Octavia Lenora Spencer (born May 25, 1970) is an American actress, author, and producer. She is the recipient of several accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. She is one of two black actresses to have received three Academy Award nominations, the first black actress to receive two consecutive Academy Award nominations in back-to-back years, and the first black actress to receive an Academy Award nomination after previously winning.
Academy Awards
Best Supporting Actress
Known For
Gifted
(2017)
Roberta Taylor
Zootopia
(2016)
Mrs. Otterton (voice)
The Help
(2011)
Minny Jackson
Spider-Man
(2002)
Check-In Girl
Coach Carter
(2005)
Mrs. Battle
Allegiant
(2016)
Johanna Reyes
Insurgent
(2015)
Johanna Reyes
The Shack
(2017)
Papa / Elouisa
Dolittle
(2020)
Dab-Dab (voice)
Hidden Figures
(2016)
Dorothy Vaughan
Snowpiercer
(2013)
Tanya
Spirited
(2022)
Kimberly
The Shape of Water
(2017)
Zelda Fuller
Onward
(2020)
The Manticore (voice)
Roald Dahl's The Witches
(2020)
Grandma
Drag Me to Hell
(2009)
Bank Co-Worker
Full Filmography
Acting
A Time to Kill
(1996)
Roark's Nurse
Valley Girls
(1996)
Cheerleader
Sparkler
(1997)
Wanda
The Sixth Man
(1997)
Nativity Watson
Being John Malkovich
(1999)
Woman in Elevator
Never Been Kissed
(1999)
Cynthia
Blue Streak
(1999)
Shawna
Lansky
(1999)
Evelyn
Big Momma's House
(2000)
Twila
American Virgin
(2000)
Agnes Large
What Planet Are You From?
(2000)
Baby Nurse
Four Dogs Playing Poker
(2000)
Waitress
Follow the Stars Home
(2001)
Hildy
Everything Put Together
(2001)
Nurse B
Missing Pieces
(2001)
Elegant Guest (as Octavia L. Spencer)
The Journeyman
(2001)
Black Belly
The Sky is Falling
(2001)
Nurse #2
Spider-Man
(2002)
Check-In Girl
Little John
(2002)
Waitress
Bad Santa
(2003)
Opal
Sol Goode
(2003)
Unemployment Clerk
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde
(2003)
Security Guard
S.W.A.T.
(2003)
Neighbor in Alley
Chicken Party
(2003)
Laqueta Mills
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!
(2004)
Janine
Breakin' All the Rules
(2004)
Stylist
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
(2005)
Middle-Aged Woman
Coach Carter
(2005)
Mrs. Battle
Beauty Shop
(2005)
Big Customer
Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School
(2005)
Ayisha Lebaron
Pretty Persuasion
(2005)
Woman
Pulse
(2006)
Landlady
The Nines
(2007)
Streetwalker
Seven Pounds
(2008)
Kate the Home Health Care Nurse
Pretty Ugly People
(2008)
Mary
The Spleenectomy
(2008)
Nurse
Wizards of Waverly Place: Wizard School
(2008)
Dr. Evilini
Halloween II
(2009)
Nurse Daniels
Love at First Hiccup
(2009)
Mrs. Hambrick
Drag Me to Hell
(2009)
Bank Co-Worker
Herpes Boy
(2009)
Rochelle
The Soloist
(2009)
Troubled Woman
Dinner for Schmucks
(2010)
Madame Nora
Peep World
(2010)
Alison
Small Town Saturday Night
(2010)
Rhonda Dooley
Love and Distrust
(2010)
Rhonda (segment "Auto Motives")
Just Peck
(2011)
Detention Teacher
The Help
(2011)
Minny Jackson
Flypaper
(2011)
Madge Wiggins
Smashed
(2012)
Jenny
Blues for Willadean
(2012)
LeSonia Robinson
Paradise
(2013)
Loray
Fruitvale Station
(2013)
Wanda
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film
(2013)
Dr. Nance
Lost on Purpose
(2013)
Nurse Keller
Snowpiercer
(2013)
Tanya
Jesus People
(2013)
Angel Angelique
Letters to Jackie: Remembering President Kennedy
(2013)
Narrator (voice)
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
(2013)
Martha (voice)
Get on Up
(2014)
Aunt Honey
Black or White
(2014)
Rowena Jeffers
Insurgent
(2015)
Johanna Reyes
The Great Gilly Hopkins
(2015)
Miss Harris
Fathers and Daughters
(2015)
Dr. Corman
Zootopia
(2016)
Mrs. Otterton (voice)
The Free World
(2016)
Linda Workman
Allegiant
(2016)
Johanna Reyes
Hidden Figures
(2016)
Dorothy Vaughan
Bad Santa 2
(2016)
Opal
Gifted
(2017)
Roberta Taylor
The Shack
(2017)
Papa / Elouisa
Car Dogs
(2017)
Mrs. Barrett
The Shape of Water
(2017)
Zelda Fuller
Small Town Crime
(2018)
Kelly Banks
A Kid Like Jake
(2018)
Judy
Instant Family
(2018)
Karen
Luce
(2019)
Harriet Wilson
Ma
(2019)
Sue Ann
Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé
(2019)
Self
Onward
(2020)
The Manticore (voice)
Roald Dahl's The Witches
(2020)
Grandma
Dolittle
(2020)
Dab-Dab (voice)
Superintelligence
(2020)
Voice of Octavia Spencer (voice)
Thunder Force
(2021)
Emily Stanton
Encounter
(2021)
Hattie Hayes
Spirited
(2022)
Kimberly
The Quest for Sleep
(2022)
Narrator
Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter
(2022)
Self
Becoming bell hooks
(2024)
The Smurfs Musical
(2025)
(voice)
Production