The Help – Octavia Spencer steals spotlight from Emma Stone, Viola Davis

Despite not being cast as the lead in The Help (2011), Octavia Spencer made her mark in the industry as Minny Jackson, a maid in the 1960s. Spencer was cast alongside leads Emma Stone and Viola Davis, both of whom were already stars going into the film. Many say Spencer appeared out of thin air and stole the show. "Spencer's scrappy Minny Jackson, Aibileen's best friend and the best cook in the county, provides not only comic relief but a feistiness that shows that some maids found the gumption and means to get back at overbearing employers," said The Guardian. 

Spencer took home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2012 for her role in the film.