Octavia Lenora Spencer was born on May 25, 1970, in Montgomery, Alabama, and is the sixth of seven children. Her mother, Dellsena Spencer, worked as a maid, and her father passed away when she was thirteen. Spencer graduated from Jefferson Davis High School and later earned a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts from Auburn University, with minors in journalism and theater.

She has dyslexia and has been open about her struggles with it. Octavia Spencer began her career as an intern on the set of "The Long Walk Home" (1994) and moved to Los Angeles in 1997 on the advice of her friend Tate Taylor, who would later direct "The Help" (2011).

Her breakthrough came with her role as Minny Jackson in "The Help," for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She has since appeared in films such as "Fruitvale Station" (2013), "Hidden Figures" (2016), "The Shape of Water" (2017), and "Ma" (2019).

Octavia Spencer has also been involved in television, with roles in "Mom," "Red Band Society," and "Truth Be Told." She created the children's book series "Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective" and continues to be an influential figure in the entertainment industry.