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Octavia Spencer

Octavia Lenora Spencer (born May 25, 1970)[a] is an American actress. She is the recipient of several accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, making her one of two women of color to have received three Oscar nominations and the first black actress to receive two consecutive nominations.[3]

Octavia Spencer
Spencer at the White House in 2016
Born
Octavia Lenora Spencer

(1970-05-25) May 25, 1970 (age 52)
EducationAuburn University at Montgomery
Auburn University (BA)
OccupationActress
Years active1996–present
AwardsFull list

Spencer made her film debut in the 1996 drama A Time to Kill. Following a decade of brief roles in film and television, her breakthrough came in 2011, when she played a maid in 1960s America in The Help, for which she won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. For her performance in Ryan Coogler's biopic Fruitvale Station (2013), she won the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Spencer received further Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress for playing other women in 1960s America, the mathematician Dorothy Vaughan in the biographical drama Hidden Figures (2016), and a cleaning woman in the fantasy drama The Shape of Water (2017). She also appeared in the films Halloween II (2009), Smashed (2012), Snowpiercer (2013), Get on Up (2014), The Divergent Series (2015–16), Gifted (2017), Instant Family (2018), and Onward (2020); and had starring roles in The Shack (2017), Luce (2019), and Ma (2019).

Spencer also had a recurring role in the CBS sitcom Mom (2013–15) and a starring role in the Fox teen drama series Red Band Society (2014–15). She portrays the lead role in the Apple TV+ drama series Truth Be Told (2019–present), and received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for her portrayal of Madam C. J. Walker in the Netflix limited series Self Made (2020). As an author, Spencer created the children's book series Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective. She has published two books in the series, titled The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit (2013) and The Sweetest Heist in History (2015).[4]

Early life

Octavia Lenora Spencer[5] was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and has six siblings, including sisters Rosa and Areka Spencer.[6] Her mother, Dellsena Spencer (1945–1988),[7] worked as a maid.[8] Her father died when she was thirteen.[9] Spencer graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in 1988.[10] She studied at Auburn University at Montgomery,[11] and graduated from Auburn University, where she majored in English with a double minor in journalism and theater.[12] Spencer has dyslexia.[13]

In December 2021 and 2022, Auburn alumna Spencer bought food for students during finals week.[14]

Career

1996–2009

Spencer worked as an intern on the set of The Long Walk Home, a film starring Whoopi Goldberg.[15] 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.[16]

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.[17] Other film credits include: Miss Congeniality 2, Never Been Kissed, Big Momma's House, Bad Santa, Spider-Man, Coach Carter, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! and Pretty Ugly People. 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".[18] 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.[19] In April 2009, Entertainment Weekly listed Spencer as among its "25 Funniest Actresses in Hollywood."[20]

In August 2009, Spencer 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.

 
Spencer (middle) and The Help cast at the 18th Screen Actors Guild Awards

2010–2019

In August 2010, Spencer 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.[21] 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.[22]

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.[23] 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.[24] From September 2014 until February 2015, she starred in Steven Spielberg's Fox drama television series Red Band Society.[25]

Spencer co-starred alongside Kevin Costner in the drama film Black or White (2014)[26] and co-starred as Johanna Reyes in the second installment of the Divergent series, The Divergent Series: Insurgent (2015).[27] She reprised the role in The Divergent Series: Allegiant (2016). She voiced Mrs. Otterton in Disney's Zootopia, 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.[3] 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.[28]

 
Spencer at the Hidden Figures premiere in 2016

In 2017, Spencer 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,[29] and was awarded the Golden Lion for best film in the competition.[30] It also screened at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.[31] 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 as well as the most nominated black actress to date, along with The Help co-star Viola Davis.[3]

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.[32] 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.[33]

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.[34] 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.[35]

Spencer starred alongside Anne Hathaway in Robert Zemeckis's horror comedy The Witches, which released on October 22, 2020. Spencer co-stars with Melissa McCarthy as women who suddenly develop superpowers in the superhero comedy film Thunder Force.[36] She will reunite with her The Help co-star Jessica Chastain for a holiday comedy film.[37]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1996 A Time to Kill Nurse Annette
Valley Girls Cheerleader Short
1997 The 6th Man Nativity Watson
Sparkler Wanda
1998 Making Sandwiches - Short
1999 Never Been Kissed Cynthia
Being John Malkovich Woman in Elevator
Blue Streak Shawna
2000 The Sky Is Falling Nurse #2
Everything Put Together Nurse B
American Virgin Agnes Large
What Planet Are You From? Nurse Damiana
Auto Motives Rhonda Short
Big Momma's House Twila
Four Dogs Playing Poker Lorraine
2001 Sol Goode Unemployment Clerk
The Journeyman Black Belly
2002 Spider-Man Check-In Girl
2003 Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde Security Guard
S.W.A.T. Neighbor in Alley
Chicken Party Laqueta Mills Short
Bad Santa Opal
2004 Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! Janine
Breakin' All the Rules Stylist
2005 Coach Carter Mrs. Battle
Pretty Persuasion Woman
Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School Ayisha Lebaron
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous Octavia – Bookstore
Beauty Shop Big Customer
Wannabe Lady Chanet Janney Jones
2006 Pulse Landlady
2007 The Nines Pedestrian
2008 Pretty Ugly People Mary
The Spleenectomy Nurse Short
Seven Pounds Home Health Care Nurse Kate
Next of Kin Grace
2009 Drag Me to Hell Bank Co-Worker No. 1
The Soloist Troubled Woman
Jesus People: The Movie Angel Angelique
Just Peck Detention Room Teacher
Halloween II Nurse Daniels
The First Time Mrs. Hambrick
Herpes Boy Rochelle
2010 Small Town Saturday Night Rhonda Dooley
Dinner for Schmucks Madame Nora
Love & Distrust Rhonda Video
Peep World Allison
2011 Flypaper Madge Wiggins
The Help Minny Jackson
Girls! Girls! Girls! -
2012 Smashed Jenny
The Perfect Fit Shy Girl Short
Blues for Willadean LaSonia Robinson
2013 Fruitvale Station Wanda
Lost on Purpose Nurse Keller
Snowpiercer Tanya
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters Martha Voice
Paradise Loray
2014 Get On Up Aunt Honey Washington
Black or White Rowena Jeffers
2015 The Divergent Series: Insurgent Johanna Reyes
Fathers and Daughters Dr. Korman
The Great Gilly Hopkins Miss Harris
2016 The Free World Linda Workman
Zootopia Mrs. Otterton Voice
The Divergent Series: Allegiant Johanna Reyes
Car Dogs Mrs. Barrett
Bad Santa 2 Opal
Hidden Figures Dorothy Vaughan
2017 The Shack Papa
Small Town Crime Kelly Banks
Gifted Roberta Taylor
The Shape of Water Zelda Fuller
2018 A Kid Like Jake Judith "Judy" Lawson
Instant Family Karen
2019 Luce Harriet Wilson
Ma Sue Ann "Ma" Ellington
2020 Dolittle Dab-Dab Voice
Onward "Corey" The Manticore Voice
The Witches Grandma
Superintelligence Herself Voice
2021 Thunder Force Emily Stanton / Bingo
Encounter Hattie
2022 Spirited Kimberly

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1997 413 Hope St. Job Counselor #1 Episode: "Pilot"
1998 Moesha Gloria Episode: "Teacher"
To Have & to Hold Clerk Episode: "Right My Fire"
ER Maria Jones Episode: "Hazed and Confused"
1999 Brimstone Duty Nurse Episode: "Faces"
L.A. Doctors Bus Driver Episode: "Forty-Eight Minutes"
Chicago Hope Nurse Jane Episode: "Oh What a Piece of Work Is Man"
Roswell Nurse Episode: "Leaving Normal"
The X-Files Nurse Octavia Episode: "Millennium"
Lansky Evelyn the Maid Television film
2000 Chicken Soup for the Soul Hannah Episode: "Thinking of You/Mama's Soup Pot/The Letter"
Just Shoot Me! Nurse Episode: "Finch on Ice"
Becker Ticket Woman Episode: "One Wong Move"
Malcolm in the Middle Cashier Episode: "High School Play"
City of Angels Nurse Bernice Recurring cast
Missing Pieces Elegant Guest Television film
2001 Grounded for Life Admitting Nurse Episode: "Jimmy's Got a Gun"
Dharma & Greg Gloria Episode: "Wish We Weren't Here"
Follow the Stars Home Hildy Television film
2001–02 The Chronicle Ruby Rydell Recurring cast
Titus Ms. Alice Hays Episode: "Amy's Birthday" & "The Visit"
2002 Presidio Med Sheryl Washington Episode: "Do No Harm"
NYPD Blue Dawna Cahill Episode: "Gypsy Woe's Me"
Little John Waitress Television film
2004–05 LAX Flight Attendant Recurring cast
2005 NYPD Blue Eleanor Jackson Episode: "Old Man Quiver"
CSI: NY Child Welfare Rep Episode: "On the Job"
Medium Jurist Episode: "Judge, Jury and Executioner"
2006 Huff Demetria Episode: "Red Meat"
Standoff Rapid Air Clerk Episode: "Pilot"
2006–07 The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman Female Security Guard Cheryl Recurring cast
2007 Ugly Betty Constance Grady Recurring cast (season 1)
Halfway Home Serenity Johnson Main cast
2008 Wizards of Waverly Place Dr. Evilini Episode: "Wizard School: Part 1 & 2"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Sherry Episode: "Drops' Out"
The Big Bang Theory DMV Employee Episode: "The Euclid Alternative"
Faux Baby Robyn Episode: "Valley of the Fauxs"
2009 Worst Week Nurse Episode: "The Epidural"
Dollhouse Professor Janack Episode: "Echoes"
Raising the Bar Arvina Watkins Recurring cast (season 2)
2010 Hawthorne Emily Thomkins Episode: "Afterglow"
2011 Family Practice Helen Overby Television film
2013 30 Rock Herself Episode: "Game Over"
American Dad! Shonteeva Voice; episode: "For Black Eyes Only"
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film Dr. Nance Television film
2013–15 Mom Regina Tompkins Recurring cast; seasons 1-3
2014–15 Red Band Society Nurse Dena Jackson Main cast
2015 Break a Hip Dr. Trekman Episode: "The Doctor"
Drunk History Harriet Tubman Episode: "Spies"
2017 Saturday Night Live Herself (host) Episode: "Octavia Spencer/Father John Misty"
2018 The Goldbergs: 1990-Something Narrator Television film
2019 Black-ish Herself Episode: "Black History Month"
2019–present Truth Be Told Poppy Parnell Main cast[33]
2020 Self Made Madam C. J. Walker Main cast[34]
2022 Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music & Laughter Herself Television special[38]

Awards and nominations

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.[3][39]

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 BAFTA Award.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Spencer previously had given her birth year as 1972, a date disseminated in reference sources.[1] She announced in May 2020 that she actually had turned 50.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Octavia Spencer Biography: Film Actress, Television Actress (1972–)". Biography.com. from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  2. ^ Spencer at 00:10 in video on her verified Instagram account (Archived from the original on June 27, 2020). Reported in outlets including "Octavia Spencer revises her age upwards for her birthday". RTÉ. May 27, 2020. from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020. The big 5-0. Ugh! Yeah, I know I've been saying I'm 48.
  3. ^ a b c d Nolfi, Joey (January 23, 2018). "Oscars: Octavia Spencer makes history with The Shape of Water nomination". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  4. ^ Deutsch, Lindsay (January 16, 2013). "Cover reveal: Octavia Spencer's first book, 'Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective'". USA Today. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  5. ^ "Octavia Spencer before she was a star". WSFA. Montgomery/Dothan, Alabama. February 26, 2012. from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  6. ^ Shanahan, Mark; Goldstein, Meredith (January 17, 2012). "WRKO's Areka Spencer thrilled for her sister". The Boston Globe. from the original on September 25, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  7. ^ "Public Record of Dellsena Spencer". Familysearch.org. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  8. ^ Calkin, Jessamy (July 16, 2009). "The maid's tale: Kathryn Stockett examines slavery and racism in America's Deep South". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  9. ^ Pringle, Gill (November 7, 2014). "Octavia Spencer interview: The Help star and Oscar winner on becoming James Brown's aunt". The Independent. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  10. ^ . Montgomery Advertiser. January 16, 2012. Archived from the original on February 21, 2015.
  11. ^ Carlton, Bob (August 7, 2011). "Montgomery actress Octavia Spencer may become a star with 'The Help'". The Birmingham News. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  12. ^ Greene, Teri (August 14, 2011). . The Tuscaloosa News. Archived from the original on September 15, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
  13. ^ Good Morning America (April 6, 2017). "Chris Evans, Octavia Spencer and Mckenna Grace open up about 'Gifted'". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  14. ^ "Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer buying food for Auburn students during finals week".
  15. ^ Dreier, Peter (February 27, 2012). "Will The Help's Oscar Revive Interest in The Long Walk Home?". The Huffington Post. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  16. ^ Onstad, Katrina (November 3, 2016). "Octavia Spencer Cracks a Few Hollywood Equations". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  17. ^ Riley, Jenelle (May 4, 2005). . AllBusiness.com. Archived from the original on November 16, 2007. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  18. ^ Riley, Jenelle (August 8, 2011). . Backstage. Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  19. ^ Rosen, Lisa (February 4, 2009). . Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 7, 2009. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
  20. ^ . Entertainment Weekly. April 13, 2009. Archived from the original on April 13, 2009. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
  21. ^ O'Malley, Sheila (August 15, 2011). . iVillage. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  22. ^ Thompson, Arienne (June 29, 2012). "McConaughey, Spencer invited to join Academy". USA Today. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  23. ^ Kit, Borys (April 17, 2012). "Oscar Winner Octavia Spencer to Star in Movie About Controversial Police Killing". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  24. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 30, 2013). "Tate Taylor Reunites With 'The Help's Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer On James Brown Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  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". E! Online. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  26. ^ Obenson, Tambay A. (May 8, 2013). . IndieWire. Archived from the original on May 25, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  27. ^ Sommersby, Yaunna (May 12, 2014). . PageToPremiere.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  28. ^ Kile, Meredith B. (January 16, 2017). "'Hidden Figures' Stars Octavia Spencer & Taraji P. Henson Share the Love After Another Big Box Office Weekend". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  29. ^ Anderson, Ariston (July 27, 2017). "Venice Competition Includes Films From George Clooney, Guillermo del Toro, Darren Aronofsky". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  30. ^ "Guillermo del Toro's 'The Shape of Water' wins Venice Golden Lion". The Guardian. September 9, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  31. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (July 25, 2017). "Toronto Film Festival 2017 Unveils Strong Slate". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  32. ^ "Luce (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  33. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (May 2, 2018). "'Are You Sleeping' Drama Starring Octavia Spencer Gets Apple Series Order; Reese Witherspoon & Peter Chernin Producing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  34. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (July 29, 2018). "Netflix Orders 'Madam C.J. Walker' Limited Series Starring Octavia Spencer & Produced By LeBron James". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  35. ^ "2020 Primetime Emmy® Awards – Nomination Press Release" (PDF). Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  36. ^ Fleming, Mike (March 29, 2019). "Octavia Spencer & Melissa McCarthy As Superheroes? Netflix Closing 'Thunder Force,' With Ben Falcone At Helm". Deadline. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  37. ^ Kroll, Justin; Lang, Brent (January 17, 2018). "Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer to Reunite for Holiday Comedy". Variety. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  38. ^ Matthew, Gilbert (September 19, 2022). "This week's TV: Norman Lear at 100, a comedy about reboots, and a reboot of 'Quantum Leap'". The Boston Globe. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  39. ^ Giliberti, Luca (March 15, 2021). "Viola Davis is now the single most nominated African-American actress in Oscar history". GoldDerby. Retrieved March 15, 2021.

External links

  • Octavia Spencer at IMDb
  • "BlogStage: Perfect Casting". Backstage. May 2010.
  • . Parade. February 22, 2012. Archived from the original on February 26, 2012 – via Kitsap Sun (Bremerton, Washington). ...the 39-year old...

octavia, spencer, octavia, lenora, spencer, born, 1970, american, actress, recipient, several, accolades, including, academy, award, british, academy, film, award, golden, globe, award, making, women, color, have, received, three, oscar, nominations, first, bl. Octavia Lenora Spencer born May 25 1970 a is an American actress She is the recipient of several accolades including an Academy Award a British Academy Film Award a Golden Globe Award making her one of two women of color to have received three Oscar nominations and the first black actress to receive two consecutive nominations 3 Octavia SpencerSpencer at the White House in 2016BornOctavia Lenora Spencer 1970 05 25 May 25 1970 age 52 Montgomery Alabama U S EducationAuburn University at MontgomeryAuburn University BA OccupationActressYears active1996 presentAwardsFull listSpencer made her film debut in the 1996 drama A Time to Kill Following a decade of brief roles in film and television her breakthrough came in 2011 when she played a maid in 1960s America in The Help for which she won several awards including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress For her performance in Ryan Coogler s biopic Fruitvale Station 2013 she won the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress Spencer received further Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress for playing other women in 1960s America the mathematician Dorothy Vaughan in the biographical drama Hidden Figures 2016 and a cleaning woman in the fantasy drama The Shape of Water 2017 She also appeared in the films Halloween II 2009 Smashed 2012 Snowpiercer 2013 Get on Up 2014 The Divergent Series 2015 16 Gifted 2017 Instant Family 2018 and Onward 2020 and had starring roles in The Shack 2017 Luce 2019 and Ma 2019 Spencer also had a recurring role in the CBS sitcom Mom 2013 15 and a starring role in the Fox teen drama series Red Band Society 2014 15 She portrays the lead role in the Apple TV drama series Truth Be Told 2019 present and received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for her portrayal of Madam C J Walker in the Netflix limited series Self Made 2020 As an author Spencer created the children s book series Randi Rhodes Ninja Detective She has published two books in the series titled The Case of the Time Capsule Bandit 2013 and The Sweetest Heist in History 2015 4 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 1996 2009 2 2 2010 2019 2 3 2020 present 3 Filmography 3 1 Film 3 2 Television 4 Awards and nominations 5 See also 6 Footnotes 7 References 8 External linksEarly life EditOctavia Lenora Spencer 5 was born in Montgomery Alabama and has six siblings including sisters Rosa and Areka Spencer 6 Her mother Dellsena Spencer 1945 1988 7 worked as a maid 8 Her father died when she was thirteen 9 Spencer graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in 1988 10 She studied at Auburn University at Montgomery 11 and graduated from Auburn University where she majored in English with a double minor in journalism and theater 12 Spencer has dyslexia 13 In December 2021 and 2022 Auburn alumna Spencer bought food for students during finals week 14 Career Edit1996 2009 Edit Spencer worked as an intern on the set of The Long Walk Home a film starring Whoopi Goldberg 15 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 16 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 17 Other film credits include Miss Congeniality 2 Never Been Kissed Big Momma s House Bad Santa Spider Man Coach Carter Win a Date with Tad Hamilton and Pretty Ugly People 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 amp 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 18 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 19 In April 2009 Entertainment Weekly listed Spencer as among its 25 Funniest Actresses in Hollywood 20 In August 2009 Spencer 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 Spencer middle and The Help cast at the 18th Screen Actors Guild Awards 2010 2019 Edit In August 2010 Spencer 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 21 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 22 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 23 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 24 From September 2014 until February 2015 she starred in Steven Spielberg s Fox drama television series Red Band Society 25 Spencer co starred alongside Kevin Costner in the drama film Black or White 2014 26 and co starred as Johanna Reyes in the second installment of the Divergent series The Divergent Series Insurgent 2015 27 She reprised the role in The Divergent Series Allegiant 2016 She voiced Mrs Otterton in Disney s Zootopia which marked her animated film debut In 2016 she starred alongside Taraji P Henson and Janelle Monae 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 3 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 28 Spencer at the Hidden Figures premiere in 2016 In 2017 Spencer 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 29 and was awarded the Golden Lion for best film in the competition 30 It also screened at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival 31 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 as well as the most nominated black actress to date along with The Help co star Viola Davis 3 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 32 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 33 2020 present Edit 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 34 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 35 Spencer starred alongside Anne Hathaway in Robert Zemeckis s horror comedy The Witches which released on October 22 2020 Spencer co stars with Melissa McCarthy as women who suddenly develop superpowers in the superhero comedy film Thunder Force 36 She will reunite with her The Help co star Jessica Chastain for a holiday comedy film 37 Filmography EditFilm Edit Year Title Role Notes1996 A Time to Kill Nurse AnnetteValley Girls Cheerleader Short1997 The 6th Man Nativity WatsonSparkler Wanda1998 Making Sandwiches Short1999 Never Been Kissed CynthiaBeing John Malkovich Woman in ElevatorBlue Streak Shawna2000 The Sky Is Falling Nurse 2Everything Put Together Nurse BAmerican Virgin Agnes LargeWhat Planet Are You From Nurse DamianaAuto Motives Rhonda ShortBig Momma s House TwilaFour Dogs Playing Poker Lorraine2001 Sol Goode Unemployment ClerkThe Journeyman Black Belly2002 Spider Man Check In Girl2003 Legally Blonde 2 Red White amp Blonde Security GuardS W A T Neighbor in AlleyChicken Party Laqueta Mills ShortBad Santa Opal2004 Win a Date with Tad Hamilton JanineBreakin All the Rules Stylist2005 Coach Carter Mrs BattlePretty Persuasion WomanMarilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing and Charm School Ayisha LebaronMiss Congeniality 2 Armed and Fabulous Octavia BookstoreBeauty Shop Big CustomerWannabe Lady Chanet Janney Jones2006 Pulse Landlady2007 The Nines Pedestrian2008 Pretty Ugly People MaryThe Spleenectomy Nurse ShortSeven Pounds Home Health Care Nurse KateNext of Kin Grace2009 Drag Me to Hell Bank Co Worker No 1The Soloist Troubled WomanJesus People The Movie Angel AngeliqueJust Peck Detention Room TeacherHalloween II Nurse DanielsThe First Time Mrs HambrickHerpes Boy Rochelle2010 Small Town Saturday Night Rhonda DooleyDinner for Schmucks Madame NoraLove amp Distrust Rhonda VideoPeep World Allison2011 Flypaper Madge WigginsThe Help Minny JacksonGirls Girls Girls 2012 Smashed JennyThe Perfect Fit Shy Girl ShortBlues for Willadean LaSonia Robinson2013 Fruitvale Station WandaLost on Purpose Nurse KellerSnowpiercer TanyaPercy Jackson Sea of Monsters Martha VoiceParadise Loray2014 Get On Up Aunt Honey WashingtonBlack or White Rowena Jeffers2015 The Divergent Series Insurgent Johanna ReyesFathers and Daughters Dr KormanThe Great Gilly Hopkins Miss Harris2016 The Free World Linda WorkmanZootopia Mrs Otterton VoiceThe Divergent Series Allegiant Johanna ReyesCar Dogs Mrs BarrettBad Santa 2 OpalHidden Figures Dorothy Vaughan2017 The Shack PapaSmall Town Crime Kelly BanksGifted Roberta TaylorThe Shape of Water Zelda Fuller2018 A Kid Like Jake Judith Judy LawsonInstant Family Karen2019 Luce Harriet WilsonMa Sue Ann Ma Ellington2020 Dolittle Dab Dab VoiceOnward Corey The Manticore VoiceThe Witches GrandmaSuperintelligence Herself Voice2021 Thunder Force Emily Stanton BingoEncounter Hattie2022 Spirited KimberlyTelevision Edit Year Title Role Notes1997 413 Hope St Job Counselor 1 Episode Pilot 1998 Moesha Gloria Episode Teacher To Have amp to Hold Clerk Episode Right My Fire ER Maria Jones Episode Hazed and Confused 1999 Brimstone Duty Nurse Episode Faces L A Doctors Bus Driver Episode Forty Eight Minutes Chicago Hope Nurse Jane Episode Oh What a Piece of Work Is Man Roswell Nurse Episode Leaving Normal The X Files Nurse Octavia Episode Millennium Lansky Evelyn the Maid Television film2000 Chicken Soup for the Soul Hannah Episode Thinking of You Mama s Soup Pot The Letter Just Shoot Me Nurse Episode Finch on Ice Becker Ticket Woman Episode One Wong Move Malcolm in the Middle Cashier Episode High School Play City of Angels Nurse Bernice Recurring castMissing Pieces Elegant Guest Television film2001 Grounded for Life Admitting Nurse Episode Jimmy s Got a Gun Dharma amp Greg Gloria Episode Wish We Weren t Here Follow the Stars Home Hildy Television film2001 02 The Chronicle Ruby Rydell Recurring castTitus Ms Alice Hays Episode Amy s Birthday amp The Visit 2002 Presidio Med Sheryl Washington Episode Do No Harm NYPD Blue Dawna Cahill Episode Gypsy Woe s Me Little John Waitress Television film2004 05 LAX Flight Attendant Recurring cast2005 NYPD Blue Eleanor Jackson Episode Old Man Quiver CSI NY Child Welfare Rep Episode On the Job Medium Jurist Episode Judge Jury and Executioner 2006 Huff Demetria Episode Red Meat Standoff Rapid Air Clerk Episode Pilot 2006 07 The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman Female Security Guard Cheryl Recurring cast2007 Ugly Betty Constance Grady Recurring cast season 1 Halfway Home Serenity Johnson Main cast2008 Wizards of Waverly Place Dr Evilini Episode Wizard School Part 1 amp 2 CSI Crime Scene Investigation Sherry Episode Drops Out The Big Bang Theory DMV Employee Episode The Euclid Alternative Faux Baby Robyn Episode Valley of the Fauxs 2009 Worst Week Nurse Episode The Epidural Dollhouse Professor Janack Episode Echoes Raising the Bar Arvina Watkins Recurring cast season 2 2010 Hawthorne Emily Thomkins Episode Afterglow 2011 Family Practice Helen Overby Television film2013 30 Rock Herself Episode Game Over American Dad Shonteeva Voice episode For Black Eyes Only Call Me Crazy A Five Film Dr Nance Television film2013 15 Mom Regina Tompkins Recurring cast seasons 1 32014 15 Red Band Society Nurse Dena Jackson Main cast2015 Break a Hip Dr Trekman Episode The Doctor Drunk History Harriet Tubman Episode Spies 2017 Saturday Night Live Herself host Episode Octavia Spencer Father John Misty 2018 The Goldbergs 1990 Something Narrator Television film2019 Black ish Herself Episode Black History Month 2019 present Truth Be Told Poppy Parnell Main cast 33 2020 Self Made Madam C J Walker Main cast 34 2022 Norman Lear 100 Years of Music amp Laughter Herself Television special 38 Awards and nominations EditMain 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 3 39 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 BAFTA Award See also EditList of actors with two or more Academy Award nominations in acting categoriesFootnotes Edit Spencer previously had given her birth year as 1972 a date disseminated in reference sources 1 She announced in May 2020 that she actually had turned 50 2 References Edit Octavia Spencer Biography Film Actress Television Actress 1972 Biography com Archived from the original on August 11 2016 Retrieved January 16 2017 Spencer at 00 10 in video on her verified Instagram account Archived from the original on June 27 2020 Reported in outlets including Octavia Spencer revises her age upwards for her birthday RTE May 27 2020 Archived from the original on May 27 2020 Retrieved May 27 2020 The big 5 0 Ugh Yeah I know I ve been saying I m 48 a b c d Nolfi Joey January 23 2018 Oscars Octavia Spencer makes history with The Shape of Water nomination Entertainment Weekly Retrieved January 23 2018 Deutsch Lindsay January 16 2013 Cover reveal Octavia Spencer s first book Randi Rhodes Ninja Detective USA Today Retrieved February 21 2015 Octavia Spencer before she was a star WSFA Montgomery Dothan Alabama February 26 2012 Archived from the original on March 4 2016 Retrieved January 16 2017 Shanahan Mark Goldstein Meredith January 17 2012 WRKO s Areka Spencer thrilled for her sister The Boston Globe Archived from the original on September 25 2017 Retrieved February 2 2015 Public Record of Dellsena Spencer Familysearch org Retrieved February 21 2015 Calkin Jessamy July 16 2009 The maid s tale Kathryn Stockett examines slavery and racism in America s Deep South The Daily Telegraph London Archived from the original on January 11 2022 Retrieved January 27 2019 Pringle Gill November 7 2014 Octavia Spencer interview The Help star and Oscar winner on becoming James Brown s aunt The Independent Retrieved November 2 2018 Octavia Spencer Montgomery native wins Golden Globe Montgomery Advertiser January 16 2012 Archived from the original on February 21 2015 Carlton Bob August 7 2011 Montgomery actress Octavia Spencer may become a star with The Help The Birmingham News Retrieved February 28 2012 Greene Teri August 14 2011 Montgomery native stars in The Help The Tuscaloosa News Archived from the original on September 15 2011 Retrieved July 8 2012 Good Morning America April 6 2017 Chris Evans Octavia Spencer and Mckenna Grace open up about Gifted YouTube Archived from the original on December 14 2021 Retrieved April 8 2017 Oscar winner Octavia Spencer buying food for Auburn students during finals week Dreier Peter February 27 2012 Will The Help s Oscar Revive Interest in The Long Walk Home The Huffington Post Retrieved May 25 2012 Onstad Katrina November 3 2016 Octavia Spencer Cracks a Few Hollywood Equations The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved April 3 2017 Riley Jenelle May 4 2005 Octavia Spencer The Quip Queen AllBusiness com Archived from the original on November 16 2007 Retrieved August 8 2011 Riley Jenelle August 8 2011 How Octavia Spencer Landed the Role of a Lifetime Backstage Archived from the original on March 16 2016 Retrieved August 8 2011 Rosen Lisa February 4 2009 Big impressions in brief roles Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on February 7 2009 Retrieved June 27 2011 The 25 Funniest Actresses in Hollywood Octavia Spencer Entertainment Weekly April 13 2009 Archived from the original on April 13 2009 Retrieved June 27 2011 O Malley Sheila August 15 2011 Could Viola Davis Emma Stone amp Octavia Spencer Get Oscar Nods for The Help iVillage Archived from the original on September 28 2011 Retrieved January 27 2019 Thompson Arienne June 29 2012 McConaughey Spencer invited to join Academy USA Today Retrieved July 19 2013 Kit Borys April 17 2012 Oscar Winner Octavia Spencer to Star in Movie About Controversial Police Killing The Hollywood Reporter Retrieved July 19 2013 Fleming Mike Jr September 30 2013 Tate Taylor Reunites With The Help s Viola Davis Octavia Spencer On James Brown Pic Deadline Hollywood Retrieved October 23 2013 Harnick Chris September 17 2014 Red Band Society Stars Octavia Spencer and Dave Annable on Looking for Life and Laughs in Sickness and Tragedy E Online Retrieved September 18 2014 Obenson Tambay A May 8 2013 Octavia Spencer Will Battle Kevin Costner For Custody In Drama Black And White IndieWire Archived from the original on May 25 2013 Retrieved July 18 2013 Sommersby Yaunna May 12 2014 Casting News Octavia Spencer To Play Johanna In Insurgent PageToPremiere com Archived from the original on November 13 2014 Retrieved September 18 2014 Kile Meredith B January 16 2017 Hidden Figures Stars Octavia Spencer amp Taraji P Henson Share the Love After Another Big Box Office Weekend Entertainment Tonight Retrieved April 3 2017 Anderson Ariston July 27 2017 Venice Competition Includes Films From George Clooney Guillermo del Toro Darren Aronofsky The Hollywood Reporter Retrieved July 27 2017 Guillermo del Toro s The Shape of Water wins Venice Golden Lion The Guardian September 9 2017 Retrieved September 9 2017 Fleming Mike Jr July 25 2017 Toronto Film Festival 2017 Unveils Strong Slate Deadline Hollywood Penske Business Media LLC Retrieved July 25 2017 Luce 2019 Rotten Tomatoes Retrieved October 10 2019 a b Andreeva Nellie May 2 2018 Are You Sleeping Drama Starring Octavia Spencer Gets Apple Series Order Reese Witherspoon amp Peter Chernin Producing Deadline Hollywood Retrieved January 12 2019 a b Andreeva Nellie July 29 2018 Netflix Orders Madam C J Walker Limited Series Starring Octavia Spencer amp Produced By LeBron James Deadline Hollywood Retrieved January 12 2019 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards Nomination Press Release PDF Academy of Television Arts amp Sciences Retrieved July 28 2020 Fleming Mike March 29 2019 Octavia Spencer amp Melissa McCarthy As Superheroes Netflix Closing Thunder Force With Ben Falcone At Helm Deadline Retrieved January 21 2020 Kroll Justin Lang Brent January 17 2018 Jessica Chastain Octavia Spencer to Reunite for Holiday Comedy Variety Retrieved January 12 2019 Matthew Gilbert September 19 2022 This week s TV Norman Lear at 100 a comedy about reboots and a reboot of Quantum Leap The Boston Globe Retrieved September 19 2022 Giliberti Luca March 15 2021 Viola Davis is now the single most nominated African American actress in Oscar history GoldDerby Retrieved March 15 2021 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Octavia Spencer Octavia Spencer at IMDb BlogStage Perfect Casting Backstage May 2010 Octavia Spencer s Surprising Post Oscars Splurge Parade February 22 2012 Archived from the original on February 26 2012 via Kitsap Sun Bremerton Washington the 39 year old Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Octavia Spencer amp oldid 1131090320, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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