility and sacrifice that is actually required to be a mother" through her years hosting the Oprah Winfrey Show, she learned it wasn't for her.

"I realised, 'Whoa, I'm talking to a lot of messed-up people, and they are messed up because they had mothers and fathers who were not aware of how serious that job is,'" Winfrey, 65, said.

"It is why, throughout my years, I have had the highest regard for women who choose to be at home [with] their kids, because I don't know how you do that all day long.

"Nobody gives women the credit they deserve."

She also credited her long-term partner Stedman Graham, 68, for never demanding too much of her after coming home from a 17-hour day at the show.

"I have Stedman, who's letting me be who I need to be in the world," Oprah revealed.

"He's never demanding anything from me like, 'Where's my breakfast? Where's my dinner?' Never any of that, which I believed would have changed had we married."

The pair met at a charity event in 1986, and became engaged in 1992, planning to get married in 1993. However, the wedding never happened.

Winfrey says that her and Graham agree they wouldn't be together now if they had gotten married, adding that they both standby their decision.

Speaking of her decision to be biologically childless, Winfrey adds that she had her chance to be maternal through her leadership academy for girls in South Africa.

"I have not had one regret about [not having children]. I also believe that part of the reason why I don't have regrets is because I got to fulfil it in the way that was best for me," Winfrey said.

"Those girls fill that maternal fold that I perhaps would have had. In fact, they overfill — I'm overflowed with maternal."