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Octavia Spencer

Acting 55 years old Montgomery, Alabama, USA ★ 3.1
Born: May 25, 1970

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.

External Links

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Known For

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen Self - Guest 2009
Young Sheldon
Young Sheldon Officer Rhonda Tomasson 2017
Mom
Mom Regina Tompkins 2013
Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle Cashier 2000
30 Rock
30 Rock Octavia Spencer 2006

Jimmy's Seen (8)

Drag Me to Hell
Drag Me to Hell Bank Co-Worker 2009
Fruitvale Station
Fruitvale Station Co-Executive Producer 2013
Snowpiercer
Snowpiercer Tanya 2013
Ma
Ma Executive Producer 2019
Allegiant
Allegiant Johanna Reyes 2016
Die Hard
Die Hard Self 1988
Roald Dahl's The Witches
Roald Dahl's The Witches Grandma 2020
HOMECOMING: A film by Beyoncé
HOMECOMING: A film by Beyoncé Self 2019

Filmography

Acting Credits (163)

Tow
Tow Barb 2026
Family Recipe Showdown
Family Recipe Showdown Host 2025
Smurfs
Smurfs Asmodius (voice) 2025
My Happy Place
My Happy Place Self 2025
Number One on the Call Sheet
Number One on the Call Sheet Self 2025
Becoming bell hooks
Becoming bell hooks Self 2024
The Santa Stories
The Santa Stories Detective Grinchauser 2023
Lost Women of Highway 20
Lost Women of Highway 20 Host 2023
Spirited
Spirited Kimberly 2022
Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter
Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter Self 2022
The Jennifer Hudson Show
The Jennifer Hudson Show Self 2022
The Quest for Sleep
The Quest for Sleep Narrator 2022
Encounter
Encounter Hattie Hayes 2021
Thunder Force
Thunder Force Emily Stanton 2021
Superintelligence
Superintelligence Octavia Spencer (voice) 2020
Roald Dahl's The Witches
Roald Dahl's The Witches Grandma 2020
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker Madam C. J. Walker 2020
Onward
Onward The Manticore (voice) 2020
Dolittle
Dolittle Dab-Dab (voice) 2020
Truth Be Told
Truth Be Told Poppy Scoville 2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show
The Kelly Clarkson Show Self 2019
Luce
Luce Harriet Wilson 2019
Ma
Ma Sue Ann 2019
HOMECOMING: A film by Beyoncé
HOMECOMING: A film by Beyoncé Self 2019
Instant Family
Instant Family Karen 2018
A Kid Like Jake
A Kid Like Jake Judy 2018
Small Town Crime
Small Town Crime Kelly Banks 2018
The Shape of Water
The Shape of Water Zelda Fuller 2017
Young Sheldon
Young Sheldon Officer Rhonda Tomasson 2017
Gifted
Gifted Roberta Taylor 2017
The Shack
The Shack Papa / Elouisa 2017
Hidden Figures
Hidden Figures Dorothy Vaughan 2016
Bad Santa 2
Bad Santa 2 Opal 2016
Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party
Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party Team Martha 2016
The Free World
The Free World Linda Workman 2016
To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth Self - Panelist 2016
Car Dogs
Car Dogs Mrs. Barrett 2016
Allegiant
Allegiant Johanna Reyes 2016
Zootopia
Zootopia Mrs. Otterton (voice) 2016
The Great Gilly Hopkins
The Great Gilly Hopkins Miss Harris 2015
Fathers and Daughters
Fathers and Daughters Dr. Corman 2015
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter Self 2015
The Late Late Show with James Corden
The Late Late Show with James Corden Self - Guest 2015
Insurgent
Insurgent Johanna Reyes 2015
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors Self 2014
black-ish
black-ish Octavia Spencer 2014
Red Band Society
Red Band Society Nurse Jackson 2014
Black or White
Black or White Rowena Jeffers 2014
Get On Up
Get On Up Aunt Honey 2014
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Late Night with Seth Meyers Self 2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Self 2014
Off Camera with Sam Jones
Off Camera with Sam Jones Self 2014
Jesus People
Jesus People Angel Angelique 2013
Paradise
Paradise Loray 2013
Lost on Purpose
Lost on Purpose Nurse Keller 2013
Mom
Mom Regina Tompkins 2013
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters Martha (voice) 2013
Snowpiercer
Snowpiercer Tanya 2013
Fruitvale Station
Fruitvale Station Wanda 2013
Drunk History
Drunk History Harriet Tubman 2013
Letters to Jackie: Remembering President Kennedy
Letters to Jackie: Remembering President Kennedy Self - Narrator (voice) 2013
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film Dr. Nance 2013
Blues for Willadean
Blues for Willadean LeSonia Robinson 2012
Smashed
Smashed Jenny 2012
Flypaper
Flypaper Madge Wiggins 2011
The Help
The Help Minny Jackson 2011
Just Peck
Just Peck Detention Teacher 2011
Peep World
Peep World Alison 2010
Love and Distrust
Love and Distrust Rhonda (segment "Auto Motives") 2010
Dinner for Schmucks
Dinner for Schmucks Madame Nora 2010
Small Town Saturday Night
Small Town Saturday Night Rhonda Dooley 2010
Herpes Boy
Herpes Boy Rochelle 2009
Halloween II
Halloween II Nurse Daniels 2009
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen Self - Guest 2009
Drag Me to Hell
Drag Me to Hell Bank Co-Worker 2009
The Soloist
The Soloist Troubled Woman 2009
Dollhouse
Dollhouse Professor Janack 2009
Love at First Hiccup
Love at First Hiccup Mrs. Hambrick 2009
Seven Pounds
Seven Pounds Kate the Home Health Care Nurse 2008
Pretty Ugly People
Pretty Ugly People Mary 2008
The Spleenectomy
The Spleenectomy Nurse 2008
Raising the Bar
Raising the Bar Arvina Watkins 2008
Wizards of Waverly Place: Wizard School
Wizards of Waverly Place: Wizard School Dr. Evilini 2008
Wizards of Waverly Place
Wizards of Waverly Place Dr. Evilini 2007
Cavemen
Cavemen 2007
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory Octavia 2007
Halfway Home
Halfway Home 2007
The Graham Norton Show
The Graham Norton Show Self 2007
The Nines
The Nines Streetwalker 2007
30 Rock
30 Rock Octavia Spencer 2006
Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty Constance Grady 2006
Standoff
Standoff Rapid Air Clerk 2006
Pulse
Pulse Landlady 2006
The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman
The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman 2006
Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School
Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School Ayisha Lebaron 2006
Beauty Shop
Beauty Shop Big Customer 2005
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous Middle-Aged Woman 2005
American Dad!
American Dad! Shonteeva (voice) 2005
Pretty Persuasion
Pretty Persuasion Woman 2005
Coach Carter
Coach Carter Mrs. Battle 2005
Medium
Medium Jurist 2005
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson Self 2005
CSI: NY
CSI: NY Child Welfare Rep 2004
LAX
LAX Flight Attendant 2004
Breakin' All the Rules
Breakin' All the Rules Stylist 2004
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! Janine 2004
Bad Santa
Bad Santa Opal 2003
Chicken Party
Chicken Party Laqueta Mills 2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show Self 2003
S.W.A.T.
S.W.A.T. Neighbor in Alley 2003
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde Security Guard 2003
Sol Goode
Sol Goode Unemployment Clerk 2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Jimmy Kimmel Live! Self 2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Jimmy Kimmel Live! Self - Guest 2003
Presidio Med
Presidio Med Sheryl Washington 2002
Little John
Little John Waitress 2002
Spider-Man
Spider-Man Check-In Girl 2002
Everything Put Together
Everything Put Together Nurse B 2001
The Chronicle
The Chronicle Ruby Rydell 2001
The Sky is Falling
The Sky is Falling Nurse #2 2001
Follow the Stars Home
Follow the Stars Home Hildy 2001
The Journeyman
The Journeyman Black Belly 2001
Grounded for Life
Grounded for Life Admitting Nurse 2001
Missing Pieces
Missing Pieces Elegant Guest (as Octavia L. Spencer) 2001
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Sherry 2000
Four Dogs Playing Poker
Four Dogs Playing Poker Waitress 2000
American Virgin
American Virgin Agnes Large 2000
Big Momma's House
Big Momma's House Twila 2000
Titus
Titus Ms. Alice Hays 2000
Auto Motives
Auto Motives Rhonda 2000
What Planet Are You From?
What Planet Are You From? Baby Nurse 2000
Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle Cashier 2000
Being John Malkovich
Being John Malkovich Woman in Elevator 1999
Roswell
Roswell Nurse 1999
Blue Streak
Blue Streak Shawna 1999
Never Been Kissed
Never Been Kissed Cynthia 1999
Lansky
Lansky Evelyn 1999
Becker
Becker Ticket Woman 1998
Brimstone
Brimstone Duty Nurse 1998
L.A. Doctors
L.A. Doctors Bus Driver 1998
Sparkler
Sparkler Wanda 1997
Dharma & Greg
Dharma & Greg Gloria 1997
The 6th Man
The 6th Man Nativity Watson 1997
Just Shoot Me!
Just Shoot Me! Nurse 1997
Valley Girls
Valley Girls Cheerleader 1996
A Time to Kill
A Time to Kill Roark's Nurse 1996
The Daily Show
The Daily Show Self 1996
Moesha
Moesha Gloria 1996
ER
ER Maria Jones 1994
Chicago Hope
Chicago Hope Nurse Jane 1994
The X-Files
The X-Files Nurse 1993
Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight Self 1981
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live Self - Host 1975
The Oscars
The Oscars Self - Presenter 1953
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame Elegant guest 1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame Waitress 1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame Hildy 1951
Nobody Nothing Nowhere
Nobody Nothing Nowhere
Untitled Holiday Comedy Project
Untitled Holiday Comedy Project
The Heart
The Heart
Ma 2
Ma 2 Sue Ann
Death of a Salesman
Death of a Salesman Linda Loman
Deck the Y'alls
Deck the Y'alls Gladys Gibbes

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