Octavia Spencer

Octavia Spencer

Acting
Born 1970-05-25Montgomery, Alabama, USA

Biography

Octavia Lenora Spencer (born May 25, 1970) is an American actress. She has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Golden Globe Award, in addition to nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards. 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 drama film The Help, which won her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. In ensuing years, she won the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Ryan Coogler's biopic Fruitvale Station (2013), had a recurring role in the CBS sitcom Mom (2013–2015), and starred in the Fox drama series Red Band Society (2014–2015). Spencer's roles as other black women in 1960s America, as Dorothy Vaughan in the biopic Hidden Figures (2016) and a cleaning woman in the fantasy The Shape of Water (2017), earned her two consecutive nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the first black actress to achieve such feat, as well as the first, and to date only, to be nominated twice after winning. She has since starred in The Divergent Series (2015–16), The Shack (2017), Gifted (2017), Instant Family (2018), Luce (2019), Ma (2019), Onward (2020), and Spirited(2022). She led the Apple TV+ drama series Truth Be Told (2019–2023). She was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for portraying Madam C. J. Walker in the Netflix miniseries 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: The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit (2013) and The Sweetest Heist in History (2015). Description above from the Wikipedia article Octavia Spencer, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Movies (99)

Spider-Man
7.4

Spider-Man

2002Movie7.4
Zootopia
7.8

Zootopia

2016Movie7.8
The Help
8.2

The Help

2011Movie8.2
Hidden Figures
8.0

Hidden Figures

2016Movie8.0
The Shape of Water
7.2

The Shape of Water

2017Movie7.2
Snowpiercer
6.9

Snowpiercer

2013Movie6.9
Onward
7.6

Onward

2020Movie7.6
Insurgent
6.4

Insurgent

2015Movie6.4
Gifted
8.0

Gifted

2017Movie8.0
The Shack
7.5

The Shack

2017Movie7.5
A Time to Kill
7.4

A Time to Kill

1996Movie7.4
Allegiant
6.1

Allegiant

2016Movie6.1
Roald Dahl's The Witches
6.3

Roald Dahl's The Witches

2020Movie6.3
Smurfs
5.7

Smurfs

2025Movie5.7
Dolittle
6.6

Dolittle

2020Movie6.6
S.W.A.T.
6.2

S.W.A.T.

2003Movie6.2
Being John Malkovich
7.4

Being John Malkovich

1999Movie7.4
Instant Family
7.5

Instant Family

2018Movie7.5
Coach Carter
7.6

Coach Carter

2005Movie7.6
Seven Pounds
7.6

Seven Pounds

2008Movie7.6
Ma
5.8

Ma

2019Movie5.8
Blue Streak
6.5

Blue Streak

1999Movie6.5
Drag Me to Hell
6.5

Drag Me to Hell

2009Movie6.5
Bad Santa
6.6

Bad Santa

2003Movie6.6
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde
5.7

Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde

2003Movie5.7
Big Momma's House
5.8

Big Momma's House

2000Movie5.8
Spirited
6.8

Spirited

2022Movie6.8
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
5.7

Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous

2005Movie5.7
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
6.0

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

2013Movie6.0
The Soloist
6.7

The Soloist

2009Movie6.7
Fruitvale Station
7.4

Fruitvale Station

2013Movie7.4
Halloween II
5.3

Halloween II

2009Movie5.3
Pretty Persuasion
5.8

Pretty Persuasion

2005Movie5.8
Tow
6.6

Tow

2026Movie6.6
Beauty Shop
6.3

Beauty Shop

2005Movie6.3
Pulse
5.1

Pulse

2006Movie5.1
Never Been Kissed
6.2

Never Been Kissed

1999Movie6.2
Superintelligence
5.9

Superintelligence

2020Movie5.9
Bad Santa 2
5.4

Bad Santa 2

2016Movie5.4
Dinner for Schmucks
5.7

Dinner for Schmucks

2010Movie5.7
Encounter
6.3

Encounter

2021Movie6.3
Fathers and Daughters
7.2

Fathers and Daughters

2015Movie7.2
Get On Up
6.8

Get On Up

2014Movie6.8
Thunder Force
5.5

Thunder Force

2021Movie5.5
The Great Gilly Hopkins
6.6

The Great Gilly Hopkins

2015Movie6.6
The Nines
6.0

The Nines

2007Movie6.0
Auto Motives
6.0

Auto Motives

2000Movie6.0
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!
5.7

Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!

2004Movie5.7
HOMECOMING: A film by Beyoncé
8.0

HOMECOMING: A film by Beyoncé

2019Movie8.0
What Planet Are You From?
5.4

What Planet Are You From?

2000Movie5.4
Breakin' All the Rules
6.0

Breakin' All the Rules

2004Movie6.0
Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School
5.9

Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School

2006Movie5.9
Flypaper
6.4

Flypaper

2011Movie6.4
The 6th Man
6.1

The 6th Man

1997Movie6.1
Black or White
6.8

Black or White

2015Movie6.8
Letters to Jackie: Remembering President Kennedy
6.6

Letters to Jackie: Remembering President Kennedy

2013Movie6.6
Lansky
5.5

Lansky

1999Movie5.5
Margie Claus

Margie Claus

2027Movie
Luce
6.4

Luce

2019Movie6.4
Car Dogs
5.7

Car Dogs

2016Movie5.7
Death of a Salesman

Death of a Salesman

Movie
Follow the Stars Home
6.4

Follow the Stars Home

2001Movie6.4
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film
7.0

Call Me Crazy: A Five Film

2013Movie7.0
Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter
8.0

Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter

2022Movie8.0
Smashed
6.5

Smashed

2012Movie6.5
Love and Distrust
3.8

Love and Distrust

2010Movie3.8
The Journeyman
5.0

The Journeyman

2001Movie5.0
Small Town Saturday Night
5.2

Small Town Saturday Night

2010Movie5.2
Everything Put Together
4.9

Everything Put Together

2001Movie4.9
American Virgin
3.4

American Virgin

2000Movie3.4
A Kid Like Jake
6.0

A Kid Like Jake

2018Movie6.0
Small Town Crime
6.4

Small Town Crime

2018Movie6.4
Little John
6.4

Little John

2002Movie6.4
Blues for Willadean
4.5

Blues for Willadean

2012Movie4.5
Wizards of Waverly Place: Wizard School
9.0

Wizards of Waverly Place: Wizard School

2008Movie9.0
Becoming bell hooks

Becoming bell hooks

2024Movie
Love at First Hiccup
5.3

Love at First Hiccup

2009Movie5.3
Peep World
4.8

Peep World

2010Movie4.8
Sol Goode
4.2

Sol Goode

2003Movie4.2
Paradise
4.9

Paradise

2013Movie4.9
Just Peck
5.3

Just Peck

2011Movie5.3
Pretty Ugly People
4.3

Pretty Ugly People

2008Movie4.3
The Free World
6.2

The Free World

2016Movie6.2
The Sky is Falling
8.3

The Sky is Falling

2001Movie8.3
The Heart

The Heart

Movie
The Spleenectomy
6.3

The Spleenectomy

2008Movie6.3
Valley Girls

Valley Girls

1996Movie
Four Dogs Playing Poker
4.0

Four Dogs Playing Poker

2000Movie4.0
Chicken Party
8.0

Chicken Party

2003Movie8.0
Ma 2

Ma 2

Movie
Missing Pieces
5.7

Missing Pieces

2001Movie5.7
Herpes Boy

Herpes Boy

2009Movie
Nobody Nothing Nowhere

Nobody Nothing Nowhere

Movie
Sparkler
4.3

Sparkler

1997Movie4.3
Jesus People
4.0

Jesus People

2013Movie4.0
Lost on Purpose
4.3

Lost on Purpose

2013Movie4.3
Deck the Y'alls

Deck the Y'alls

Movie
Untitled Holiday Comedy Project

Untitled Holiday Comedy Project

Movie
The Quest for Sleep
7.0

The Quest for Sleep

2022Movie7.0

TV Shows (65)

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
4.9

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

2009Series4.9
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
5.8

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

2014Series5.8
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
7.6

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

2000Series7.6
American Dad!
7.0

American Dad!

2005Series7.0
The Daily Show
6.4

The Daily Show

1996Series6.4
The Kelly Clarkson Show
6.3

The Kelly Clarkson Show

2019Series6.3
Late Night with Seth Meyers
5.1

Late Night with Seth Meyers

2014Series5.1
Saturday Night Live
6.9

Saturday Night Live

1975Series6.9
Young Sheldon
8.0

Young Sheldon

2017Series8.0
The Graham Norton Show
7.2

The Graham Norton Show

2007Series7.2
The X-Files
8.4

The X-Files

1993Series8.4
The Late Late Show with James Corden
5.1

The Late Late Show with James Corden

2015Series5.1
The Jennifer Hudson Show
5.6

The Jennifer Hudson Show

2022Series5.6
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
6.8

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

2005Series6.8
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
5.3

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

2003Series5.3
The View
4.3

The View

1997Series4.3
CSI: NY
7.3

CSI: NY

2004Series7.3
Malcolm in the Middle
8.5

Malcolm in the Middle

2000Series8.5
Chicago Hope
7.2

Chicago Hope

1994Series7.2
ER
7.8

ER

1994Series7.8
30 Rock
7.5

30 Rock

2006Series7.5
The Big Bang Theory
7.9

The Big Bang Theory

2007Series7.9
Medium
7.5

Medium

2005Series7.5
Mom
7.3

Mom

2013Series7.3
black-ish
7.1

black-ish

2014Series7.1
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
5.6

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

2003Series5.6
Wizards of Waverly Place
8.6

Wizards of Waverly Place

2007Series8.6
Just Shoot Me!
6.6

Just Shoot Me!

1997Series6.6
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
6.2

Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter

2015Series6.2
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
4.2

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

2014Series4.2
Off Camera with Sam Jones
5.0

Off Camera with Sam Jones

2014Series5.0
Ugly Betty
6.4

Ugly Betty

2006Series6.4
Ride or Die
6.6

Ride or Die

2026Series6.6
Number One on the Call Sheet
3.9

Number One on the Call Sheet

2025Series3.9
Grounded for Life
6.8

Grounded for Life

2001Series6.8
Becker
7.2

Becker

1998Series7.2
Dollhouse
7.2

Dollhouse

2009Series7.2
Moesha
6.9

Moesha

1996Series6.9
Roswell
7.7

Roswell

1999Series7.7
The Oscars
7.0

The Oscars

1953Series7.0
Dharma & Greg
6.4

Dharma & Greg

1997Series6.4
Drunk History
6.8

Drunk History

2013Series6.8
Truth Be Told
7.0

Truth Be Told

2019Series7.0
To Tell the Truth
5.8

To Tell the Truth

2016Series5.8
Raising the Bar
6.3

Raising the Bar

2008Series6.3
Titus
6.9

Titus

2000Series6.9
Entertainment Tonight
4.3

Entertainment Tonight

1981Series4.3
L.A. Doctors
8.5

L.A. Doctors

1998Series8.5
Brimstone
7.5

Brimstone

1998Series7.5
Hollywood Black
3.0

Hollywood Black

2024Series3.0
Presidio Med
8.0

Presidio Med

2002Series8.0
Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party
8.5

Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party

2016Series8.5
LAX
7.3

LAX

2004Series7.3
Halfway Home
6.8

Halfway Home

2007Series6.8
Red Band Society
7.2

Red Band Society

2014Series7.2
The Chronicle
8.2

The Chronicle

2001Series8.2
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
7.5

Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker

2020Series7.5
Standoff
6.1

Standoff

2006Series6.1
The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman
5.8

The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman

2006Series5.8
Cavemen
3.7

Cavemen

2007Series3.7
Family Recipe Showdown
10.0

Family Recipe Showdown

2025Series10.0
My Happy Place
1.5

My Happy Place

2025Series1.5
Hallmark Hall of Fame
8.8

Hallmark Hall of Fame

1951Series8.8
The Santa Stories
7.0

The Santa Stories

2023Series7.0
Lost Women of Highway 20
8.0

Lost Women of Highway 20

2023Series8.0