- As a dyslexic, Octavia has to learn her character's lines by acting out the gist of the dialogue.
- Is one of 8 African-American actresses to win the Oscar in a competitive category. The others in chronological order are Hattie McDaniel for Cuốn Theo Chiều Gió (1939), Whoopi Goldberg for Oan Hồn (1990), Halle Berry for Vũ Hội Của Quỷ (2001), Jennifer Hudson for Giấc Mơ Danh Vọng (2006), Mo'Nique for Cô Bé Precious (2009), Viola Davis for Rào Chắn Sắc Tộc (2016), and Regina King in If Beale Street Could Talk (2018).
- In 2017, Spencer became the first Black Actress to be nominated for an Academy Award after having already won one. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for a second time in 2017.
- Is one of 11 actresses to win the Critic's Choice Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA, and Oscar in the same year, winning for Người Giúp Việc (2011). The others to achieve this are Julia Roberts for Nghị Lực Sống (2000), Renée Zellweger for Núi Lạnh (2003), Reese Witherspoon for Dọc Đường Gió Bụi (2005), Helen Mirren for The Queen (2006), Jennifer Hudson for Giấc Mơ Danh Vọng (2006), Kate Winslet for Người Đọc Sách (2008), Mo'Nique for Cô Bé Precious (2009), Natalie Portman for Thiên Nga Đen (2010), Anne Hathaway for Những Người Khốn Khổ (2012), Cate Blanchett for Hoa Nhài Màu Xanh (2013), Patricia Arquette for Thời Thơ Ấu (2014) and Julianne Moore for Still Alice (2014).
- A lifelong fan of the horror/fantasy film genre, she claims to have seen every film directed and executive produced by Guillermo del Toro.
- Between 1996 and 2013, Spencer has played a nurse at least 16 different times, including in movies such as Một Thời Để Giết (1996) and 7 Số Phận (2008), as a regular on the television series City of Angels (2000) and in guest spots on series like Chicago Hope (1994), Hồ Sơ Tuyệt Mật (1993) and Thị Trấn Roswell (1999).
- She was named one of the '25 Funniest Actresses in Hollywood' by Entertainment Weekly. (April 2009)
- As of 2018, she has been in 3 films that were Oscar nominated for Best Picture: Người Giúp Việc (2011), Bộ Ba Ưu Việt (2016), and Người Đẹp và Thủy Quái (2017). She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in all three of those films. Người Đẹp và Thủy Quái (2017) is a Best Picture winner.
- She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on December 8, 2022. Her Walk of Fame star is located in front of Ballet Hollywood.
- Has guest-starred on the sitcom Mom (2013) and starred in the movie Ma (2019), this time as the title role. Both productions co-star Allison Janney, who plays the title role in Mom (2013).
- Is a lover of antiques.
- In 2017, Octavia's performance in Bộ Ba Ưu Việt (2016) lost the Best Supporting Actress Oscar to colleague and Người Giúp Việc (2011) co-star Viola Davis' performance in Rào Chắn Sắc Tộc (2016).
- Good friends with Melissa McCarthy. Friends with Viola Davis.
- The longest she has gone without an Academy Award nomination is the five years between Người Giúp Việc (2011) and Bộ Ba Ưu Việt (2016).
- Her mother, Dellsena (Owens) Spencer (1945-1988), worked as a maid.
- Was the 139th actress to receive an Academy Award for one of the two actress categories, either Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress; she won the Best Supporting Actress Award for Người Giúp Việc (2011) at The 84th Annual Academy Awards (2012) on February 26, 2012.
- Founded production company Orit Entertainment.
- Attended Auburn University at Montgomery, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Auburn University, where she majored in English with a double minor in journalism and theater.
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