Valerie Bertinelli was on Oprah Winfrey’s show yesterday to promote her upcoming biography, Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time. She told Oprah that she thought she may as well let people know her secrets after she publicly lost 40 pounds as a spokesperson for Jenny Craig. She said in a matter-of-fact way that “I just figured, if they’re going to watch me lose 40 lbs. and I’m going to be embarrassed that way, and there’s going to be fat-ass pictures of me with my butt hanging out in Hawaii, I thought, ‘Why not let the inner me out, too?'” [Details from People.com]

Among the revelations in Bertinelli’s upcoming book is the fact that she had a brief relationship with famed producer Steven Spielberg after she read for a part on Raiders of the Lost Ark. She said he sent her flowers afterwards and that “We went out a few times … And did more.”

Bertinelli also told Oprah about how both she and her ex husband Eddie Van Halen cheated on each other during their 20 year marriage. They were together from 1981 and separated in 2001, with their divorce finalized at the end of last year. (Bertinelli did not file for divorce until 2005.)

She said “I cheated. He claims to this day that I cheated first, but I don’t know. I don’t know about the timing.”

In Bertinelli’s book she talks about a passionate kiss she shared with another woman, something Oprah brought up during the interview. Bertinelli asked Oprah if she’d ever kissed a woman, and she said “no” multiple times.

Oprah has been plagued by rumors that she’s secret lovers with her best friend for decades, Gayle King. Both King and Oprah finally addressed the rumors in July, 2006, with Oprah saying “There isn’t a definition in our culture for this kind of bond between women. So I get why people have to label it — how can you be this close without it being sexual?” King said that “if we were gay, we would tell you, because there’s nothing wrong with being gay.”

Oprah went on to praise their friendship, invoking God to say how wonderful their relationship is “”Something about this relationship feels otherworldly to me, like it was designed by a power and a hand greater than my own. Whatever this friendship is, it’s been a very fun ride.”

The two women went on a 3,600 mile cross country car trip together in 2006. Rosie O’Donnel was still co-hosting The View at that time, and said of their trip that “You might be a little bit gay, you’re just not doin’ it.”

Bertinelli came across as friendly and open in her interview with Oprah. Her book Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time is currently available on Amazon.com.