Octavia Spencer

Early life

Octavia Lenora Spencer was born on May 25, 1970, in Montgomery, Alabama, and has six siblings, including sisters Rosa and Areka Spencer. Her mother, Dellsena Spencer (1945–1988), worked as a maid. Her father died when she was thirteen. Spencer graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in 1988. She studied at Auburn University at Montgomery, and graduated from Auburn University, where she majored in English with a double minor in journalism and theater. Spencer has dyslexia. Spencer worked as an intern on the set of The Long Walk Home, a film starring Whoopi Goldberg.

In December 2021 and 2022, Auburn alumna Spencer bought food for students during finals week.

Career

1996–2009

In 1996, Spencer made her film debut as a nurse in Joel Schumacher's A Time to Kill, based on the book by John Grisham. She was originally hired to work on casting, but asked Schumacher if she could audition for a part. In 1997, she moved to Los Angeles on the advice of her friend Tate Taylor, the future director of The Help, in which Spencer would later star.

Other film credits include: Never Been Kissed (1999), Big Momma's House (2000), Spider-Man (2002), S.W.A.T. (2003), Bad Santa (2003), Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004), Coach Carter (2005), Miss Congeniality 2 (2005) and Pretty Ugly People (2008). She has made a number of guest appearances on television series, including Raising the Bar, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Big Bang Theory, Wizards of Waverly Place, Grounded for Life, ER, Titus, Becker, 30 Rock and Dharma & Greg, plus a recurring role on the sitcom Mom. She is also known for her starring roles as Serenity Johnson on Comedy Central's Halfway Home, and Constance Grady, the amorous INS caseworker on Ugly Betty.

In 2003, Spencer made her stage debut in Los Angeles, in Del Shores' play, The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife, starring opposite veteran actress Beth Grant. It was her first and only play, as, she once explained, she suffers from what she called "intense stage fright". Later that year, she starred opposite Allison Janney in Tate Taylor's short feature Chicken Party.

In 2008, Spencer's brief appearance in Seven Pounds as Kate, Rosario Dawson's home care nurse, garnered her high praise and media attention. In April 2009, Entertainment Weekly listed Spencer as among its "25 Funniest Actresses in Hollywood".

In May 2009, Spencer had a role in Sam Raimi's horror film Drag Me to Hell, and in August 2009, she appeared in Rob Zombie's Halloween II. She also had a role in the American remake of the Danish classic Love at First Hiccup, opposite Scout Taylor-Compton. Spencer starred in the feature film Herpes Boy, alongside Beth Grant, Ahna O'Reilly and Byron Lane. She played the voice of "Minny" on the audio version of novel The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. Later that year, Spencer's short film The Captain was honored by the CICFF as a finalist for the REEL Poetry Award.

2010–2019

In July 2010, Spencer appeared with Steve Carell, and Paul Rudd in the comedy Dinner for Schmucks. In August 2011, she joined Viola Davis, Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas Howard in the period drama film The Help, an adaptation of the novel of the same name. She played the feisty and unflappable maid Minny Jackson. The film was written, produced and directed by Tate Taylor, and produced by Brunson Green, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan, and Mark Radcliffe. She won the 2012 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture for her work in The Help. On February 12, 2012, Spencer won a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress for her Performance in The Help, and on February 26 she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the same performance; it was her first Oscar nomination and first win. Spencer was given a standing ovation at the ceremony, and was moved to tears during her acceptance speech. In June 2012, Spencer was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

In 2013, she appeared alongside Michael B. Jordan in Fruitvale Station, a film chronicling the last day of Oscar Grant, who was killed at a Bay Area Rapid Transit station in 2009. In September 2013, it was announced that she would reunite with The Help director Taylor in the biopic on singer James Brown Get On Up, opposite her The Help co-star Viola Davis. The film was released in 2014. From September 2014 until February 2015, she starred in Steven Spielberg's Fox drama television series Red Band Society.

Spencer co-starred alongside Kevin Costner in the drama film Black or White (2014) and co-starred as Johanna Reyes in the second installment of the Divergent series, The Divergent Series: Insurgent (2015). She reprised the role in The Divergent Series: Allegiant (2016). She voiced Mrs. Otterton in Disney's Zootopia (2016), which marked her animated film debut.

In 2016, she starred alongside Taraji P. Henson and Janelle Monáe in Hidden Figures, a film about African-American mathematicians at NASA who were critical to its success in the 1960s in the Space Race, and who each had careers there. She played mathematician and human computer Dorothy Vaughan. The role garnered her a Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance and earned Spencer a second nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, making her the first black actress to follow up an Oscar victory with another nomination, having previously won for The Help. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Spencer bought out a Los Angeles screening of Hidden Figures to treat low-income families that would have been unable to afford to see the film otherwise.

In 2017, Spencer starred in the Christian drama film The Shack and the family drama film Gifted. She co-starred with Sally Hawkins in Guillermo del Toro's dark fantasy drama film The Shape of Water, which follows a mute custodian at a high-security government laboratory who befriends a captured humanoid-amphibian creature. The film was screened in the main competition section of the 74th Venice International Film Festival, where it premiered to positive reviews on August 31, 2017, and was awarded the Golden Lion for best film in the competition. It also screened at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. Spencer earned Golden Globe and BAFTA Award nominations for her portrayal, while receiving her third Academy Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category, making her the first black actress to receive two consecutive Oscar nods in back-to-back years.

In 2018, Spencer has starring roles as a preschool principal in the drama film A Kid Like Jake and a social worker in the comedy film Instant Family. She also executive produced the biographical comedy-drama film Green Book, which went on to receive the Academy Award for Best Picture.

In 2019, she starred as Harriet Wilson, a history teacher who makes an alarming discovery about an all-star student, in the drama film Luce. The film premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and earned critical acclaim. She then received praise for her starring role as Sue Ann "Ma" Ellington in the psychological horror film Ma, which was directed by frequent collaborator Tate Taylor. For the latter, she received a nomination for the Saturn Award for Best Actress. Also in 2019, Spencer returned to television by executive producing and starring in the Apple TV+ drama series Truth Be Told.

2020–present

In January 2020, Spencer had a voice role as Dab-Dab, an enthusiastic duck with a metal leg, in the fantasy comedy film Dolittle, starring Robert Downey Jr. as the titular character. She also voiced a manticore restaurant owner in the Pixar animated fantasy film Onward, which was released in March 2020 to positive reviews.

Spencer executive produced and starred as Madam C. J. Walker in the Netflix biographical limited series Self Made, which was released on March 20, 2020. For her performance in the series, Spencer received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. Spencer starred alongside Anne Hathaway in Robert Zemeckis's horror comedy The Witches, which released on October 22, 2020.

In 2021, Spencer co-starred with Melissa McCarthy as women who suddenly develop superpowers in the superhero comedy film Thunder Force. In 2022, she starred in the Apple TV+ musical comedy film Spirited with Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds. She will reunite with her The Help co-star Jessica Chastain for a holiday comedy film.

Personal life

In 2017, Spencer described herself as Southern Baptist.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Octavia Spencer

Spencer has received three nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, including one win. She is the first African-American actress to receive Academy Award nominations in back-to-back years, the first African-American actress to receive two Academy Award nominations after a win, and the second-most nominated African-American actress to date.

She has also won three Screen Actors Guild Awards, three National Board of Review Awards, two Satellite Awards, two Critics' Choice Movie Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a WSFA Award.

Footnotes

References

References

1. Mike Rose, cleveland com. (May 25, 2024). "Famous birthdays list for today, May 25, 2024 includes celebrities Octavia Spencer, Ian McKellen".
2. "Octavia Spencer Biography: Film Actress, Television Actress (1972–)". [[Biography.com]].
3. (May 27, 2020). "Octavia Spencer revises her age upwards for her birthday". [[RTÉ]].
4. Deutsch, Lindsay. (January 16, 2013). "Cover reveal: Octavia Spencer's first book, 'Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective'". [[USA Today]].
5. (February 26, 2012). "Octavia Spencer before she was a star".
6. (January 17, 2012). "WRKO's Areka Spencer thrilled for her sister". [[The Boston Globe]].
7. "Public Record of Dellsena Spencer".
8. Calkin, Jessamy. (July 16, 2009). "The maid's tale: Kathryn Stockett examines slavery and racism in America's Deep South". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
9. Pringle, Gill. (November 7, 2014). "Octavia Spencer interview: The Help star and Oscar winner on becoming James Brown's aunt". [[The Independent]].
10. (January 16, 2012). "Octavia Spencer, Montgomery native, wins Golden Globe". [[Montgomery Advertiser]].
11. Carlton, Bob. (August 7, 2011). "Montgomery actress Octavia Spencer may become a star with 'The Help'". [[The Birmingham News]].
12. Greene, Teri. (August 14, 2011). "Montgomery native stars in 'The Help'". [[The Tuscaloosa News]].
13. Good Morning America. (April 6, 2017). "Chris Evans, Octavia Spencer and Mckenna Grace open up about 'Gifted'".
14. Dreier, Peter. (February 27, 2012). "Will The Help's Oscar Revive Interest in The Long Walk Home?".
15. (December 5, 2021). "Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer buying food for Auburn students during finals week".
16. Riley, Jenelle. (May 4, 2005). "Octavia Spencer: The Quip Queen".
17. Onstad, Katrina. (November 3, 2016). "Octavia Spencer Cracks a Few Hollywood Equations". The New York Times.
18. Riley, Jenelle. (August 8, 2011). "How Octavia Spencer Landed the Role of a Lifetime".
19. Rosen, Lisa. (February 4, 2009). "Big impressions in brief roles". Los Angeles Times.
20. (April 13, 2009). "The 25 Funniest Actresses in Hollywood: Octavia Spencer".
21. O'Malley, Sheila. (August 15, 2011). "Could Viola Davis, Emma Stone & Octavia Spencer Get Oscar Nods for 'The Help'?".
22. Thompson, Arienne. (June 29, 2012). "McConaughey, Spencer invited to join Academy". [[USA Today]].
23. Kit, Borys. (April 17, 2012). "Oscar Winner Octavia Spencer to Star in Movie About Controversial Police Killing".
24. Fleming, Mike Jr.. (September 30, 2013). "Tate Taylor Reunites With 'The Help's Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer On James Brown Pic".
25. Harnick, Chris. (September 17, 2014). "Red Band Society Stars Octavia Spencer and Dave Annable on Looking for Life and Laughs in Sickness and Tragedy".
26. Obenson, Tambay A.. (May 8, 2013). "Octavia Spencer Will Battle Kevin Costner For Custody In Drama 'Black And White'".
27. Sommersby, Yaunna. (May 12, 2014). "Casting News: Octavia Spencer To Play Johanna In 'Insurgent'".
28. Nolfi, Joey. (January 23, 2018). "Oscars: Octavia Spencer makes history with The Shape of Water nomination".
29. Kile, Meredith B.. (January 16, 2017). "'Hidden Figures' Stars Octavia Spencer & Taraji P. Henson Share the Love After Another Big Box Office Weekend".
30. (March 6, 2015). "Octavia Spencer to Play God in Lionsgate's Adaptation of 'The Shack' (EXCLUSIVE)". variety.com.
31. Busch, Anita. (September 8, 2015). "Octavia Spencer & 9-Year-Old Mckenna Grace Join Marc Webb's 'Gifted'".
32. Anderson, Ariston. (July 27, 2017). "Venice Competition Includes Films From George Clooney, Guillermo del Toro, Darren Aronofsky".
33. (September 9, 2017). "Guillermo del Toro's 'The Shape of Water' wins Venice Golden Lion". [[The Guardian]].
34. Fleming, Mike Jr.. (July 25, 2017). "Toronto Film Festival 2017 Unveils Strong Slate". [[Penske Media Corporation.
35. "Luce (2019)".
36. Andreeva, Nellie. (May 2, 2018). "'Are You Sleeping' Drama Starring Octavia Spencer Gets Apple Series Order; Reese Witherspoon & Peter Chernin Producing".
37. Andreeva, Nellie. (July 29, 2018). "Netflix Orders 'Madam C.J. Walker' Limited Series Starring Octavia Spencer & Produced By LeBron James".
38. "2020 Primetime Emmy® Awards – Nomination Press Release". [[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]].
39. (March 29, 2019). "Octavia Spencer & Melissa McCarthy As Superheroes? Netflix Closing 'Thunder Force,' With Ben Falcone At Helm".
40. Sneider, Jeff. (February 8, 2021). "Exclusive: Octavia Spencer in Talks to Join Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds in Apple's 'Spirited'".
41. (January 17, 2018). "Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer to Reunite for Holiday Comedy".
42. (March 2, 2017). "Why Octavia Spencer isn't buying into 'The Shack's' God controversy".
43. (September 19, 2022). "This week's TV: Norman Lear at 100, a comedy about reboots, and a reboot of 'Quantum Leap'". [[The Boston Globe]].
44. Schneider, Michael. (February 27, 2025). "Bill Nighy Joins Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham in Amazon Prime Video Action Series 'Ride or Die' (EXCLUSIVE)".
45. Giliberti, Luca. (March 5, 2021). "Viola Davis is now the single most nominated African-American actress in Oscar history".