Octavia Spencer is an American actress and author best known for her roles in the films The Help and Hidden Figures.

Spencer's breakthrough film role came in 2011 with the role of Minny Jackson in The Help, which starred Viola Davis. Spencer won an Academy Award, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild award for her role in the film. Spencer appeared in the 2016 film Hidden Figures, playing mathematician Dorothy Vaughan, along side Taraji P. Henson and Janelle Monáe.

Spencer's other film credits include Fruitvale Station, Get on Up, Black or White, Smashed, Bad Santa 2, and Disney's Zootopia. Spencer stars in the upcoming film A Kid Like Jake along side Claire Danes and Jim Parsons.

On television Spencer has had recurring roles on TV shows including City of Angels, The Chronicle, LAX, Ugly Betty, and Halfway Home. Spencer had a starring role on the short-lived FOX medical comedy-drama Red Band Society. More recently, Spencer has had a recurring role on Chuck Lorre's Mom.

As an author, Spencer has published two children's books in the series "Randi Rhodes Ninja Detective".