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Octavia Spencer

Octavia Spencer

Actor, also producer · Born May 25, 1970 (56) · Montgomery, Alabama, USA

Oscar winner · Golden Globe winner · BAFTA Award winner · 5 other major award bodies

Octavia Lenora Spencer (born May 25, 1970) is an American actress. She has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Golden Globe Award, in addition to nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards. Spencer made her film debut in the 1996 drama A Time to Kill. Following a decade of brief roles in film and television, her breakthrough came in 2011 when she played a maid in 1960s America in the drama film The Help, which won her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. In ensuing years, she won the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Ryan Coogler's biopic Fruitvale Station (2013), had a recurring role in the CBS sitcom Mom (2013–2015), and starred in the Fox drama series Red Band Society (2014–2015). Spencer's roles as other black women in 1960s America, as Dorothy Vaughan in the biopic Hidden Figures (2016) and a cleaning woman in the fantasy The Shape of Water (2017), earned her two consecutive nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the first black actress to achieve such feat, as well as the first, and to date only, to be nominated twice after winning. She has since starred in The Divergent Series (2015–16), The Shack (2017), Gifted (2017), Instant Family (2018), Luce (2019), Ma (2019), Onward (2020), and Spirited(2022). She led the Apple TV+ drama series Truth Be Told (2019–2023). She was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for portraying Madam C. J. Walker in the Netflix miniseries Self Made (2020). As an author, Spencer created the children's book series Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective. She has published two books in the series: The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit (2013) and The Sweetest Heist in History (2015). Description above from the Wikipedia article Octavia Spencer, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 25, 1970 (56)
From
Montgomery, Alabama, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
110 on MovieCove · 143 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 3% in 30 days

What are Octavia Spencer's films like?

Across their 58 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama19 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 87th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Animation3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 89th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 18th percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
27%
Self
23%
Morality
17%
Survival
12%
Society
11%
Power
7%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds18 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth11 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship11 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 49 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 19 · Serious 13 · Dark 17

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 35 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 10 · Charged 25 · Intense 14

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 14 · Shifting 29 · Whiplash 6

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 23 · Some laughs 19 · Funny 7

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 18 · Even-paced 29 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 24 · Engaged 22 · Full focus 3

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 15 · Affecting 15 · Heavy 19

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 34 · Open-ended 10 · Ambiguous 5

Roles they play

30 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 9 of 30 analyzed roles.

Mentor
9 of 30
Ally
6 of 30
Hero
6 of 30
Herald
3 of 30
Shadow
3 of 30
Trickster
1 of 30
Threshold guardian
1 of 30
Shapeshifter
1 of 30
Show the 30 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
33
Melancholic
26
Hopeful
26
Joyful
14
Bittersweet
12
Other
51

How their films linger

Hopeful27 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy17
  • Bittersweet27
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous13

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Octavia Spencer's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 85 of their 110 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (26).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Octavia Spencer's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

143 credits, 110 with a MovieCove page; 26 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Margie Claus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as (voice)

  • Ride or Die(2026)

    Show 8 episodes · Executive Producer · as Debbie Claybourne

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Tow(2025)

    Executive Producer · as Barbara

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Lost Women of Alaska(2026)

    Show Producer · as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Family Recipe Showdown(2025)

    Show 8 episodes · Producer · as Host

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Smurfs(2025)

    as Asmodius (voice)

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • The Santa Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective Grinchauser

  • Lost Women of Highway 20(2023)

    Show 3 episodes · Executive Producer · as Host

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Feds(2023)

    Show Producer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all shows

  • Spirited(2022)

    as Kimberly

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Quest for Sleep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Narrator

  • Encounter(2021)

    as Hattie Hayes

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Thunder Force(2021)

    as Emily Stanton

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Superintelligence(2020)

    as Octavia Spencer (voice)

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Witches(2020)

    as Grandma

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker(2020)

    Show 4 episodes · Executive Producer · as Madam C. J. Walker

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Onward(2020)

    as The Manticore (voice)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Dolittle(2020)

    as Dab-Dab (voice)

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Truth Be Told(2019)

    Show 28 episodes · Executive Producer · as Poppy Scoville

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Luce(2019)

    as Harriet Wilson

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Ma(2019)

    Executive Producer · as Sue Ann

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Green Book(2018)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Instant Family(2018)

    as Karen

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • A Kid Like Jake(2018)

    as Judy

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Small Town Crime(2017)

    Executive Producer · as Kelly Banks

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Shape of Water(2017)

    as Zelda Fuller

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Candid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Executive Producer

  • Young Sheldon(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Officer Rhonda Tomasson

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Gifted(2017)

    as Roberta Taylor

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Shack(2017)

    as Papa / Elouisa

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Hidden Figures(2016)

    as Dorothy Vaughan

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Bad Santa 2(2016)

    as Opal

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Team Martha

  • The Free World(2016)

    as Linda Workman

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Car Dogs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Mrs. Barrett

  • The Divergent Series: Allegiant(2016)

    as Johanna Reyes

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Zootopia(2016)

    as Mrs. Otterton (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Great Gilly Hopkins(2015)

    as Miss Harris

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Fathers & Daughters(2015)

    as Dr. Corman

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Divergent Series: Insurgent(2015)

    as Johanna Reyes

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Black or White(2014)

    as Rowena Jeffers

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Black-ish(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Octavia Spencer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Red Band Society(2014)

    Show 13 episodes · as Nurse Jackson

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Get on Up(2014)

    as Aunt Honey

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Jesus People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Angel Angelique

  • Paradise(2013)

    as Loray

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Lost on Purpose(2013)

    as Nurse Keller

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Mom(2013)

    Show 9 episodes · as Regina Tompkins

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters(2013)

    as Martha (voice)

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Snowpiercer(2013)

    as Tanya

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Fruitvale Station(2013)

    Co-Executive Producer · as Wanda

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Drunk History(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Harriet Tubman

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Call Me Crazy: A Five Film(2013)

    as Dr. Nance

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Blues for Willadean(2012)

    as LeSonia Robinson

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Smashed(2012)

    as Jenny

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Flypaper(2011)

    as Madge Wiggins

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Help(2011)

    as Minny Jackson

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Just Peck(2009)

    as Detention Teacher

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Peep World(2010)

    as Alison

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Love & Distrust(2010)

    as Rhonda (segment "Auto Motives")

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Dinner for Schmucks(2010)

    as Madame Nora

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Small Town Saturday Night(2010)

    as Rhonda Dooley

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Herpes Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Rochelle

  • Halloween II(2009)

    as Nurse Daniels

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Drag Me to Hell(2009)

    as Bank Co-Worker

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Soloist(2009)

    as Troubled Woman

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Dollhouse(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Professor Janack

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Love at First Hiccup(2009)

    as Mrs. Hambrick

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Seven Pounds(2008)

    as Kate the Home Health Care Nurse

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Pretty Ugly People(2008)

    as Mary

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Spleenectomy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Nurse

  • Raising the Bar(2008)

    Show 5 episodes · as Arvina Watkins

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Wizards of Waverly Place: Wizard School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Dr. Evilini

  • Wizards of Waverly Place(2007)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Evilini

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Cavemen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Big Bang Theory(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Octavia

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Halfway Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • The Nines(2007)

    as Streetwalker

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • 30 Rock(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Octavia Spencer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Ugly Betty(2006)

    Show 4 episodes · as Constance Grady

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Standoff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Rapid Air Clerk

  • Pulse(2006)

    as Landlady

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School(2005)

    as Ayisha Lebaron

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Beauty Shop(2005)

    as Big Customer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous(2005)

    as Middle-Aged Woman

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Shonteeva (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Pretty Persuasion(2005)

    as Woman

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Coach Carter(2005)

    as Mrs. Battle

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Medium(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Jurist

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • CSI: NY(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Child Welfare Rep

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • LAX (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 6 episodes · as Flight Attendant

  • Breakin' All the Rules(2004)

    as Stylist

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!(2004)

    as Janine

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Bad Santa(2003)

    as Opal

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Chicken Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Laqueta Mills

  • S.W.A.T.(2003)

    as Neighbor in Alley

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde(2003)

    as Security Guard

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Sol Goode(2003)

    as Unemployment Clerk

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Presidio Med (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheryl Washington

  • Little John(2002)

    as Waitress

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Spider-Man(2002)

    as Check-In Girl

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Everything Put Together(2000)

    as Nurse B

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Chronicle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 22 episodes · as Ruby Rydell

  • The Sky Is Falling(1999)

    as Nurse #2

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Follow the Stars Home(2001)

    as Hildy

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Journeyman(2001)

    as Black Belly

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Grounded for Life(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Admitting Nurse

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Missing Pieces(2000)

    as Elegant Guest (as Octavia L. Spencer)

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Sherry

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Four Dogs Playing Poker(2000)

    as Waitress

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • American Virgin(1999)

    as Agnes Large

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Big Momma's House(2000)

    as Twila

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Titus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ms. Alice Hays

  • Auto Motives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Rhonda

  • What Planet Are You From?(2000)

    as Baby Nurse

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Malcolm in the Middle(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Cashier

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Being John Malkovich(1999)

    as Woman in Elevator

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Roswell(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Blue Streak(1999)

    as Shawna

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Never Been Kissed(1999)

    as Cynthia

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Lansky(1999)

    as Evelyn

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Becker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Ticket Woman

  • Brimstone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Duty Nurse

  • L.A. Doctors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Bus Driver

  • Sparkler(1997)

    as Wanda

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Dharma & Greg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Gloria

  • The Sixth Man(1997)

    as Nativity Watson

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Just Shoot Me!(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Valley Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Cheerleader

  • The Grass Harp(1995)

    Extras Casting

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • A Time to Kill(1996)

    as Roark's Nurse

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Moesha(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Gloria

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Maria Jones

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Chicago Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse Jane

  • The X-Files(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Elegant guest · as Hildy · as Waitress

  • Death of a Salesman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer · as Linda Loman

  • Deck the Y'alls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Gladys Gibbes

  • Ma 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Sue Ann

  • Nobody Nothing Nowhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer · Actor

  • The Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Untitled Holiday Comedy Project (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 141 titles, 134 of them dated from 1951 to 2026; peak year 2016.

Biggest box office

Zootopia (2016)

$1B worldwide

Highest rated

Zootopia (2016)

Midcredits 98th

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19512026

Peak 2016 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 23 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

Show 1 more milestone

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting138 of 141: 128 only acting, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score55thProducing12 of 141: 2 only producing, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thOther crew1 of 141: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

141 titles, 10 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 10 of them.

By decade

1950s1 · acting1990s19 · 18 acting · 1 crew2000s55 · acting2010s44 · 42 acting · 6 crew2020s15 · 15 acting · 4 crew

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 2% of 64 roles
960106111621

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA Award, 3 Screen Actors Guild Awards and 2 other major awards from 19 major nominations, 2012–2026.

WinNomination
  1. 2026
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Narrator
  2. 2024
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Narrator
  3. 2020
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
    • +2 other major bodies · 1 win and 1 nomination
      • Producers Guild Award, won
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Supporting Female
  4. 2018
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actress
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actress
  5. 2017
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
  6. 2012
    • Oscar, won · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Supporting Actress
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Supporting Actress

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Octavia Spencer's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 49th percentile, the median of all 81; across their 49 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 45th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 49

Approval · how many liked their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 49

Reach · how many have seen their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 49

Midcredits score across 110 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up32
  • 50th to 74th30
  • 25th to 49th28
  • Below 25th20

Shape of the crowd

41 of their 110 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved18
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser41
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed37

Most divisive · actor

Love & Distrust (2010)

90th percentile spread · 61% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · producer

Green Book (2018)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 48 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 53. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Octavia Spencer's work okay for kids?

Across up to 33 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore27 titles11–81 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity33 titles12–64 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity29 titles12–70 · median 49 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs26 titles12–65 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense26 titles20–74 · median 50 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Octavia Spencer work with?

People who share at least 2 of Octavia Spencer's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tate Taylor shares the most, 4.

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Mixed roles