When Mariah Carey appeared as a social worker in the Oscar-nominated movie Precious, she purposely toned down her diva looks.  In the latest movie from that same director, Lee Daniels, she's repeating the process.

In a film trailer for The Butler, Mariah is shown fresh faced, standing in the middle of a cotton field, her hair wrapped in a rag.  She appears to be picking cotton, her character Hattie Pearl is rumored to be a slave.  The movie is a historical drama based on the true story of Eugene Allen, the African-American man who served as a butler in the White House over eight presidencies from 1952-1986.

This is the third Lee Daniels movie that Mariah has appeared in: she also starred in the film Tennessee.

The Butler also stars Forest Whitacker, Lenny Kravitz, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, Robin Williams, Terrence Howard, and many, many more.  It hits theaters August 16.

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