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
The Help
(2011)
Minny Jackson
Allegiant
(2016)
Johanna Reyes
Zootopia
(2016)
Mrs. Otterton (voice)
Hidden Figures
(2016)
Dorothy Vaughan
Spider-Man
(2002)
Check-In Girl
Coach Carter
(2005)
Mrs. Battle
The Shack
(2017)
Papa / Elouisa
The Shape of Water
(2017)
Zelda Fuller
Insurgent
(2015)
Johanna Reyes
Drag Me to Hell
(2009)
Bank Co-Worker
Instant Family
(2018)
Karen
S.W.A.T.
(2003)
Neighbor in Alley
Snowpiercer
(2013)
Tanya
Roald Dahl's The Witches
(2020)
Grandma
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde
(2003)
Security Guard
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
Lansky
(1999)
Evelyn
Blue Streak
(1999)
Shawna
Four Dogs Playing Poker
(2000)
Waitress
What Planet Are You From?
(2000)
Baby Nurse
American Virgin
(2000)
Agnes Large
Big Momma's House
(2000)
Twila
The Journeyman
(2001)
Black Belly
Follow the Stars Home
(2001)
Hildy
The Sky is Falling
(2001)
Nurse #2
Missing Pieces
(2001)
Elegant Guest (as Octavia L. Spencer)
Everything Put Together
(2001)
Nurse B
Spider-Man
(2002)
Check-In Girl
Little John
(2002)
Waitress
Chicken Party
(2003)
Laqueta Mills
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde
(2003)
Security Guard
Sol Goode
(2003)
Unemployment Clerk
Bad Santa
(2003)
Opal
S.W.A.T.
(2003)
Neighbor in Alley
Breakin' All the Rules
(2004)
Stylist
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!
(2004)
Janine
Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School
(2005)
Ayisha Lebaron
Pretty Persuasion
(2005)
Woman
Coach Carter
(2005)
Mrs. Battle
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
(2005)
Middle-Aged Woman
Beauty Shop
(2005)
Big Customer
Pulse
(2006)
Landlady
The Nines
(2007)
Streetwalker
The Spleenectomy
(2008)
Nurse
Pretty Ugly People
(2008)
Mary
Seven Pounds
(2008)
Kate the Home Health Care Nurse
Wizards of Waverly Place: Wizard School
(2008)
Dr. Evilini
Love at First Hiccup
(2009)
Mrs. Hambrick
The Soloist
(2009)
Troubled Woman
Herpes Boy
(2009)
Rochelle
Drag Me to Hell
(2009)
Bank Co-Worker
Halloween II
(2009)
Nurse Daniels
Peep World
(2010)
Alison
Love and Distrust
(2010)
Rhonda (segment "Auto Motives")
Small Town Saturday Night
(2010)
Rhonda Dooley
Dinner for Schmucks
(2010)
Madame Nora
Flypaper
(2011)
Madge Wiggins
The Help
(2011)
Minny Jackson
Just Peck
(2011)
Detention Teacher
Blues for Willadean
(2012)
LeSonia Robinson
Smashed
(2012)
Jenny
Letters to Jackie: Remembering President Kennedy
(2013)
Narrator (voice)
Snowpiercer
(2013)
Tanya
Jesus People
(2013)
Angel Angelique
Fruitvale Station
(2013)
Wanda
Paradise
(2013)
Loray
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film
(2013)
Dr. Nance
Lost on Purpose
(2013)
Nurse Keller
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
(2013)
Martha (voice)
Black or White
(2014)
Rowena Jeffers
Get on Up
(2014)
Aunt Honey
Insurgent
(2015)
Johanna Reyes
The Great Gilly Hopkins
(2015)
Miss Harris
Fathers and Daughters
(2015)
Dr. Corman
Bad Santa 2
(2016)
Opal
Hidden Figures
(2016)
Dorothy Vaughan
Allegiant
(2016)
Johanna Reyes
The Free World
(2016)
Linda Workman
Zootopia
(2016)
Mrs. Otterton (voice)
The Shack
(2017)
Papa / Elouisa
Gifted
(2017)
Roberta Taylor
The Shape of Water
(2017)
Zelda Fuller
Car Dogs
(2017)
Mrs. Barrett
Small Town Crime
(2018)
Kelly Banks
Instant Family
(2018)
Karen
A Kid Like Jake
(2018)
Judy
Ma
(2019)
Sue Ann
Luce
(2019)
Harriet Wilson
Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé
(2019)
Self
Dolittle
(2020)
Dab-Dab (voice)
Roald Dahl's The Witches
(2020)
Grandma
Superintelligence
(2020)
Voice of Octavia Spencer (voice)
Onward
(2020)
The Manticore (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