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IMDbPro

Octavia Spencer

  • Actress
  • Producer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeter
Top 5,000772
Octavia Spencer
Take a closer look at the various roles Octavia Spencer has played throughout her acting career.
Play clip1:26
Octavia Spencer: Movie & TV Moments
99+ Videos
99+ Photos
Spencer is a native of Montgomery, Alabama, which she claims is the proverbial buckle of the Bible belt. She's the sixth of seven siblings and holds a BS in Liberal Arts from Auburn University. A "closet" lover of acting, this practical Alabamian knew that she'd someday work in the film industry, but never dreamed it would be in front of the camera. In 1995, acclaimed director Joel Schumacher changed all that by giving her a small part opposite Sandra Bullock in the hit film A Time to Kill, and Spencer was on her way. In 1996, she teamed up with Bullock again in Bullock's directorial debut of Making Sandwiches, a short film that premiered at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival.

Spencer made her stage debut in Los Angeles and originated the role of "LaSonia" (pronounced lasagna) in famed writer/director Del Shore's, The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife, starring opposite veteran actors Beth Grant, Dale Dickey and David Steen (2003). The play garnered Spencer and her fellow cast mates critical acclaim and a bevy of awards. Since then, Spencer has continued to see success as an actor in both film and television, working alongside Hollywood's elite. In February 2009, she was lauded by Los Angeles Times publication: The Envelope, for her brief but memorable performance in the Will Smith drama Seven Pounds.
BornMay 25, 1970
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornMay 25, 1970
IMDbProStarmeter
Top 5,000772
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Won 1 Oscar

Photos511

Octavia Spencer in Saturday Night Live (1975)
Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe in Hidden Figures (2016)
Octavia Spencer in Fruitvale Station (2013)
Octavia Spencer and André Holland in Black or White (2014)
Gene Murrell, Octavia Spencer, Lucien Eisenach, Elton LeBlanc, Cynthia LeBlanc, Julianne Hough, Samantha Kelly, Patty Chong, Ty Izquierdo, Scott Mirne, Michael David Smith, and Michael Bower in Paradise (2013)
Octavia Spencer in The Shape of Water (2017)
Octavia Spencer in The Help (2011)
Octavia Spencer in Spirited (2022)
Kate Hudson and Octavia Spencer in Last Exit...Oakland (2021)
Octavia Spencer in Brick by Brick It Also Falls (2021)
Mekhi Phifer and Octavia Spencer in Lanterman-Petris-Short (2021)
Octavia Spencer in If Wishes Were Horses (2021)

Known for

Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Mahershala Ali, Glen Powell, Jim Parsons, and Janelle Monáe in Hidden Figures (2016)
Hidden Figures
7.8
  • Dorothy Vaughan
  • 2016
Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer, and Emma Stone in The Help (2011)
The Help
8.1
  • Minny Jackson
  • 2011
Michael B. Jordan in Fruitvale Station (2013)
Fruitvale Station
7.5
  • Wanda
  • 2013
Octavia Spencer and Sam Worthington in The Shack (2017)
The Shack
6.2
  • Papa
  • 2017

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actress

  • The Bobby Love Story
    • Pre-production
  • The Heart
    • Pre-production
  • Kate Hudson and Octavia Spencer in Truth Be Told (2019)
    Truth Be Told
  • Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds in Spirited (2022)
    Spirited
  • Octavia Spencer and Riz Ahmed in Encounter (2021)
    Encounter
  • Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer in Thunder Force (2021)
    Thunder Force
  • Bobby Cannavale and Melissa McCarthy in Superintelligence (2020)
    Superintelligence
    • (voice)
  • Stanley Tucci, Anne Hathaway, Kristin Chenoweth, Josette Simon, Octavia Spencer, Orla O'Rourke, and Jahzir Bruno in The Witches (2020)
    The Witches
  • Octavia Spencer in Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker (2020)
    Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus, John Ratzenberger, Tracey Ullman, Mychael Danna, Jeff Danna, Wilmer Valderrama, Catherine Apple, Sharon Calahan, Grey Griffin, Chris Pratt, Kori Rae, Mel Rodriguez, Dan Scanlon, Octavia Spencer, Keith Bunin, Kyle Bornheimer, Noah Klocek, Lena Waithe, Adam Habib, Jason Headley, Tom Holland, Ali Wong, and George Psarras in Onward (2020)
    Onward
    • (voice)
  • Robert Downey Jr., Emma Thompson, Marion Cotillard, Octavia Spencer, John Cena, Selena Gomez, Rami Malek, Kumail Nanjiani, and Tom Holland in Dolittle (2020)
    Dolittle
    • (voice)
  • Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race (2019)
    Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race
  • Octavia Spencer in Ma (2019)
    Ma
  • Laurence Fishburne, Anthony Anderson, Jenifer Lewis, Tracee Ellis Ross, Yara Shahidi, Marcus Scribner, Miles Brown, and Marsai Martin in Black-ish (2014)
    Black-ish
  • Tim Roth, Octavia Spencer, Naomi Watts, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. in Luce (2019)
    Luce
  • Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Gustavo Escobar, Isabela Merced, and Julianna Gamiz in Instant Family (2018)
    Instant Family
  • Bryan Callen in The Goldbergs (2013)
    The Goldbergs: 1990-Something
    • (voice)

Producer

  • The Bobby Love Story
    • Pre-production
  • Kate Hudson and Octavia Spencer in Truth Be Told (2019)
    Truth Be Told
  • Jeffrey Drew in Right to Try (2021)
    Right to Try
  • Octavia Spencer in Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker (2020)
    Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
  • Octavia Spencer in Ma (2019)
    Ma
  • Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali in Green Book (2018)
    Green Book
  • Candid (2017)
    Candid
  • Small Town Crime (2017)
    Small Town Crime
  • Michael B. Jordan in Fruitvale Station (2013)
    Fruitvale Station
  • The Unforgiving Minute (2010)
    The Unforgiving Minute
  • The Captain (2008)
    The Captain

Director

  • The Unforgiving Minute (2010)
    The Unforgiving Minute
  • The Captain (2008)
    The Captain
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos116

Octavia Spencer: Movie & TV Moments
Clip 1:26
Octavia Spencer: Movie & TV Moments
'The Free World': Clip 5
Clip 1:36
'The Free World': Clip 5
Exclusive Clip
Clip 1:11
Exclusive Clip
Paradise
Clip 1:12
Paradise
Paradise
Clip 0:47
Paradise
How Octavia Spencer's Murder Show Obsession Inspired 'Ma'
Interview 2:48
How Octavia Spencer's Murder Show Obsession Inspired 'Ma'
Oh 'Ma' God: Octavia Spencer's Killer O.M.G. Moments
Interview 2:16
Oh 'Ma' God: Octavia Spencer's Killer O.M.G. Moments
How Jordan Peele's Impression Skills Helped 'Us' Cast Play Doppelgängers
Interview 4:35
How Jordan Peele's Impression Skills Helped 'Us' Cast Play Doppelgängers
'A Kid Like Jake' Stars Step Out of Normal Roles to Celebrate Identity
Interview 2:55
'A Kid Like Jake' Stars Step Out of Normal Roles to Celebrate Identity
'The Shape of Water' Cast Revels in the Magic of Guillermo del Toro
Interview 3:13
'The Shape of Water' Cast Revels in the Magic of Guillermo del Toro
IMDb Snow Hat: My First On-Screen Kiss
Interview 3:21
IMDb Snow Hat: My First On-Screen Kiss
'The Free World' Cast and Filmmaker Talk Diversity on Set
Interview 3:23
'The Free World' Cast and Filmmaker Talk Diversity on Set

Personal details

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    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • May 25, 1970
    • Montgomery, Alabama, USA
  • Other works
    TV commercial for the "Sensa" weight-loss system.
  • Publicity listings
    • 7 Interviews
    • 6 Articles
    • 12 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Is one of 8 African-American actresses to win the Oscar in a competitive category. The others in chronological order are Hattie McDaniel for Gone with the Wind (1939), Whoopi Goldberg for Ghost (1990), Halle Berry for Monster's Ball (2001), Jennifer Hudson for Dreamgirls (2006), Mo'Nique for Precious (2009), Viola Davis for Fences (2016), and Regina King in If Beale Street Could Talk (2018).
  • Quotes
    I was not a Girl Scout, but I try to be very prepared. I triple-Spanx!
    • Her gap-toothed smile

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