Octavia Spencer
Possessing the talent to make even the most minor of roles memorable, Octavia Spencer became a fixture early on, on both the small and big screens, in supporting roles that called for either a caring nurse or a mouthy blue-collar worker. After making her feature film debut in the crime drama "A Time to Kill" (1996), Spencer went on to appear on such popular programs as "Chicago Hope" (CBS, 1994-2000), "The X-Files" (Fox, 1993-2002), and the hit comedy "Ugly Betty" (ABC, 2006-2010). Spencer's perfect timing and natural sass also helped her land roles in feature comedies such as "Big Momma's House" (2000) and "Beauty Shop" (2005), as well as a breakout role on Comedy Central's "Halfway Home" (2007), appearing as a loudmouthed ex-con who is always picking fights with her housemates. After many years of paying her dues as background or supporting players, Spencer garnered much-deserved praise and an Oscar for her glowing performance in "The Help" (2011), based on Kathryn Stockett's best-selling novel of the same name. She was pitch-perfect as Minny Jackson, a determined and sharp-tongued maid who secretly helps an aspiring writer accurately chronicle the lives of African-American domestics in racially-charged 1960s Mississippi. The high-profile role finally thrust Spencer's talents into the forefront, earning her recognition as a truly multifaceted actress. Roles in films ranging from true-life tale of violence "Fruitvale Station" (2013) to dystopian science-fiction thriller "Snowpiercer" (2013) to animated smash "Zootopia" (2016) followed, as well as a second Oscar nomination for her supporting role in the biopic "Hidden Figures" (2016), highlighting a trio of African-American women whose work helped NASA win the Cold War space race.
Photos
Octavia Spencer
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
70% |
|
Spirited | Kimberly (Character) | - | 2022 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Quest for Sleep | Narrator | - | 2022 |
55% |
|
Encounter | Hattie (Character) | - | 2021 |
22% |
|
Thunder Force | Emily (Character) | - | 2021 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Right to Try | Producer | - | 2021 |
50% |
|
Roald Dahl's The Witches | Grandma (Character) | - | 2020 |
88% |
|
Onward | Manticore (Voice) | $60.4M | 2020 |
15% |
|
Dolittle | Dab-Dab (Voice) | $77.0M | 2020 |
91% |
|
Luce | Harriet Carter (Character) | $2.0M | 2019 |
55% |
|
Ma |
Sue Ann (Character), Executive Producer |
$45.3M | 2019 |
77% |
|
Green Book | Executive Producer | $85.1M | 2018 |
82% |
|
Instant Family | Karen (Character) | $67.3M | 2018 |
52% |
|
A Kid Like Jake | Judy (Character) | $44.8K | 2018 |
82% |
|
Small Town Crime |
Kelly Banks (Character), Executive Producer |
- | 2017 |
92% |
|
The Shape of Water | Zelda Fuller (Character) | $63.3M | 2017 |
73% |
|
Gifted | Roberta (Character) | $24.8M | 2017 |
20% |
|
The Shack | Papa (Character) | $57.2M | 2017 |
No Score Yet |
|
Car Dogs | Mrs. Barrett (Character) | - | 2016 |
93% |
|
Hidden Figures | Dorothy Vaughan (Character) | $169.3M | 2016 |
23% |
|
Bad Santa 2 | Opal (Character) | $17.7M | 2016 |
65% |
|
The Great Gilly Hopkins | Ms. Harris (Character) | - | 2016 |
53% |
|
The Free World | Linda Workman (Character) | - | 2016 |
11% |
|
The Divergent Series: Allegiant | Johanna (Character) | $66.2M | 2016 |
98% |
|
Zootopia | Mrs. Otterton (Voice) | - | 2016 |
29% |
|
Fathers and Daughters | Dr. Corman (Character) | - | 2015 |
29% |
|
The Divergent Series: Insurgent | Johanna (Character) | $130.1M | 2015 |
No Score Yet |
|
B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations | Unknown (Voice) | - | 2015 |
38% |
|
Black or White | Rowena Jeffers (Character) | $21.6M | 2014 |
80% |
|
Get On Up | Aunt Honey (Character) | $30.5M | 2014 |
94% |
|
Snowpiercer | Tanya (Character) | $4.6M | 2013 |
No Score Yet |
|
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film | Dr. Nance (Character) | - | 2013 |
20% |
|
Paradise | Loray (Character) | $6.0K | 2013 |
43% |
|
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters | Martha (Voice) | $68.5M | 2013 |
94% |
|
Fruitvale Station |
Wanda (Character), Executive Producer |
$16.1M | 2013 |
No Score Yet |
|
Lost on Purpose | Nurse Keller (Character) | - | 2012 |
No Score Yet |
|
Blues for Willadean | LaSonia Robinson (Character) | - | 2012 |
83% |
|
Smashed | Jenny (Character) | $376.0K | 2012 |
15% |
|
Flypaper | Madge Wiggins (Character) | $1.1K | 2011 |
76% |
|
The Help | Minny (Character) | $169.7M | 2011 |
42% |
|
Dinner for Schmucks | Madame Nora (Character) | $73.0M | 2010 |
No Score Yet |
|
Jesus People | Angel Angelique (Character) | - | 2009 |
No Score Yet |
|
Herpes Boy | Rochelle (Character) | - | 2009 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Next of Kin | Grace (Character) | - | 2008 |
No Score Yet |
|
Pretty Ugly People | Mary (Character) | - | 2008 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Spleenectomy | Nurse (Character) | - | 2008 |
63% |
|
The Nines | Streetwalker (Character) | $62.7K | 2007 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Wannabe | Lady Chanet Janney Jones (Character) | - | 2005 |
31% |
|
Breakin' All the Rules | Stylist (Character) | $11.8M | 2004 |
No Score Yet |
|
Little John | Waitress (Character) | - | 2002 |
No Score Yet |
|
Sol Goode | Unemployment Clerk (Character) | - | 2001 |
No Score Yet |
|
Follow the Stars Home | Hildy (Character) | - | 2001 |
30% |
|
Big Momma's House | Twila (Character) | $117.6M | 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Missing Pieces | Elegant Guest (Character) | - | 2000 |
No Score Yet |
|
Four Dogs Playing Poker | Waitress (Character) | - | 2000 |
35% |
|
Blue Streak | Shawna (Character) | $68.2M | 1999 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | 83% | Young Sheldon | Probation Officer (Guest Star) | 2024 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Lost Women of Highway 20 | Executive Producer | 2023 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Jennifer Hudson Show | Guest | 2023 |
No Score Yet | 42% | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Guest | 2012 2015 2017 2020-2021 2023 |
No Score Yet | 69% | Truth Be Told |
Poppy Parnell (Character), Executive Producer |
2019-2021 2023 |
No Score Yet | 55% | The Kelly Clarkson Show | Guest | 2020 2022 |
No Score Yet | 44% | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | Guest | 2017 2019-2022 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Talk | Guest | 2014-2015 2017 2019 2022 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Guest | 2012 2015 2017-2019 2021 |
No Score Yet | 18% | The Late Late Show With James Corden | Guest | 2018-2019 2021 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen | Guest | 2021 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Celebrity IOU: Joyride | Guest | 2021 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Graham Norton Show | Guest | 2019 2021 |
68% | 64% | Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker |
Sarah Breedlove/ Executive Producer |
2020 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Martha & Snoop's Potluck Party Challenge | Guest | 2019 |
92% | 57% | black-ish | Self (Guest Star) | 2019 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | To Tell the Truth | Guest | 2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Close Up With The Hollywood Reporter | Guest | 2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Chew | Guest | 2017 |
No Score Yet | 57% | Saturday Night Live | Host | 2017 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Variety Studio: Actors on Actors | Guest | 2017 |
No Score Yet | 50% | The Late Show With Stephen Colbert | Guest | 2016 |
No Score Yet | 83% | Mom | Regina (Guest Star) | 2013-2015 |
No Score Yet | 81% | Drunk History | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2015 |
No Score Yet | 12% | The View | Guest | 2013 2015 |
59% | 86% | Red Band Society | Nurse Jackson (Character) | 2014-2015 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Conan | Guest | 2014 |
No Score Yet | 61% | Late Night With Seth Meyers | Guest | 2014 |
No Score Yet | 91% | The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson | Guest | 2014 |
No Score Yet | 90% | American Dad! | Shonteeva (Guest Voice) | 2013 |
78% | 92% | 30 Rock | Octavia Spencer (Guest Star) | 2013 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Nate Berkus Show | Guest | 2011 |
22% | No Score Yet | Raising the Bar | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2009 |
72% | 84% | Dollhouse | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2009 |
68% | No Score Yet | Worst Week | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2009 |
81% | 84% | The Big Bang Theory | Octavia (Guest Star) | 2008 |
No Score Yet | 81% | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2008 |
No Score Yet | 90% | Wizards of Waverly Place | Dr. Evillini (Character) | 2008 |
97% | 83% | Ugly Betty | Constance Grady (Guest Star) | 2007 |
No Score Yet | 82% | CSI: New York | Child Welfare Rep (Guest Star) | 2005 |
83% | 95% | NYPD Blue | Dawna Cahill (Guest Star) | 2002 2005 |
27% | No Score Yet | Presidio Med | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2002 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Dharma & Greg | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2001 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Grounded for Life | Admitting Nurse (Guest Star) | 2001 |
20% | No Score Yet | City of Angels | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2000 |
No Score Yet | 90% | Malcolm in the Middle | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2000 |
No Score Yet | 96% | Becker | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Just Shoot Me | Nurse (Guest Star) | 2000 |
74% | 85% | The X-Files | Nurse (Guest Star) | 1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | L.A. Doctors | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | To Have & to Hold | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1998 |
No Score Yet | 85% | ER | Maria Jones (Guest Star) | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Moesha | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1998 |