Following the story of an aspiring author who writes about the mistreatment of Black maids in 1960s Mississippi, The Help is a powerful drama that features a series of excellent performances from its talented ensemble. Directed by Get On Up’s Tate Taylor, the movie received a huge amount of critical acclaim for its performances and technical prowess, though in the years since its release, the story has come under criticism for its white-savior storyline. The Help secured a Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards, though it ultimately lost to The Artist.

The Help also received three acting nominations at the Oscars, highlighting just how much the story is driven by the stellar performances at its core. It’s very much an ensemble picture, with each actress bringing something new and different to their character that propels the story from start to finish. The Help is most strongly remembered for these three acting nominations (and one win), which pushed several of the central actresses to a whole new level of fame and acclaim.

Viola Davis as Aibileen Clark

The Help centers on two Black maids working during the Civil Rights Movement in 1960s Mississippi, one of whom is Aibileen Clark. The movie exposes the racism and discrimination that Aibileen and her fellow maids were exposed to during these times, painting a tragic picture of America’s prejudiced society. Aibileen is played by Viola Davis, a four-time Academy Award nominee whose most famous roles include Nanisca in The Woman King and Professor Keating in How To Get Away With Murder. Davis was among the three actresses nominated for her boundary-pushing performance in The Help, and though she lost, she would go on to win the statue for 2016's Fences.

Octavia Spencer as Minerva “Minny” Jackson

Not only does The Help rank among Octavia Spencer’s best movies, but it’s also the project that showcased her commanding presence as an actress. She plays Minny Jackson, the other Black maid who faces daily racism in her occupation and society. Spencer made her feature film debut as a nurse in 1996’s A Time To Kill, but the actress is best known for roles such as Dorothy Vaughan in Hidden Figures and Sue Ann Ellington in Ma. Spencer won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her work in The Help, and she would go on to be nominated in that same category for Hidden Figures and The Shape of Water.

Emma Stone as Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan

In The Help, Skeeter is an aspiring journalist who interviews Aibileen and Minny to write a scathing indictment of America’s attitudes towards ‘the help’. Though many people believe her character makes The Help a problematic movie, Emma Stone still provides an excellent performance in the cast. She has appeared in many different projects over the course of her career, ranging from franchise blockbusters like The Amazing Spider-Man and Cruella (where she played Gwen Stacy and Cruella De Vil respectively) to more prestigious fare like Birdman, La La Land and The Favourite, all of which earned Stone Oscar nominations — she won for La La Land.

Jessica Chastain as Celia Rae Foote

In the third of The Help’s Oscar-nominated performances, Jessica Chastain plays Celia Rae Foote, a rich housewife who quickly strikes up a friendship with Minny Jackson after hiring her to clean her home. Celia is one of the few characters that show compassion towards the maids. Chastain is a hugely successful actress who’s been praised for roles such as Maya in Zero Dark Thirty and Molly in Molly’s Game. A three-time Oscar nominee, Chastain won Best Actress in 2022 for her portrayal of Tammy Faye Bakker in The Eyes of Tammy Faye.

Bryce Dallas Howard as Hillary “Hilly” Walters Holbrook

Hilly Holbrook is The Help’s representation of the several white employers throughout the ‘60s that made conditions impossible for Black maids. In the film, Hilly demands that her maid use a separate outdoor washroom, though she gets her just desserts in the end. Since starring in The Help, Bryce Dallas Howard has been in several high-grossing blockbusters, playing Claire Dearing in Jurassic World and Grace Meacham in Pete’s Dragon.

Allison Janney as Charlotte Phelan

Allison Janney plays Skeeter's mother Charlotte Phelan in The Help's cast. Although Charlottee doesn’t appear in many scenes, she is important to the story. She has a complex history with the maids that strongly informs the way Skeeter develops her own perspective on the industry, complicating her relationship with the film’s protagonists. Janney is who’s most famous for her recurring role as C.J. Cregg in Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing. Janney has also notably starred as Bonnie in Mom and LaVona Golden in I, Tonya, winning an Academy Award for her supporting performance in the latter.

Ahna O’Reilly as Elizabeth Leefolt

Elizabeth Leefolt is the employer of protagonist Aibileen Clark, though she certainly doesn’t make life easy for her maid. She’s presented as an absent and neglectful mother, often leaving her child in Aibileen’s care when she has other duties that she deems more important. She’s played by Ahna O’Reilly, whose most recognizable roles outside of The Help include Sarah in Sleepwalker and Julienne Clark in Where The Crawdads Sing.

The Help Supporting Cast & Characters

Sissy Spacek as Mrs. Walters - Mrs. Walters is the original employer of Missy Jackson before her daughter Hilly fires her for not adhering to the strict work conditions they’ve imposed. She’s played by Sissy Spacek, who is most famous for playing Carrie in Brian De Palma’s 1976 adaptation of the Stephen King novel.

Chris Lowell as Stuart Whitworth - Stuart Whitworth is Skeeter’s boyfriend in the first act of the movie, though he eventually breaks up with her after learning about her book. He’s played by Chris Lowell, who's known for his roles as Bash in GLOW, Al in Promising Young Woman, and Jesse in How I Met Your Father.

Mike Vogel as Johnny Foote - Johnny Foote is Celia's husband and Hilly's ex-boyfriend who ultimately, like his wife, treats Minny with kindness. He’s played by Mike Vogel, who later went on to appear as Cooper in Sex/Life and John F. Kennedy in American Horror Story: Double Feature.

Wes Chatham as Carlton Phelan - Carlton Phelan is Skeeter’s brother. He’s played by Wes Chatham, who is known for playing Castor in both parts of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay.

Cicely Tyson as Constantine Jefferson - Constantine was the maid who raised Skeeter when she was younger, and the movie begins with her being fired and inspiring Skeeter to write her book. She’s played by Cicely Tyson, who previously had starring roles as Rebecca Morgan in Sounder and the titular character in The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.

Aunjanue Ellis as Yule May Davis - Yule May Davis is the maid that replaces Minny Jackson in the service of Hilly Holbrook, though she’s swiftly fired after stealing a ring when Hilly wouldn't give her a pay advance. She’s played by Aunjanue Ellis, who received an Oscar nomination for her work as Oracene "Brandy" Price in King Richard.