If there is one thing we should know about success, is that it comes in its own time. There are persons who had their break at an early stage in life and others at a later stage. A sneak peeks into the life of American actress, Octavia Spencer who made her debut in the movie industry as far back as 1996 when she starred as a nurse in the film, A Time to Kill. However, it will take fifteen years for the Hollywood star to become a sensation.
Born into a family of 6 in the city of Montgomery, Alabama in 1972. Growing up for the younger Octavia Lenora Spencer wasn’t a bed of roses. Her mother, Dellsena Spencer worked as a maid to cater for the family after she lost her husband earlier in their marriage. Notwithstanding, she ensured her kids received a better education. In 1988 Spencer graduated from Jefferson Davis High School and went ahead to study English, Journalism and Theater in Auburn University in her local Montgomery.
Unfortunately, there were limited opportunities available for the young graduate. Thus, she had to work as an intern on the set of a movie titled, The Long Walk Home. A year later, upon the advice of her friend Tate Taylor, she moved to Los Angeles in search of greener pastures for her acting career. Fortunately, her relocation to the City of Angels was the beginning of many things to come.
Octavia Spencer Acting Career
The early 2000s saw Octavia Spencer getting more lead roles in movies and short skit. Also, around this time, she took to the stage, appearing in her first and only stage drama in Del Shores 2003 play, The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife. She will later reveal in an interview that she couldn’t cope with the intense stage fright in acting plays. Between 2000-2009 Octavia Spencer has distinguished herself as a passionate, trustworthy, hardworking and versatile actress, from the unique way in which she interpreted several roles and tasks allotted to her. As a result, she was fast becoming the favourite of top movie producers and directors in Hollywood when it comes to delivering roles perfectly.
Her impact in these movies; Chicken Party, Seven Pounds and Home Care Nurse beyond doubt won her a positive critical acclaim amongst movie reviewers. Thus, it did not come off much as a surprise when in April 2009 celebrity magazine, Entertainment Weekly listed her in their 25 Funniest Actresses in Hollywood. It goes to show that Spencer was not just becoming fun to watch, but also, her presence in movies was a comic relief. Later that year, she will star in Herpes Boy, Zombie Halloween II, Love at First Hiccup and also, The Captain–A short film she produced. Spencer was fast becoming a household name in the industry and to cap it all, her pet project, The Captain was honoured as finalist in the REEL Poetry Award.
Despite featuring in the aforementioned movies, one could still not categorize the comic actress as an A-List in Hollywood. By this, it meant she was still just a regular actress loved for her acting skills and not in the award category. Also, through these years, Spencer had starred in most movies produced by her very own friend, Teta Taylor and this is why some movie critics felt she was being favoured. Hence, the years between 2010-2019 can as well be said as her breakthrough years. This is because Spencer began to bag multiple awards and nominations for her acting and contribution in the production of amazing films.
In 2011, Octavia Spencer starred in the movie, The Help. The drama film set in 1960s America was a big project with a combined effort of Tate Taylor, Brunson Green, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan and Mark Radcliffe all involved in the production and directing. Spencer’s role as a maid appearing as the character Minny Jackson will seal her spot as fan’s favorite that year. Not only was the movie a huge success, the following year, it earned her three most prestigious awards in the life of any A-List actor or actress. Firstly, she picked the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress, then came British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) on February 12, 2012, and above all, an Academy Award for the same category of Best Supporting Actress on February 26 same year.
It will be noteworthy to mention that these awards skyrocketed Spencer’s respect in Hollywood. She was amongst the few who won the Oscar at their first nomination. It was a marvelous feeling as she was applauded and given a standing ovation at the award ceremony.
The gorgeous 39-years-old will go ahead to stack up more accolades and recognition. Even, it was disclosed later in June 2012 that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had invited the Oscar winner for a partnership.
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Octavia Spencer’s Movie Role As Madam C.J Walker in ‘Self Made’
Having starred in several movies, the multi-award winner channeled her energy and talents to a biopic about America’s black hair pioneer. Although, the March 2020 drama series was hailed for its promotion of the resourcefulness and will-power of a famous black woman in 19th century America, nonetheless, it had its shortcomings.
First, there are reports that the movie, Self Made is not based entirely on events that trailed the entrepreneur, Madam C.J. Walker’s life but scripts from a written bio by A’Lelia Bundles–a great-great-granddaughter of the business mogul. As a result, most of the messages on Madam C.J. Walker were over bloated because the directors, Kasi Lemmons and DeMane Davis set out to tell a story that inspires and entertain.
Secondly, in the series, there are almost no visuals depicting an actual hair salon nor the effect of her hair product. As against what should have showcased the entrepreneurship skill of a black woman who built a self-reliant empire just after the end of slavery in the New World. A time when blacks were still trying to find their feet in the country.
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The Netflix biographical film would have been more interesting if not that in its fourth and final episode, it still laid emphasis on black feminism as its central theme and this was already becoming a repeated story.
More so, there were too many unnecessary plotlines that shouldn’t have made the cut in a movie which should have been short, concise and precise. For example, the Lesbian romance of Walker’s daughter, Lelia played by Tiffany Haddish was an advertorial towards the LGBTQ culture which is synonymous with 21st century Hollywood.
Even though on Rotten Tomatoes the miniseries has an approval of 77%, the movie still recorded an average 5.95/10 from over 13 critical reviews.
However, Octavia Spencer’s role in the TV series as Madam C.J. Walker, was probably what concealed some of the movie’s flaws. According to some New York movie freaks, who saw the movie in its first week of release via the Netflix online platform, “Spencer’s role was nothing but magical!” More so, one of the producers of the 45-49 minutes Episodes revealed casting Spencer as Madam C.J. Walker was a sight to behold. Though one will agree that the role did not leave much for Spencer to be free and witty as usual. It was a show bound by convention, a tale of skin color and how Sarah Breedlove boxed her way around the ring to get to the top.
