Join or Sign In

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Octavia Spencer Biography

Birth Name:Octavia Lenora Spencer

Birth Place:Montgomery, Alabama, United States

Profession Actress, Producer, Soundtrack, Casting department, Music department

Fast Facts

Awarded the Best Supporting Actress of the Year for "Hidden Figures" by the Hasty Pudding Theatricals, USA in 2017
Nominated for the Black Reel Award for her role in "The Help" in 2012
Earned an English degree from Auburn University
Worked as an on-set intern on the film "The Long Walk Home․"
Quote: "I am an advocate of education․ It is the panacea for all that ails us in our society․"
Made her stage debut in the play "The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife" in 2003
Authored the "Randi Rhodes: Ninja Detective" book series

Awards

2011AAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2011ACCA-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
2011ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: winner
2011BFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2011BFCC Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2011CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2011DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2011DFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2011Golden Schmoes-Best Supporting Actress of the Year: nominated
2011Hollywood Film Award-Ensemble of the Year: winner
2011HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2011NBR Award-Best Acting by an Ensemble: winner
2011OFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2011PFCS Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
2011Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
2011Special Achievement Award-Best Ensemble, Motion Picture: winner
2011SEFCA Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2011SLFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2011WAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2011WFCC Award-Women's Work/Best Ensemble: winner
2012Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: winner
2012Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: winner
2012Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
2012EDA Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2012BAFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2012Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actress: winner
2012Black Reel-Best Breakthrough Performance: nominated
2012COFCA Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2012Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2012Gold Derby Film Award-Supporting Actress: winner
2012Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: winner
2012Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: winner
2012Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: winner
2012INOCA-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2012IFC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2012ALFS Award-Supporting Actress of the Year: nominated
2012NFCS Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
2012NTFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2012OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2012Breakthrough Performance Award-: winner
2013Black Reel-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2013HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2013NBR Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2013SFFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2013WAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2014AACTA International Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2014Hollywood Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2014AAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
2014Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actress, Motion Picture: nominated
2014Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series: winner
2014DFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2014Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2015Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actress, Motion Picture: nominated
2015Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2015Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2015INOCA TV-Best Guest Actress in a Drama or Comedy Series: nominated
2016ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
2016FFCC Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2016FFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2016Golden Schmoes-Best Supporting Actress of the Year: nominated
2016IFJA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2016Sierra Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2016Sierra Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2016NBR Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2016NTFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2016PFCS Award-Best Ensemble Acting: nominated
2016SDFCS Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2016WFCC Award-Women's Work/Best Ensemble: winner
2017Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
2017Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: winner
2017Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2017EDA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2017ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
2017DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2017DFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2017GAFCA Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2017Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2017Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
2017Golden Schmoes-Best Supporting Actress of the Year: nominated
2017HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2017HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2017Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2017LAOFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2017NTFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2017Odyssey Award-Best Support Actress: nominated
2017OFTA Film Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2017OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2017OFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2017Ensemble Cast Award-: winner
2017PCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2017PFCS Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
2017Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
2017SLFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2018Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
2018Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2018AFCA Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2018BAFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2018Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actress, Motion Picture: nominated
2018Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2018Gold Derby Film Award-Supporting Actress: nominated
2018Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2018Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
2018HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2018HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2018Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: winner
2018OFTA Film Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2018OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2018Chairman's Vanguard Award-: winner
2019Saturn Award-Best Actress: nominated
2019Halfway Award-Best Actress: nominated
2019SDFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2019The BAM Award-Best Actress: nominated
2020Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actress, Motion Picture: nominated
2020Black Reel-Outstanding TV Movie/Limited Series: nominated
2020Black Reel-Outstanding Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series: nominated
2020CIC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2020Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2020Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Female: nominated
2020Gold Derby TV Award-Movie/Limited Series Actress: nominated
2020Gold Derby Film Award-Supporting Actress of the Decade: nominated
2020Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2020Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2020OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Limited Series: nominated
2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie: nominated
2021Black Reel-Outstanding Voice Performance: nominated
2021CCA Super Award-Best Voice Actress in an Animated Movie: nominated
2021Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special: winner
2021People's Choice Award-The Comedy Movie Star of 2021: nominated
2021WAFCA Award-Best Voice Performance: nominated
2022Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2023Award of Excellence-Documentary Short: winner
2024Black Reel-Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama Series: nominated
2024Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2024OFTA Television Award-Best Narration: nominated
2024Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Narrator: nominated