From poor child to Oscar frontrunner

LOS ANGELES – Before she reached the exciting phase of her career – winning the Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actress trophy and being the frontrunner in the Oscar race in the same category for her performance in “The Help”, Octavia Spencer coped with poverty-stricken growing up years.

The Montgomery, Alabama, native, who was raised by a single mom, recalled that her version of fun times was hanging out with friends in the parking lot of a shuttered Kmart. “I certainly came from humble beginnings and it has shaped who I am,” she said in this interview. “But I would not change anything about not being born with a silver spoon because it shaped me into the individual that I am. Our experiences make us better people and those form you as an artist.”

A bundle of humor and sensibility, Octavia brought those qualities to her role as Minny Jackson, the feisty maid in “The Help.” Below are excerpts from our talk:

How did you get cast in this movie?

My story is very different from those of the other actresses because I have a history with (writer-director) Tate Taylor and Brunson Green. Tate, who happens to be my best friend, and (producer) Brunson, who is one of the producers, are like my brothers. I’ve known them for the past – on the record, 10 years – but off the record, 17 years (laughing). So they’ve been a part of my life for a very long time. When they were planning this project, I hoped that I would get the opportunity to play Minny. I prayed and I secretly made dolls of all the actresses who fit the character’s description. I made voodoo dolls of them to make sure they wouldn’t get the role. I really hoped to play such a strong and funny character. She’s the perfect balance of pathos and humor.

Your character and performance spice up the story with humor and conviviality.

I would love to take the credit for the brilliance that is Minny, because yes, I am so brilliant (laughing). No. Kathryn Stockett (who wrote the novel) did loosely base the character of Minny on certain aspects of my personality. She’s an obvious contrast to Abilene (Viola Davis’s character). Abilene is stoic and not chubby. Minny is loud and very chubby. With regard to that, perhaps I influenced Kathryn but I didn’t really know her. My initial time with her was probably six hours over a 24-hour time period. So it comes from her genius as a writer.

What was actually in the pie? (In the movie, as revenge against Bryce Dallas Howard’s character for firing and accusing her of stealing, Minny offers her a pie best not eaten at all.)

The pie we had was made of lots of chocolate and love.

Do you bake in real life?

Nobody would ever ask me to bake anything.

What about your own housekeeping skills?

You can ask Tate because not only is he one of my best friends, we also lived together at some point. He says I’m not a good housekeeper. I beg to differ because our roles were, he would cook and I would wash the dishes. He said he always had to rewash the dishes which is a lie. I think it was a way for him to make me want to do more than help him in the kitchen. I think I’m a pretty decent “house-ess.”

You’re now often on the red carpet. Did you ever imagine that?

Every actress has a secret dream to be Cinderella at the ball. Otherwise, why do it if you don’t want to be the princess? Who wants to be the witch? I want to be the princess. I want the glass slippers. That’s how I equate my being involved with the project. I say I feel like one of Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters. That’s not a bad thing because she gets to try on the glass slippers. She walks around them for a while. They hurt her feet but she still gets to walk around in them for a while.

That’s what I feel about being a part of this movie. Although I don’t really feel like an ugly stepsister. I obviously feel gorgeous! And I am gorgeous, right? People want to be movie stars more so than actors. I don’t think I ever want to be a movie star. I just want to grow and be as honest to a character as I’m supposed to be. Now if the perks are that I get to wear some pretty clothes and get my wig done – I brought this wig in my suitcase today—I will do that!

What was it like working with Viola Davis?

Viola and Jessica (Chastain) have become two of my closest friends. At first, I was very intimidated. I was in awe of Viola. On my first day with Viola, I don’t think I actually talked to her. It was very nerve-wracking. But she is so disarming, kind, funny and sweet. It was a natural progression that we would end up as close friends as we are. We talk every other day or via e-mail, text or over the phone. I am grateful to have the opportunity to play with all these cast members but especially Viola and Jessica because they have become such an important part of my life.

When did you want to become an actress?

I’ve always known that I wanted to become an actress. My mother was supportive of any of our dreams but not necessarily acting. She wanted me to have a job that I would make a living at. So I secretly wanted to be an actor, but my goals were probably to be a producer more than an actress. The universe had other plans for me, thank you, God. I got to explore what it was like being an actress.

Toward the end of this movie, you received money in the mail. Can you recall the time when you got your first paycheck?

The story about my first paycheck was bittersweet for me. I have six siblings—five sisters and a brother. My mom always worked hard to give us some of the things that we needed. She bought all of our clothes. When I turned 14, my mom said, “It’s time for you to go to the store. You can pick up your own clothes.” We went to a discount store. I was a little alarmed by that because at that age, it was all about appearances. I can’t show up in those discount store clothes.

My mom said, “Honey, you’re right. You should not have to wear discount clothes.” That year, I didn’t get any new clothes. Then I got my first job. My mom made me take my first paycheck and buy my own clothes. I started buying discount after that because I understood the value of a dollar. It also made me one of those people who are concerned less about brands and more about what clothes say how you feel.

Can you tell us some more about your childhood?

My mother and father were separated so I was raised by a single mom. We didn’t have resources to go to shows and family vacations. My mother was very smart in that she told us we could go anywhere in the world through books. That’s what I did. I’ve always been an avid reader. I enjoy it to this day. If I need to unwind, you’re going to find me in my bed, with the air-con on very low, the covers pulled up, with a good book and ready to read.

When I was growing up, if I was lucky enough to go out because my mother was very strict, we went to the parking lot of a Kmart that was closed. If I had a friend who had a car, we would just sit out and tailgate, just hang out in the parking lot. There wasn’t a lot to do. That was really fun because it was about enjoying each other’s company. That’s what I still enjoy now. But instead of being in the parking lot of Kmart, I’m at a friend’s house on a couch. I’m not a nightclub person. It has never been a part of my life. I’d rather spend time having a great meal with people that I enjoy being with.

Did you take lessons in the performing arts?

No, we were too poor for that. We cast ourselves in our own productions at home. We could be like king for a day. My mom would say, “This is the day that you get to control the TV.” So the best night to watch TV was Friday night. I also remember that my younger sister and I would wake up every Saturday morning at 5 o’clock and be like, “I call Friday! I call Saturday!” That’s really lame but it was just a very simple life. This job is now allowing me to visit those places in the world that I only had the chance to read about.

What doors opened for you since you made the film?

I’m going to realize my dream of producing. I’m producing a project with Viola that we’re working on. We’re working with a writer on getting it finished. It’s more of a political thriller. I’m also a writer and I fancy myself as a Sherlock Holmes, but other people would say it differently. I’m a big mystery buff. The projects I write are more mystery-based, for kids.

E-mail the columnist at rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com. Follow him at https://twitter.com/nepalesruben.