Charlize Theron is frequently overcome by nerves.

The Oscar-winning actress is one of the biggest names in Hollywood, but has revealed she was recently so anxious that she accidentally invited US President Barack Obama to a strip club, telling him that an outing to see scantily-clad ladies would help him find a ''new demographic''.

Charlize said: ''I have this thing that happens when I get nervous, that I get so nervous that I will say something really inappropriate.

''It's like Tourette's in a weird way. Like, I don't know to stop it. It's like blaulalal! It's like verbal diarrhoea.''

Recalling her meeting with the president, she said: ''There was this pause, and I didn't know what to say, and all I could come up with was, 'Well, if you're looking for a different demographic, I can take you to a strip club.'''

And Charlize admitted she was so embarrassed by the incident that she's been replaying it in her mind for weeks.

Speaking on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', she said: ''He was so gracious and funny. He could tell that I was really nervous and he was nothing but lovely. And then I couldn't sleep for like four weeks, because every time I closed my eyes I went, 'Oh my God, I said that! Oh my God, why did I say that!'''