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Octavia Spencer

Octavia Spencer

60 movies on Netflix

Biography

Octavia Spencer is an American actress and author who was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and studied English at Auburn University before making her screen debut in A Time to Kill (1996). After years of brief film and television parts, she broke through as the maid Minny Jackson in the 1960s drama The Help (2011), winning the Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA for best supporting actress. Her role in Fruitvale Station (2013) brought a National Board of Review award, and she earned consecutive Oscar nominations for Hidden Figures (2016) and The Shape of Water (2017), becoming the first black actress to manage that. Other credits include Zootopia (2016), The Shack (2017), Gifted (2017), Instant Family (2018), Luce (2019), Ma (2019), Onward (2020) and Spirited (2022). On television she had a recurring role in Mom and led Truth Be Told, and she wrote the children's series Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective.

56years old

Turns 57 on May 25in 195 days

  • Born Montgomery
  • Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
  • Also credited as Octavia L. Spencer

Movie Career

Films
60
Career span
29 years1997 to 2026

Genres

First and latest

Photos

  • Octavia Spencer, photo 1 of 3
  • Octavia Spencer, photo 2 of 3
  • Octavia Spencer, photo 3 of 3

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  1. First role

    Spencer was originally hired to work on casting for A Time to Kill, but asked director Joel Schumacher if she could audition, and landed her film debut as a nurse.

  2. A first

    Spencer's only stage role came in 2003 in Del Shores' play The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife, because she suffers from intense stage fright.

  3. A first

    After winning the Oscar for The Help, Spencer became the first black actress to follow an Oscar victory with another nomination, for Hidden Figures.

  4. A first

    Spencer provided the voice of Mrs. Otterton in Disney's Zootopia, released in 2016, and this role marked her animated film debut.

  5. Behind the camera

    Spencer was an executive producer on Green Book, a biographical comedy-drama. The film later won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

  6. Behind the camera

    Spencer wrote a children's book series called Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective. The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit came out in 2013, and The Sweetest Heist in History followed in 2015.

Octavia Spencer movies on Netflix

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top of the page, the section list
  1. The Help2011 Dramaas Minny Jackson

    IMDb rating 8.1533K votes

  2. Hidden Figures2016 Biography, Drama, Historyas Dorothy Vaughan

    IMDb rating 7.8294K votes

  3. The Shape of Water2017as Zelda Fuller

    IMDb rating 7.3480K votes

  4. Onward2020as The Manticorevoice

    IMDb rating 7.3189K votes

  5. Snowpiercer2013as Tanya

    IMDb rating 7.1426K votes

  6. Ma2019as Sue Ann

    IMDb rating 5.672K votes

  7. Fruitvale Station2013as Wanda

    IMDb rating 7.593K votes

  8. Gifted2017as Roberta

    IMDb rating 7.6162K votes

Most often with

Tate Taylor directed four of these films, Robert Schwentke two and Gabriele Muccino two. Two actors appear in four of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top of the page, the section list
Melissa McCarthy, 4 films togetherSee the 4 films with Melissa McCarthyBen Falcone, 4 films togetherSee the 4 films with Ben FalconeJohn Goodman, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with John GoodmanAllison Janney, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Allison JanneyNaomi Watts, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Naomi WattsRose Byrne, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Rose ByrneTate TaylorDirector, 4 filmsSee the 4 films by Tate TaylorRobert SchwentkeDirector, 2 filmsSee the 2 films by Robert SchwentkeGabriele MuccinoDirector, 2 filmsSee the 2 films by Gabriele Muccino

Films together

  • Melissa McCarthy4 films together, 2007 to 2021
    Melissa McCarthy's page
    • Thunder Force2021IMDb rating 4.6Spencer as Emily StantonMcCarthy as Lydia Berman
    • Superintelligence2020IMDb rating 5.5Spencer as Octavia SpencervoiceMcCarthy as Carol Peters
    • Pretty Ugly People2008IMDb rating 5.0Spencer as MaryMcCarthy as Becky
    • The Nines2007IMDb rating 6.2Spencer as Streetwalker (credited) / PedestrianMcCarthy as Margaret / Melissa / Mary
  • Ben Falcone4 films together, 2007 to 2021
    Ben Falcone's page
    • Thunder Force2021IMDb rating 4.6Spencer as Emily StantonFalcone as Kenny
    • Superintelligence2020IMDb rating 5.5Spencer as Octavia SpencervoiceFalcone as Charles Kuiper
    • Pretty Ugly People2008IMDb rating 5.0Spencer as MaryFalcone as Coach Merryweather
    • The Nines2007IMDb rating 6.2Spencer as Streetwalker (credited) / PedestrianFalcone as Ben Falcone
  • John Goodman3 films together, 2000 to 2025
    John Goodman's page
  • Allison Janney3 films together, 2008 to 2019
    Allison Janney's page
    • Ma2019IMDb rating 5.6Spencer as Sue AnnJanney as Doctor Brooks
    • The Help2011IMDb rating 8.1Spencer as Minny JacksonJanney as Charlotte Phelan
    • Pretty Ugly People2008IMDb rating 5.0Spencer as MaryJanney as Suzanne
  • Naomi Watts3 films together, 2015 to 2019
    Naomi Watts's page
    • Luce2019IMDb rating 6.6Spencer as Harriet WilsonWatts as Amy Edgar
    • Allegiant2016IMDb rating 5.7Spencer as Johanna ReyesWatts as Evelyn Johnson-Eaton
    • Insurgent2015IMDb rating 6.2Spencer as JohannaWatts as Evelyn Johnson-Eaton
  • Rose Byrne3 films together, 2018 to 2026
    Rose Byrne's page
    • Tow2026IMDb rating 6.4Spencer as BarbaraByrne as Amanda Ogle
    • Spirited2022IMDb rating 6.6Spencer as KimberlyByrne as Ms. Blansky
    • Instant Family2018IMDb rating 7.3Spencer as KarenByrne as Ellie
  • Tate TaylorDirector, 4 films, 2008 to 2019
    All films by Tate Taylor
    • Ma2019IMDb rating 5.6Spencer as Sue Ann
    • Get on Up2014IMDb rating 6.9Spencer as Aunt Honey
    • The Help2011IMDb rating 8.1Spencer as Minny Jackson
    • Pretty Ugly People2008IMDb rating 5.0Spencer as Mary
  • Robert SchwentkeDirector, 2 films, 2015 to 2016
    All films by Robert Schwentke
    • Allegiant2016IMDb rating 5.7Spencer as Johanna Reyes
    • Insurgent2015IMDb rating 6.2Spencer as Johanna
  • Gabriele MuccinoDirector, 2 films, 2008 to 2015
    All films by Gabriele Muccino
  • Also three films together4 more actors
    • John HawkesSmall Town Crime (2017), Small Town Saturday Night (2010) and Blue Streak (1999)
    • James DuMontGet on Up (2014), Flypaper (2011) and S.W.A.T. (2003)
    • Ahna O'ReillyFruitvale Station (2013), The Help (2011) and Herpes Boy (2009)
    • Tate TaylorMa (2019), Pretty Ugly People (2008) and Breakin' All the Rules (2004)

    When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Octavia Spencer's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

Top of the page, the section list

Combined worldwide box office

$4.4 billion

42 of the 60 films have a worldwide figure.

Of the 60 films: 42 worldwide figure; 5 us gross only; 5 never in cinemas; 2 streaming, short cinema run; 6 figure not found.

  • 42Worldwide figure
  • 5US gross only
  • 5Never in cinemas
  • 2Streaming, short cinema run
  • 6Figure not found

Top grosser

Zootopia2016as Mrs. Otterton (voice)$1.0 billion

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 59% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

  1. 1
    Zootopia2016as Mrs. Otterton (voice)
    $1.0B23.2% of the total
  2. 2
    Insurgent2015as Johanna
    $297M6.7% of the total
  3. 3
    Dolittle2020as Dab-Dab (voice)
    $251M5.7% of the total
  4. 4
    Hidden Figures2016as Dorothy Vaughan
    $236M5.3% of the total
  5. 5
    The Help2011as Minny Jackson
    $217M4.9% of the total
  6. 6
    S.W.A.T.2003as Neighbor in Alley
    $208M4.7% of the total
  7. 7
    The Shape of Water2017as Zelda Fuller
    $195M4.4% of the total
  8. 8
    Allegiant2016as Johanna Reyes
    $179M4.1% of the total
Big Momma's House (2000), $174 millionSeven Pounds (2008), $168 millionOnward (2020), $142 millionLegally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003), $125 millionSmurfs (2025), $124 millionInstant Family (2018), $121 millionBlue Streak (1999), $118 millionThe Shack (2017), $96.9 millionSnowpiercer (2013), $86.8 millionDinner for Schmucks (2010), $86.4 millionNever Been Kissed (1999), $84.6 millionCoach Carter (2005), $76.7 millionMa (2019), $61.2 millionGifted (2017), $40.3 millionHalloween II (2009), $39.4 millionThe Soloist (2009), $38.3 million

$1.8 billionfrom the other 34 films with a worldwide figure, 41% of the total

Awards

Six awards and honors from 2012 to 2017, five of them major.

Top of the page, the section list
Octavia Spencer's awards and nominations, grouped by award
YearAwardFilmResult
Academy Awards
2012Best Supporting ActressThe HelpWon
Golden Globes
2012AwardsWon
BAFTA
2012Best Actress in a Supporting RoleThe HelpWon
SAG Awards
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureWon
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting RoleWon
Other honors
2017Hasty Pudding Woman of the YearWon

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

Top of the page, the section list