Octavia Lenora Spencer (created May 25, 1970) is an American celebrity. She’s famous for her part as Minny, the open maid in the 2011 movie “The Help”, that she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress as well as the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress, among other accolades, for instance, Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress as well as the Screen Actors Guild Award for Exceptional Performance by a Female Performer in a Supporting Role. In August 2009, Spencer appeared in Rob Zombie’s Halloween II. She also had a part in the American remake of the Danish timeless Love in the Beginning Hiccup opposite Scout Taylor-Compton. In August 2010, Spencer joined Viola Davis, Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas Howard in DreamWorks’ creation of The Help, by which she played the feisty and unflappable domestic Minny Jackson. The movie was directed by Tate Taylor, and produced by Brunson Green, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan, and Mark Radcliffe. Her character garnered her critical acclaim, and began discussion of numerous awards nominations. She won the 2012 Gold Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress — Motion Picture for her work in The Help. Spencer was so thrilled to win that she could scarcely speak in the service and was given a standing ovation and was moved to tears during her acceptance speech. In June 2012, Spencer was encouraged to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In September 2013 it was declared that she’d reunite with The Help director Tate Taylor in a biopic on vocalist James Brown. In January 2014, it had been declared that strategies for Spencer to appear as the lead in a remake of Murder, She Wrote had been cancelled. In May 2014, it had been declared that Spencer would play the supporting character of Johanna Reyes in the next episode of the Divergent show, titled The Divergent Series: Insurgent, which can be scheduled to release on 20 March 2015.
Jefferson Davis High School, Auburn Montgomery (Liberal Arts)
Nationality
United States of America
Parents
Dellsena Spencer
Siblings
Areka Spencer, Rosa Spencer
Nicknames
Octavia Lenora Spencer , Octavia L. Spencer , Octavia Spenser
Awards
Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award, Guild Actors Award - all in the category of the Best Supporting actress (2011), REEL Poetry Prize (CICFF , 2009), National Board of Review Award for the Best Supporting Actress (2009),African-American Film Critics Association Award for the Best Support...
Nominations
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series, MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo, Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture, People's Choice Award for Favorite Actress in a New TV Series, AACTA International Award for Best Supporting Actress
Movies
“Coach Carter” (2005), “The Help” (2011), “The Divergent Series: Insurgent” (2015),“Never Been Kissed” (1999), “Big Momma’s House” (2000), “Bad Santa” (2003), “Coach Carter” (2005),“The Captain”, “Fruitvale Station” (2013), “The Shack”, “Gifted”, “Hidd...
TV Shows
“Mom” (2013-), “Red Band Society” (2015), “The Divergent Series: Insurgent” (2015), “The Divergent Series: Allegiant” (2016)
Star Sign
Gemini
#
Trademark
1
Her gap-toothed smile.
#
Quote
1
Meeting Oprah Winfrey, I cried like a baby. Meeting Steven Spielberg, I cried like a baby. Meeting Denzel Washington, I gushed like a crazy woman.
2
You can't rest on your laurels. Because if you go in there and stink up the room, they go, 'They gave that one an Oscar?'
3
[on her role as an alcoholic teacher in 'Smashed'] The subject matter is so relevant.People have been having issues with substance abuse since the dawn of time, I imagine, since they started fermenting fruit and vegetables, for God's sake. It was definitely an enlightening part to play. I'll say that I don't think you can throw a stone and not come in contact with someone who knows someone or has problems with substance abuse.
4
I was always a closet lover of acting. My mom was very practical. She never, ever restricted our dreams, always told us we could do or be anything. Then I said, 'Maybe I want to be an actor'. And she said, 'Maybe not that'.
5
[on 'Smashed'] To say we did it on a shoestring budget would be putting it mildly. We did it on a dental-floss budget.
6
I was not a Girl Scout, but I try to be very prepared. I triple-Spanx!
#
Fact
1
Was the 139th actress to receive an Academy Award for one of the two actress categories, either Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress; she won the Best Supporting Actress Award for The Help (2011) at The 84th Annual Academy Awards (2012) on February 26, 2012.
2
Graduated from Auburn University.
3
Between 1996 and 2013, Spencer has played a nurse at least 16 different times, including in movies such as A Time to Kill (1996) and Seven Pounds (2008), as a regular on the TV show City of Angels (2000) and in guest spots on shows like Chicago Hope (1994), "The X-Files" and Roswell (1999).
Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School
2005
Ayisha Lebaron
Pretty Persuasion
2005
Woman
Coach Carter
2005
Mrs. Battle
Breakin' All the Rules
2004
Stylist (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!
2004
Janine
Bad Santa
2003
Opal (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Chicken Party
2003
Short
Laqueta Mills
S.W.A.T.
2003
Neighbor in Alley (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde
2003
Security Guard (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Sol Goode
2003
Unemployment Clerk (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Presidio Med
2002
TV Series
Sheryl Washington
Titus
2001-2002
TV Series
Ms. Alice Hays / Ms. Hays
Little John
2002
TV Movie
Waitress (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Spider-Man
2002
Check-In Girl
The Chronicle
2001-2002
TV Series
Ruby Rydell
Dharma & Greg
2001
TV Series
Gloria
The Sky Is Falling
2001
Nurse #2
Follow the Stars Home
2001
TV Movie
Hildy (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Grounded for Life
2001
TV Series
Admitting Nurse
The Journeyman
2001
Black Belly (as Octavia Spenser)
City of Angels
2000
TV Series
Nurse Bernice
Malcolm in the Middle
2000
TV Series
Cashier
Becker
2000
TV Series
Ticket Woman
Four Dogs Playing Poker
2000
Waitress (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Big Momma's House
2000
Twila (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Just Shoot Me!
2000
TV Series
Nurse
Auto Motives
2000
Short
Rhonda
What Planet Are You From?
2000
Baby Nurse (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Missing Pieces
2000
TV Movie
Elegant Guest (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Chicken Soup for the Soul
2000
TV Series
Hannah
Everything Put Together
2000
Nurse B (as Octavia L. Spencer)
The X-Files
1999
TV Series
Nurse
Roswell
1999
TV Series
Nurse
Chicago Hope
1999
TV Series
Nurse Jane
Blue Streak
1999
Shawna (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Being John Malkovich
1999
Woman in Elevator (as Octavia L. Spencer)
American Virgin
1999
Agnes Large
L.A. Doctors
1999
TV Series
Bus Driver
Never Been Kissed
1999
Cynthia (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Lansky
1999
TV Movie
Evelyn the Maid (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Brimstone
1999
TV Series
Duty Nurse
ER
1998
TV Series
Maria Jones
To Have & to Hold
1998
TV Series
Clerk
Moesha
1998
TV Series
Gloria
Making Sandwiches
1998
Short uncredited
Sparkler
1997
Wanda
413 Hope St.
1997
TV Series
Job Counselor #1
The Sixth Man
1997
Nativity Watson (as Octavia L. Spencer)
A Time to Kill
1996
Roark's Nurse
The Divergent Series: Ascendant
2017
TV Movie pre-production
Johanna Reyes
Gifted
2017
completed
Roberta Taylor
The Shack
2017
post-production
Papa / Elouisa
Small Town Crime
2017
post-production
Kelly Banks
The Shape of Water
2017
post-production
B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations
announced
Jenny (voice)
Hidden Figures
2016
Dorothy Vaughan
Bad Santa 2
2016
Opal
Car Dogs
2016
Mrs. Barrett
Allegiant
2016
Johanna
The Great Gilly Hopkins
2016
Miss Harris
Zootopia
2016
Mrs. Otterton (voice)
The Free World
2016
Linda Workman
Mom
2013-2015
TV Series
Regina
Fathers & Daughters
2015
Dr. Corman
Drunk History
2015
TV Series
Harriet Tubman
Break a Hip
2015
TV Series
Dr. Trekman
Insurgent
2015
Johanna
Red Band Society
2014-2015
TV Series
Nurse Jackson
Black or White
2014
Rowena Jeffers
Get on Up
2014
Aunt Honey
Paradise
2013/I
Loray
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
2013
Martha (voice)
Snowpiercer
2013
Tanya
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film
2013
TV Movie
Dr. Nance
American Dad!
2013
TV Series
Shonteeva
Lost on Purpose
2013
Nurse Keller
Fruitvale Station
2013
Wanda
Blues for Willadean
2012
LaSonia Robinson
The Perfect Fit
2012
Short
Shy Girl
Smashed
2012
Jenny
Girls! Girls! Girls!
2011
The Help
2011
Minny Jackson
Flypaper
2011
Madge
Family Practice
2011
TV Movie
Helen Overby
Peep World
2010
Alison
Dinner for Schmucks
2010
Madame Nora - Pet Psychic
Hawthorne
2010
TV Series
Emily Tomkins
Small Town Saturday Night
2010
Rhonda Dooley
Raising the Bar
2009
TV Series
Arvina Watkins
Herpes Boy
2009
Rochelle
Love at First Hiccup
2009
Mrs. Hambrick
Halloween II
2009
Nurse Daniels
Just Peck
2009
Detention Teacher
The Soloist
2009
Troubled Woman
Jesus People: The Movie
2009
Angel Angelique
Dollhouse
2009
TV Series
Professor Janack
Drag Me to Hell
2009
Bank Co-Worker
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Small Town Crime
2017
executive producer post-production
Fruitvale Station
2013
co-executive producer
The Unforgiving Minute
2010
Short producer
The Captain
2008/I
Documentary short producer
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Unforgiving Minute
2010
Short
The Captain
2008/I
Documentary short
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Unforgiving Minute
2010
Short
The Captain
2008/I
Documentary short screenplay
Casting Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Tom and Huck
1995
extras casting - as Octavia L. Spencer
The Grass Harp
1995
extras casting
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Mom
2015
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Red Band Society
2014
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Jesus People: The Movie
2009
musician
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
A Time to Kill
1996
staff assistant
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Rising Sun
2012
Short special thanks
The Biggest Schmucks in the World
2011
Video short special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2012-2017
TV Series
Herself - Guest / Herself
Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show
2012-2017
TV Series
Herself - Guest / Herself
E! Live from the Red Carpet
2017
TV Series
Herself
The 74th Golden Globe Awards
2017
TV Special documentary
Herself - Nominee
Entertainment Tonight
2014-2017
TV Series
Herself / Herself - Red Band Society / Himself
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
2017
TV Series
Herself
Made in Hollywood
2011-2016
TV Series
Herself
WGN Morning News
2016
TV Series
Herself
Today
2014-2016
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The 10th Annual CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute
2016
TV Movie
Herself - Presenter
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2016
TV Series
Herself / Herself - Guest
Live with Kelly and Michael
2012-2016
TV Series
Herself - Guest / Herself - Guest Co-Hostess
Insurgent: The Peter Hayes Story
2015
Video short
Herself
Insurgent Unlocked: The Ultimate Behind the Scenes Access
2015
Video documentary
Herself
Shades of Gray: Making Black or White
2015
Video documentary short
Herself
The View
2013-2015
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The Talk
2014-2015
TV Series
Herself - Guest
IMDb: What to Watch
2015
TV Series documentary
Herself
The 87th Annual Academy Awards
2015
TV Special
Herself - Presenter: Glory
The 46th Annual NAACP Image Awards
2015
TV Special
Herself
Selma: The Bridge to the Ballot
2015
Documentary short
Narrator (voice)
The Queen Latifah Show
2014
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Conan
2014
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The Meredith Vieira Show
2014
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Good Morning America
2011-2014
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Late Night with Seth Meyers
2014
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards
2014
TV Special
Herself - Presenter: Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special
Fox and Friends
2014
TV Series
Herself
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
2014
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards
2014
TV Special
Herself - Presenter
The Hollywood Reporter Roundtables
2013
TV Series
Herself
Letters to Jackie: Remembering President Kennedy
2013
Documentary
Narrator
Chelsea Lately
2013
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Good Day L.A.
2013
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The 85th Annual Academy Awards
2013
TV Special
Herself - Presenter: Best Actor in a Supporting Role
18th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards
2013
TV Special
Herself
30 Rock
2013
TV Series
Herself
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
2011-2012
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The 84th Annual Academy Awards
2012
TV Special
Herself - Winner: Best Actress in a Supporting Role
2012 Writers Guild Awards
2012
TV Special
Herself - Presenter
43rd NAACP Image Awards
2012
TV Special
Herself
Oprah's Oscar Special
2012
TV Special
Herself
The Orange British Academy Film Awards
2012
TV Special
Herself
Tavis Smiley
2012
TV Series
Herself - Guest
18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
2012
TV Special
Herself
Movie Talk with Peter Bart
2012
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards
2012
TV Special
Herself - Winner: Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
17th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards
2012
TV Special
Herself
Días de cine
2011
TV Series
Herself
Janela Indiscreta
2011
TV Series
Herself
The Big Picture
2011
TV Series
Herself
The Biggest Schmucks in the World
2011
Video short
Herself
The Room
2006
TV Movie
Herself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Insider
2017
TV Series
Herself
Extra
2014-2015
TV Series
Herself / Herself - Black & White
Chelsea Lately
2013
TV Series
Loray in 'Paradise'
Cinemassacre's Monster Madness
2011
TV Series documentary
Nurse Daniels
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2014
AAFCA Award
African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA)
Best Supporting Actress
Black or White (2014)
2014
Black Reel
Black Reel Awards
Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film (2013)
2013
NBR Award
National Board of Review, USA
Best Supporting Actress
Fruitvale Station (2013)
2012
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
The Help (2011)
2012
Golden Globe
Golden Globes, USA
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
The Help (2011)
2012
BAFTA Film Award
BAFTA Awards
Best Supporting Actress
The Help (2011)
2012
EDA Award
Alliance of Women Film Journalists
Best Supporting Actress
The Help (2011)
2012
Black Reel
Black Reel Awards
Outstanding Supporting Actress
The Help (2011)
2012
Critics Choice Award
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
Best Supporting Actress
The Help (2011)
2012
Woman of the Year
Elle Women in Hollywood Awards
2012
Gold Derby Award
Gold Derby Awards
Supporting Actress
The Help (2011)
2012
Gold Derby Award
Gold Derby Awards
Ensemble Cast
The Help (2011)
2012
Image Award
Image Awards
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
The Help (2011)
2012
NFCS Award
Nevada Film Critics Society
Best Ensemble Cast
The Help (2011)
2012
Breakthrough Performance Award
Palm Springs International Film Festival
The Help (2011)
2012
Actor
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
The Help (2011)
2012
Actor
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
The Help (2011)
2011
AAFCA Award
African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA)
Best Supporting Actress
The Help (2011)
2011
BFCC Award
Black Film Critics Circle Awards
Best Supporting Actress
The Help (2011)
2011
BFCC Award
Black Film Critics Circle Awards
Best Ensemble
The Help (2011)
2011
Hollywood Film Award
Hollywood Film Awards
Ensemble of the Year
The Help (2011)
2011
NBR Award
National Board of Review, USA
Best Acting by an Ensemble
The Help (2011)
2011
NTFCA Award
North Texas Film Critics Association, US
Best Supporting Actress
The Help (2011)
2011
OFCC Award
Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Awards
Best Supporting Actress
The Help (2011)
2011
Special Achievement Award
Satellite Awards
Best Ensemble, Motion Picture
The Help (2011)
2011
SEFCA Award
Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards
Best Ensemble
The Help (2011)
2011
WAFCA Award
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards
Best Supporting Actress
The Help (2011)
2011
WFCC Award
Women Film Critics Circle Awards
Women's Work/Best Ensemble
The Help (2011)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2016
Satellite Award
Satellite Awards
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Hidden Figures (2016)
2015
Black Reel
Black Reel Awards
Outstanding Supporting Actress, Motion Picture
Snowpiercer (2013)
2015
Image Award
Image Awards
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Red Band Society (2014)
2015
Image Award
Image Awards
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Get on Up (2014)
2015
People's Choice Award
People's Choice Awards, USA
Favorite Actress in a New TV Series
2014
Hollywood Award
Acapulco Black Film Festival
Best Supporting Actress
Fruitvale Station (2013)
2014
AACTA International Award
Australian Film Institute
Best Supporting Actress
Fruitvale Station (2013)
2014
Black Reel
Black Reel Awards
Outstanding Supporting Actress, Motion Picture
Fruitvale Station (2013)
2014
Image Award
Image Awards
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Fruitvale Station (2013)
2013
Black Reel
Black Reel Awards
Best Supporting Actress
Smashed (2012)
2013
DFCS Award
Denver Film Critics Society
Best Supporting Actress
Fruitvale Station (2013)
2013
HFCS Award
Houston Film Critics Society Awards
Best Supporting Actress
Fruitvale Station (2013)
2013
SFFCC Award
San Francisco Film Critics Circle
Best Supporting Actress
Fruitvale Station (2013)
2013
WAFCA Award
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards