SOUTH AFRICA'S TV WEBSITE
SIGN IN SEARCH MENU
SOUTH AFRICA'S TV WEBSITE


Octavia Spencer

Full / Real Name: Octavia Lenora Spencer
Born: 25 May 1972 (51 years old)
Gender: Female

Rate:

8.0

Add to Actor Favourites

Bio

Octavia Spencer is an American actress best known for her role as Minny Jackson in the 2011 feature film The Help, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, among other accolades including the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress, BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress and Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role.

She is also known for her television roles as Serenity Johnson on Comedy Central's Halfway Home and as Constance Grady, the amorous INS caseworker, on Ugly Betty, both in 2007.

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. In April 2009, she was named one of the "25 Funniest Actresses in Hollywood" by Entertainment Weekly.

Spencer's screen credits include Pulse, Coach Carter, Charm School, Win A Date with Tad Hamilton, Legally Blonde 2, Spiderman, Big Momma's House, Never Been Kissed and Being John Malkovich.

She's had a myriad of guest-starring roles on TV including ER, CSI: NY, Presidio Med, LAX, Titus, City of Angels, Dharma & Greg, Huff, Medium and NYPD Blue.

She also has a starring role as Dena Jackson, the strict and seemingly 'scary' head nurse overseeing the pediatric facility, in the teen medical comedy-drama television series Red Band Society.

In 2002, the avid forensic buff co-authored a mystery novel for kids entitled, The Rock Holler Gang: Jr. Detectives.



LATEST ARTICLES

New on TV today: Friday 29 March 2024

There's music and lights in SuperCulture on Channel O and the film Wallflower airs on Fuse TV.


Game of Lies Teasers - April 2024

Series finale! The rescue attempt gets underway before a final reckoning.


Gqeberha: The Empire 2 Teasers - April 2024

The Mxenge Hotel turns into a whodunnit. A gunshot. Murder. In which room and by who?


The Wife 3 Teasers - April 2024

Naledi’s sex tape sees the spotlight again and catches her in the headlights.


Skerpioen Teasers - April 2024

A torched boat, poison in wine and youthful memories die when Ferda tries to kill Ahmet.


Imlie Teasers - April 2024

Imlie takes Ashu to the hospital when he falls ill, but kidnappers attempt to abduct him.


My Desire Teasers - April 2024

Kaashvi clears her name and reports Pradyumna's bribery attempt to the police.


New on TV today: Thursday 28 March 2024

Season 2 of Dam premieres on M-Net and Grey's Anatomy 20 drops on Disney+.


Hlomla Dandala confirmed to debut as Caesar on Smoke & Mirrors Season 2

The past collides with soon in the latest on Hlomla's whereabouts.


Smoke & Mirrors Teasers - April 2024

Season 1 finale and crossover alert! Caesar takes Thandiswa to the House of Zwide for her wedding dress.

LATEST SITE ACTIVITY


More activity at TVSA Central



LATEST SOAPIE TEASERS



LATEST SOAPIE TEASERS





×
×

You browser doesn't have Flash, Silverlight, Gears, BrowserPlus or HTML5 support.