“The statement that I made and that I think I will continue to make is that racism and bigotry isn't just relegated to the Southern region; it permeates the history of our nation. It's not to say that we haven't made progress. Obviously we have with our first African American president, and I never thought that would happen in my lifetime.”

American actress and author

Octavia Spencer is an American actress and author. She is known for a career that has brought her major honors, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Golden Globe Award. Her work spans film and television, and she has also written as an author. The recognitions listed above reflect the range of her career in performance and writing.