- Octavia Spencer
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Octavia Spencer 
Octavia Spencer, May 2005Born May 25, 1970
Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.Occupation Actress Octavia L. Spencer[1] (born May 25, 1970)[2] 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.
Contents
Life and career
Born in Montgomery, Alabama, she is the sixth of seven children. She attended Auburn University and received a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts.[3]
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.[4] 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."[5] 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.[6]
In April 2009, Entertainment Weekly listed Spencer in its list of 25 Funniest Actresses in Hollywood.[7]
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.[8]
Filmography
Film Year Film Role Notes 1996 A Time to Kill Roark's Nurse 1997 The Sixth Man Nativity Watson Sparkler Wanda 1999 Lansky (TV movie) Evelyn the Maid Never Been Kissed Cynthia Being John Malkovich Woman in Elevator Blue Streak 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 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 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 Opal 2004 Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! Janine Breakin' All the Rules Stylist 2005 Coach Carter Mrs. Battle Pretty Persuasion Woman Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School Ayisha Lebaron Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous Octavia - Bookstore Beauty Shop Big Customer Wannabe Lady Chanet Janney Jones 2006 Pulse Landlady 2007 The Nines Streetwalker 2008 Next of Kin Grace Pretty Ugly People Mary The Spleenectomy Nurse Seven Pounds Kate (Home Health Care Nurse) 2009 Love at First Hiccup Mrs. Hambrick Drag Me to Hell Bank Co-Worker #1 Jesus People: The Movie Angel Angelique The Soloist Troubled Woman Just Peck Detention Room Teacher Halloween II Nurse Daniels Herpes Boy Rochelle Small Town Saturday Night Rhonda Dooley 2010 Dinner For Schmucks Madame Nora 2011 The Help Minny Peep World Allison Flypaper Madge Wiggins References
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2011/08/23/1703776/octavia-spencer-star-of-the-help.html
- ^ http://www.comedycentral.com/press/bios/octaviaspencer.jhtml?series=80439 Comedycentral.com Retrieved on 04-19-7
- ^ Riley, Jenelle (2005-04-05). "Octavia Spencer: The Quip Queen". allbusiness.com. http://www.allbusiness.com/services/amusement-recreation-services/4725950-1.html. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ Riley, Jenelle (2011-08-08). "How Octavia Spencer Landed the Role of a Lifetime". backstage.com. http://www.backstage.com/bso/news-and-features-features/how-octavia-spencer-landed-the-role-of-a-1005312262.story. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ Rosen, Lisa (2009-02-04). "Big impressions in brief roles". theenvelope.latimes.com. http://theenvelope.latimes.com/galleries/la-en-smallroles4-2009feb04,0,5692496.htmlstory. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
- ^ "Octavia Spencer - The 25 Funniest Actresses in Hollywood". ew.com. 2009-04-13. http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20271251,00.html#20605962. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
- ^ "Could Viola Davis, Emma Stone & Octavia Spencer Get Oscar Nods for 'The Help'?" from iVillage website
External links
Categories:- 1970 births
- Actors from Alabama
- African American film actors
- African American television actors
- Auburn University alumni
- Living people
- People from Montgomery, Alabama
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