Star, "Halfway Home"
Octavia Spencer is a native of Montgomery, Alabama which she claims is the proverbial buckle of the Bible belt. She's the sixth of seven siblings and holds a BS in Liberal Arts from Auburn University. A "closet" lover of acting, this practical Alabamian knew that she'd someday work in the film industry, but never dreamed it would be in front of the camera. In 1995, acclaimed director Joel Schumacher changed all that by giving her a small part opposite Sandra Bullock in the hit film "A Time to Kill" and Spencer was on her way. In 1996, she teamed up with Bullock again in Bullock's directorial debut of "Making Sandwiches", a short film that premiered at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival and won rave reviews. Since then, Spencer has continued to see success as an actor in memorable supporting roles.
In 2003, she made her stage debut in Los Angeles, in Del Shore's award-winning play, "The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife," starring opposite veteran actress Beth Grant. Later that year, she starred opposite Emmy Award-winner Allison Janney in Tate Taylor's critically lauded and award-winning short feature, "Chicken Party."
Spencer's screen credits include "Pulse," "Coach Carter," "Charm School," "Win A Date with Tad Hamilton," "Legally Blonde 2," "Spiderman," "Big Momma's House," "Never Been Kissed" and "Being John Malkovich." She's had a myriad of guest-starring roles on TV including: "E.R.," "CSI: NY," "Presidio Med," "LAX," "Titus," "City of Angels," "Dharma & Greg," "Huff," "Medium" and "NYPD Blue." In 2002, the avid forensic buff co-authored a mystery novel for kids entitled, "The Rock Holler Gang: Jr. Detectives." Still a True Crime enthusiast, it's no wonder that Spencer plays a hardened criminal on "Halfway Home."