Octavia Spencer started her acting career in the 90s, with her film debut coming in the 1996 crime film, A Time To Kill. Since then, Spencer has become an icon in modern film, often making her roles stand out in a way that lingers in the audience's minds long after they've left the theatre.
Octavia Spencer has been nominated for both Academy Awards and Golden Globes. She was the first black actress to follow up a win with two Academy Award nominations, one for Guillermo Del Toro's The Shape Of Water, and one for the iconic 2016 drama, Hidden Figures.
Spencer's breakout role came in 2011 when she unforgettably starred in The Help as Minny Jackson, a role which she famously one the Academy Award of Best Supporting Actress for.
With so many unforgettable films and roles under her belt, let's take a look at some of Octavia Spencer's finest work, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Zootopia (2016) - 98%
Zootopia is considered quite progressive and iconic for an animated Disney film that revolves around a rabbit and a fox. The movie hit theatres in 2016 to critical acclaim, and would go on to be the fourth highest-grossing film of 2016, and received both a Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film.
Octavia Spencer played a relatively minor character in Zootopia; Mrs. Otterton, a kind woman whose husband disappeared out of the blue, leaving her a single mother with two young children. Despite her character being a secondary one, Spencer still managed to shine.
Snowpiercer (2013) - 95%
Snowpiercer was a 2013 action film that was written and directed by Academy Award winner, Bong Joon-Ho. Following the story of survival in a future where climate change has killed off almost everyone, except for the who were boarded on a train called the Snowpiercer.
More relevant than ever today, Snowpiercer is a timeless film. It starred Octavia Spencer, alongside Chris Evans and Tilda Swinton. Spencer's role in the sci-fi film is often overlooked but was masterful nonetheless.
The Shape Of Water (2017) - 94%
Guillermo Del Toro received the appreciation and recognition he's deserved for so long with his 2018 horror fantasy film, The Shape Of Water. Del Toro would go on to describe his feature film as being a story where "the monster actually gets the girl" in the end.
The Shape Of Water starred Sally Field as Eliza, the film's protagonist, a mute woman who longed for a more exciting life. Eliza and Octavia Spencer's character, Zelda, were best friends and shared great chemistry for a believable, often hilarious dynamic. Octavia Spencer really shone in this film, bringing humor and wit to an otherwise poignant story.
Hidden Figures (2016) - 93%
The iconic biographical drama, Hidden Figures, hit theatres in 2016 and has been considered a highly relevant and important film ever since. With an all-star cast and compelling true story, Hidden Figures would to be nominated for several awards, including Octavia Spencer's unforgettable nomination for Best Supporting Actress In A Feature Film at the Academy Awards.
Spencer portrayed the role of Dorothy Vaughn, a mathematician, and NASA supervisor. While her character's not the star of the film, Octavia Spencer's exceptional performance certainly stood out.
Luce (2019) - 91%
Luce is considered one of 2019's hidden gems, since it had a limited release in theatres and was most likely overshadowed by more heavily-promoted films that were released around the same time, such as Hobbs & Shaw. Despite being snubbed at this year's Oscars, Luce received critical acclaim and was praised during its premiere at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.
This film starred Naomi Watts and Tim Roth as a married couple who are forced to come to terms with their adoptive son, Luce's less-than-ideal behavior. Octavia Spencer starred as Harriet Wilson, a teacher who works the driving force in uncovering the problems with Luce.
Instant Family (2018) - 82%
Instant Family hit theatres in 2018 and received unexpected critical praise and holds an impressive 82% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The comedy film starred Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne as a couple who decide to pursue adopting children, and wind up fostering three young Latino kids. The subject could have been handled badly, but Instant Family delivered a moving, heartfelt experience.
Octavia Spencer played Karen, a woman who worked for the adoption agency. While she's not a lead character, she certainly delivers some unforgettable and heartwarming moments.
The Help (2011) - 76%
The Help hit theatres in 2011 and starred Viola Davis, Emma Thomas, and Octavia Spencer as the leads. The film is considered a revolutionary piece of art and was based on Kathryn Stockett's iconic novel of the same name.
Viola Davis' performance as the film's protagonist definitely stole the show and received much well-deserved praise, but Octavia Spencer was completely iconic and memorable as well, so much so that she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Small Town Crime (2018) - 76%
Small Town Crime is an often overlooked 2017 thriller film that starred John Hawkes as the protagonist, an ex-cop who becomes obsessed with solving a crime when he finds a young woman's battered body on the side of the road.
Octavia Spencer stars as Kelly Banks, who acts as the protagonist's moral compass and often common sense throughout the film.
Gifted (2017) - 73%
Gifted hit theatres in 2017 and starred Chris Evans, McKenna Grace, and Jenny Slate as the leads. The film touches on many difficult social issues and primarily follows a custody battle between McKenna Grace's character's uncle and grandmother.
Octavia Spencer stars as Roberta, the main character's friendly neighbor. It's a role that would have been forgettable in the shoes of any other actress, but as usual, Spencer steals the show.
1. Ma (2019) - 55%
We can't do a list on Octavia Spencer's roles in film without bringing up 2019's Ma, a Blumhouse horror film that hit theatres in May and put Spencer's unbelievable talents in the spotlight. This film might not be the most critically acclaimed film that Octavia Spencer has starred in, as it sits at 55% on Rotten Tomatoes, but it was definitely a prominent one for the actress.
Ma highlighted Octavia Spencer's talents as no other film has. Her performance carried the entire movie and was made it easy to look past the weak plot and even weaker surrounding characters, if just to focus on Octavia Spencer's showstopping portrayal of Sue Ann, aka Ma.