Octavia Spencer
Encyclopedia
Octavia L. Spencer is an American
actress. She is perhaps best known for her role on Ugly Betty
as Constance Grady, the INS Agent turned stalker of Betty's father, Ignacio Suarez
and in the 2011 movie The Help
as Minny.
in 1972 (according to IMDB), she is the sixth of seven children. She attended Auburn University
and received a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts.
Spencer made her film debut as a nurse in Joel Schumacher's A Time to Kill
based on the book by John Grisham. She was originally hired to work on casting, but asked Schumacher if she could audition for a small part. Other film credits include: Never Been Kissed
, Big Momma's House
, Bad Santa
, Spider-Man
, Coach Carter
, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!
and Pretty Ugly People. She has made a number of guest appearances on a myriad of hit series including: Raising the Bar
, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
, The Big Bang Theory
, Wizards of Waverly Place
, NYPD Blue
, Grounded for Life
, ER
, Titus
, Becker
and Dharma & Greg
. However, she is best known for her starring roles as Serenity Johnson on Comedy Central's Halfway Home
, and Constance Grady, the amorous INS caseworker on Ugly Betty
.
In 2003, she made her stage debut in Los Angeles, in Del Shores' award-winning play, "The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife," starring opposite veteran actress Beth Grant. It was her first and only play, as she told Back Stage Magazine that she suffers from "stage fright." Later that year, she starred opposite Emmy Award-winner Allison Janney in Tate Taylor's critically lauded and award-winning short feature, "Chicken Party."
In 2008, Spencer's brief appearance in Seven Pounds
as Kate, Rosario Dawson's home care nurse, garnered her high praise and media attention.
In April 2009, Entertainment Weekly listed Spencer in its list of 25 Funniest Actresses in Hollywood.
In August 2009, Spencer appeared in Rob Zombie
's Halloween II
. She will also have a role in the American remake of the Danish classic Love at First Hiccup
opposite Scout Taylor-Compton. Spencer stars in the hit web series-turned feature film Herpes Boy alongside Beth Grant, Ahna O'Reilly, and Byron Lane; and, can be heard as the voice of "Minny" on the audio version of The Help, the award-winning "New York Times Best Seller" by Kathryn Stockett. Later that year, Spencer's short film The Captain
was honored by the CICFF as a finalist for the coveted REEL Poetry Award.
In August 2011, Spencer joined Viola Davis
, Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas Howard
in DreamWorks
' production of The Help
. She played the fiesty and unflappable domestic, "Minny Jackson." The film was directed by Tate Taylor
, and produced by Brunson Green, Chris Columbus
, Michael Barnathan
, and Mark Radcliffe
. Her role garnered her critical acclaim, and has started buzz for various awards nominations.
Category:1970 births
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress. She is perhaps best known for her role on Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Silvio Horta, which premiered on ABC on September 28, 2006, and ended on April 14, 2010. The series revolves around the character Betty Suarez and is based on Fernando Gaitán's Colombian telenovela soap opera Yo soy Betty, la fea...
as Constance Grady, the INS Agent turned stalker of Betty's father, Ignacio Suarez
Ignacio Suarez
Ignacio Suarez is a fictional character in the American dramedy series Ugly Betty. He is portrayed by Tony Plana. Ignacio's character is equivalent to Hermes Pinzón Galarza, father to Beatriz Pinzón Solano.-Background:...
and in the 2011 movie The Help
The Help
The Help is an American situation comedy television series which premiered on The WB on March 5, 2004. The show was a raunchy comedy that focused on the hard-lucked life of a beauty school dropout, who now must work for the wealthy and spoiled Ridgeway family. The rest of the hired help are also...
as Minny.
Life and career
Born in Montgomery, AlabamaMontgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
in 1972 (according to IMDB), she is the sixth of seven children. She attended Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
and received a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts.
Spencer made her film debut as a nurse in Joel Schumacher's A Time to Kill
A Time to Kill (film)
A Time to Kill is a 1996 film adaptation of John Grisham's 1989 legal thriller novel of the same name. Directed by Joel Schumacher, the film features an ensemble cast that includes Sandra Bullock, Samuel L...
based on the book by John Grisham. She was originally hired to work on casting, but asked Schumacher if she could audition for a small part. Other film credits include: Never Been Kissed
Never Been Kissed
Never Been Kissed is a 1999 comedy film directed by Raja Gosnell and starring Drew Barrymore, David Arquette, Michael Vartan, Molly Shannon, Leelee Sobieski, John C. Reilly, Jessica Alba, Marley Shelton, James Franco , Giuseppe Andrews, Jeremy Jordan and Garry Marshall...
, Big Momma's House
Big Momma's House
Big Momma's House is a 2000 American crime comedy film directed by Raja Gosnell, written by Darryl Quarles and Don Rhymer, and starring Martin Lawrence as FBI agent Malcolm Turner. The majority of the film took place in Cartersville, Georgia, but the film was shot on location in California. The...
, Bad Santa
Bad Santa
Bad Santa is a 2003 American screwball black comedy film directed and co-written by Terry Zwigoff, produced by the Coen brothers, and starring Billy Bob Thornton as the title character and Tony Cox as his partner in crime. Actors Bernie Mac and John Ritter co-star...
, Spider-Man
Spider-Man (film)
Spider-Man is a 2002 American superhero film, the first in the Spider-Man film series based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. It was directed by Sam Raimi and written by David Koepp...
, Coach Carter
Coach Carter
Coach Carter is a 2005 American film directed by Thomas Carter. It is based on a true story, in which Richmond High School basketball coach Ken Carter made headlines in 1999 for benching his MVP and undefeated team due to poor academic results....
, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! is a 2004 romantic comedy film directed by Robert Luketic and starring Kate Bosworth, Topher Grace, and Josh Duhamel.- Plot :...
and Pretty Ugly People. She has made a number of guest appearances on a myriad of hit series including: Raising the Bar
Raising the Bar (TV series)
Raising the Bar is an American legal drama, which ran on TNT network from September 1, 2008 to December 24, 2009. The series revolves around a group of lawyer friends who find themselves on opposite sides of the criminal law.-Production:...
, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
, The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory is an American sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom serve as executive producers on the show, along with Steven Molaro. All three also serve as head writers...
, Wizards of Waverly Place
Wizards of Waverly Place
Wizards of Waverly Place is a Disney Channel Original Series that premiered on October 12, 2007. It won "Outstanding Children's Program" at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards in 2009...
, NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan...
, Grounded for Life
Grounded for Life
Grounded for Life is an American television sitcom that debuted on January 10, 2001 as a mid-season replacement on the FOX Network. It was created by Mike Schiff and Bill Martin. It ran for two seasons on the network until being cancelled only two episodes into its third season...
, ER
ER (TV series)
ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
, Titus
Titus (TV series)
Titus is an American dark comedy sitcom that debuted on Fox in 2000. The series was created by its star, Christopher Titus, Jack Kenny, and Brian Hargrove...
, Becker
Becker
Becker is one of the German-language surnames, along with Bäcker and Baecker, that derive from the root, which refers to baking. The surname began as a name for a baker .Becker may refer to:-People:...
and Dharma & Greg
Dharma & Greg
Dharma & Greg is an American television sitcom that aired from September 24, 1997, to April 30, 2002.It starred Jenna Elfman and Thomas Gibson as Dharma and Greg Montgomery, a couple who married instantly on their first date despite being complete opposites...
. However, she is best known for her starring roles as Serenity Johnson on Comedy Central's Halfway Home
Halfway Home (TV series)
Halfway Home is an American comedy series that aired on Comedy Central in Spring 2007.On its official website, Halfway Home is described as an "improvised half-hour show featuring the daily exploits of five ex-cons living together in a residential rehab facility" .After airing 10 episodes, on June...
, and Constance Grady, the amorous INS caseworker on Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Silvio Horta, which premiered on ABC on September 28, 2006, and ended on April 14, 2010. The series revolves around the character Betty Suarez and is based on Fernando Gaitán's Colombian telenovela soap opera Yo soy Betty, la fea...
.
In 2003, she made her stage debut in Los Angeles, in Del Shores' award-winning play, "The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife," starring opposite veteran actress Beth Grant. It was her first and only play, as she told Back Stage Magazine that she suffers from "stage fright." Later that year, she starred opposite Emmy Award-winner Allison Janney in Tate Taylor's critically lauded and award-winning short feature, "Chicken Party."
In 2008, Spencer's brief appearance in Seven Pounds
Seven Pounds
Seven Pounds is a 2008 film, directed by Gabriele Muccino. Will Smith stars as a man who sets out to change the lives of seven people. Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, and Barry Pepper star. The film was released in theaters in the United States and Canada on December 19, 2008, by Columbia Pictures...
as Kate, Rosario Dawson's home care nurse, garnered her high praise and media attention.
In April 2009, Entertainment Weekly listed Spencer in its list of 25 Funniest Actresses in Hollywood.
In August 2009, Spencer appeared in Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie is an American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He founded the heavy metal band White Zombie and has been nominated three times as a solo artist for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.Zombie has also established a career as a film director, creating the...
's Halloween II
Halloween II (2009 film)
Halloween II is a 2009 American horror film written, directed, and produced by Rob Zombie. The film is a sequel to Zombie's 2007 remake of Halloween , and the second film in the rebooted Halloween film series and the tenth Halloween film in total...
. She will also have a role in the American remake of the Danish classic Love at First Hiccup
Love at First Hiccup
The First Time is a 2009 teen comedy directed by Barbara Topsøe-Rothenborg. The film is an American remake of the Danish film Kærlighed ved første hik, which was released in 1999....
opposite Scout Taylor-Compton. Spencer stars in the hit web series-turned feature film Herpes Boy alongside Beth Grant, Ahna O'Reilly, and Byron Lane; and, can be heard as the voice of "Minny" on the audio version of The Help, the award-winning "New York Times Best Seller" by Kathryn Stockett. Later that year, Spencer's short film The Captain
The Captain (film)
The Captain is a 1971 German comedy film directed by Kurt Hoffmann and starring Heinz Rühmann, Johanna Matz and Horst Tappert. The captain is of an old tramp steamer is offered the chance to take over a luxury cruise ship.-Cast:...
was honored by the CICFF as a finalist for the coveted REEL Poetry Award.
In August 2011, Spencer joined Viola Davis
Viola Davis
Viola Davis is an American actress.Known primarily as a stage actress, Davis won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play and a Drama Desk Award for her role in King Hedley II . She won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for her role in the...
, Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas Howard
Bryce Dallas Howard
Bryce Dallas Howard is an American film actress and daughter of director Ron Howard. She made her acting debut in her father's 1989 movie Parenthood and went on to have small roles in films and make stage appearances for the next several years...
in DreamWorks
DreamWorks
DreamWorks Pictures, also known as DreamWorks, LLC, DreamWorks SKG, DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC, DreamWorks Studios or DW Studios, LLC, is an American film studio which develops, produces, and distributes films, video games and television programming...
' production of The Help
The Help (film)
The Help is a 2011 comedy-drama film adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's novel of the same name. The film is about a young white woman, Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, and her relationship with two black maids during Civil Rights era America in the early 1960s...
. She played the fiesty and unflappable domestic, "Minny Jackson." The film was directed by Tate Taylor
Tate Taylor
Tate Taylor is an American actor, screenwriter, film producer and director.He was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. He is a close friend of a writer Kathryn Stockett, whom he has known since they were in preschool together in Jackson....
, and produced by Brunson Green, Chris Columbus
Chris Columbus (filmmaker)
Christopher Joseph "Chris" Columbus is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Columbus had his largest success with the first two films in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, along with Home Alone, the last...
, Michael Barnathan
Michael Barnathan
Michael Barnathan is a film producer who has produced and executive-produced films such as Used People, the first three Harry Potter films, Rent, Cheaper by the Dozen and Night at the Museum. He was also the producer for the 2010 film adaptation Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief of...
, and Mark Radcliffe
Mark Radcliffe
Mark Radcliffe is an English broadcaster who has worked in various roles for the BBC since the 1980s and remains one of Britain's most recognised DJs. He is currently a presenter on BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music, where he hosts an afternoon show five times a week alongside Stuart Maconie, called...
. Her role garnered her critical acclaim, and has started buzz for various awards nominations.
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1996 | A Time to Kill A Time to Kill (film) A Time to Kill is a 1996 film adaptation of John Grisham's 1989 legal thriller novel of the same name. Directed by Joel Schumacher, the film features an ensemble cast that includes Sandra Bullock, Samuel L... |
Roark's Nurse | |
| 1997 | The Sixth Man The Sixth Man The 6th Man is a supernatural sports comedy starring Marlon Wayans and Kadeem Hardison. The film was directed by Randall Miller. The film features real NCAA schools, although the rosters are fictitious... |
Nativity Watson | |
| Sparkler | Wanda | ||
| 1999 | Lansky (TV movie) | Evelyn the Maid | |
| Never Been Kissed Never Been Kissed Never Been Kissed is a 1999 comedy film directed by Raja Gosnell and starring Drew Barrymore, David Arquette, Michael Vartan, Molly Shannon, Leelee Sobieski, John C. Reilly, Jessica Alba, Marley Shelton, James Franco , Giuseppe Andrews, Jeremy Jordan and Garry Marshall... |
Cynthia | ||
| Being John Malkovich Being John Malkovich Being John Malkovich is a 1999 American black comedy-fantasy film written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Spike Jonze. It stars John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, and John Malkovich, who plays a fictional version of himself... |
Woman in Elevator | ||
| Blue Streak Blue Streak -Entertainment:* Blue Streak , a 1995 album by American blues guitarist Luther Allison* Blue Streak , a secret identity used by three separate Marvel Comics supervillains... |
Shawna | ||
| 2000 | The Sky Is Falling | Nurse #2 | |
| Everything Put Together | Nurse B | ||
| Missing Pieces (TV movie) | Elegant Guest | ||
| American Virgin | Agnes Large | ||
| What Planet Are You From? | Baby Nurse | ||
| Auto Motives | Rhonda | ||
| Big Momma's House Big Momma's House Big Momma's House is a 2000 American crime comedy film directed by Raja Gosnell, written by Darryl Quarles and Don Rhymer, and starring Martin Lawrence as FBI agent Malcolm Turner. The majority of the film took place in Cartersville, Georgia, but the film was shot on location in California. The... |
Twila | ||
| Four Dogs Playing Poker | Waitress | ||
| 2001 | Sol Goode | Unemployment Clerk | |
| The Journeyman | Black Belly | ||
| Follow the Stars Home (TV movie) | Hildy | ||
| 2002 | Spider-Man Spider-Man (film) Spider-Man is a 2002 American superhero film, the first in the Spider-Man film series based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. It was directed by Sam Raimi and written by David Koepp... |
Check-In Girl | |
| Little John (TV movie) | Waitress | ||
| 2003 | Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde | Security Guard | |
| S.W.A.T. | Neighbor in Alley | ||
| Chicken Party | Laqueta Mills | ||
| Bad Santa Bad Santa Bad Santa is a 2003 American screwball black comedy film directed and co-written by Terry Zwigoff, produced by the Coen brothers, and starring Billy Bob Thornton as the title character and Tony Cox as his partner in crime. Actors Bernie Mac and John Ritter co-star... |
Opal | ||
| 2004 | Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! is a 2004 romantic comedy film directed by Robert Luketic and starring Kate Bosworth, Topher Grace, and Josh Duhamel.- Plot :... |
Janine | |
| Breakin' All the Rules | Stylist | ||
| 2005 | Coach Carter Coach Carter Coach Carter is a 2005 American film directed by Thomas Carter. It is based on a true story, in which Richmond High School basketball coach Ken Carter made headlines in 1999 for benching his MVP and undefeated team due to poor academic results.... |
Mrs. Battle | |
| Pretty Persuasion | Woman | ||
| Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School | Ayisha Lebaron | ||
| Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous | Octavia - Bookstore | ||
| Beauty Shop Beauty Shop Beauty Shop is a 2005 American comedy film, directed by Bille Woodruff. The film is a spin-off of the Barbershop film franchise, and stars Queen Latifah as Gina, a character which was first introduced in the 2004 film Barbershop 2: Back in Business... |
Big Customer | ||
| Wannabe | Lady Chanet Janney Jones | ||
| 2006 | Pulse Pulse In medicine, one's pulse represents the tactile arterial palpation of the heartbeat by trained fingertips. The pulse may be palpated in any place that allows an artery to be compressed against a bone, such as at the neck , at the wrist , behind the knee , on the inside of the elbow , and near the... |
Landlady | |
| 2007 | The Nines | Streetwalker | |
| 2008 | Next of Kin | Grace | |
| Pretty Ugly People | Mary | ||
| The Spleenectomy | Nurse | ||
| Seven Pounds Seven Pounds Seven Pounds is a 2008 film, directed by Gabriele Muccino. Will Smith stars as a man who sets out to change the lives of seven people. Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, and Barry Pepper star. The film was released in theaters in the United States and Canada on December 19, 2008, by Columbia Pictures... |
Kate (Home Health Care Nurse) | ||
| 2009 | Love at First Hiccup | Mrs. Hambrick | |
| Drag Me to Hell Drag Me to Hell Drag Me to Hell is a 2009 American horror film, directed by Sam Raimi, with a screenplay by Sam and Ivan Raimi. The plot focuses on loan officer Christine Brown , who tries to impress her boss by refusing to extend a loan to a gypsy woman by the name of Mrs. Ganush... |
Bank Co-Worker #1 | ||
| Jesus People: The Movie | Angel Angelique | ||
| The Soloist The Soloist The Soloist is a 2009 American/French/British drama film directed by Joe Wright, and starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey, Jr. The screenplay by Susannah Grant is based on the book, The Soloist by Steve Lopez... |
Troubled Woman | ||
| Just Peck | Detention Room Teacher | ||
| Halloween II Halloween II (2009 film) Halloween II is a 2009 American horror film written, directed, and produced by Rob Zombie. The film is a sequel to Zombie's 2007 remake of Halloween , and the second film in the rebooted Halloween film series and the tenth Halloween film in total... |
Nurse Daniels | ||
| Herpes Boy | Rochelle | ||
| Small Town Saturday Night Small Town Saturday Night Small Town Saturday Night is a 2010 American ensemble drama film by writer-director Ryan Craig. The film stars Chris Pine, Shawn Christian, John Hawkes and Bre Blair... |
Rhonda Dooley | ||
| 2010 | Dinner For Schmucks Dinner for Schmucks Dinner for Schmucks, a 2010 screwball comedy film, is the American adaptation of the French film Le Dîner de Cons , being described by the director as "inspired by" the original rather than a remake of it... |
Madame Nora | |
| 2011 | The Help The Help (film) The Help is a 2011 comedy-drama film adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's novel of the same name. The film is about a young white woman, Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, and her relationship with two black maids during Civil Rights era America in the early 1960s... |
Minny | |
| Peep World Peep World Peep World is a 2011 American comedy-drama film directed by Barry W. Blaustein and starring an ensemble cast, including Ron Rifkin, Lesley Ann Warren, Ben Schwartz, Michael C. Hall, Sarah Silverman, Rainn Wilson, Kate Mara, Judy Greer, Stephen Tobolowsky, Taraji P... |
Allison | ||
| Flypaper Flypaper (2011 film) Flypaper is a comedy-drama film starring Patrick Dempsey, Ashley Judd, and Octavia Spencer and being directed by Rob Minkoff.-Plot:A man named Tripp is caught in the middle of two simultaneous robberies at a bank. One crew is more professional, the other crew consists of two men who call themselves... |
Madge Wiggins | ||
External links
- Octavia Spencer biography from Comedy Central
- http://backstage.blogs.com/blogstage/2010/05/perfect-casting.html
- Octavia Spencer Interview with Back Stage
- "The Quip Queen"
Category:1970 births