“I’m really drawn to stories that haven’t really been told,” Octavia Spencer said in a sit-down with Gloria Steinem at the annual Makers Conference. The actress believes movies should “show a broader spectrum of the people in the world.” “I want to see all shapes and sizes, all ages, all religions because that’s what our society is comprised of,” she added.
Luckily, Spencer is poised to bring those stories to life. According to CNN, the “Hidden Figures” star formally announced her producing plans at the conference. “The role I’m destined to play is to be one of the greatest producers in Hollywood,” she declared. “It’s terrifying because it’s a huge undertaking, but I want to be a conduit for storytellers.”
The Oscar-winning actress is already making good on her promise. Spencer is adapting the book “Raven: The Untold Story of Jim Jones and His People,” about the Jonestown massacre, into a limited series for HBO. She is currently developing the project with “Breaking Bad” producers Vince Gilligan and Michelle MacLaren, CNN writes.
As we’ve previously written, Spencer is also set to produce and star in a miniseries about entrepreneur and philanthropist Madam C.J. Walker. Based on A’Lelia Bundles’ biography “On Her Own Ground,” the miniseries will be penned by Nicole Asher (“Toni Braxton: Unbreak my Heart”) and directed by Kasi Lemmons (“Eve’s Bayou”).
And it sounds like Spencer has even more projects on deck. As CNN reports, “Spencer teased that an announcement about another project she’s producing is forthcoming, but she was mum on the details.”
Commenting on how she selects pieces to produce, Spencer elaborated, “I choose things that touch me or resonate within my heart, and that’s what I want to put out into the world — things that will inspire, things that will educate but also allow for some escapism because God knows we need some right now.”
The Makers Conference is a yearly “gathering of female leaders in business, tech, and entertainment,” CNN summarizes. Its third edition kicked off on February 6 with a video from Hillary Clinton. Rallying the audience, Clinton said, “We need strong women to step up and speak out. We need you to dare greatly and lead boldly.” She added, “And remember, you are the heroes and history makers, the glass ceiling breakers of the future. As I’ve said before, I’ll say again, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world.”
Spencer is currently up for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Dorothy Vaughan in “Hidden Figures.” The film is based on the previously untold story of Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Vaughan, and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe), brilliant African-American women who played an instrumental role in the space race. Since its release on Christmas Day, “Hidden Figures” has grossed $119 million domestically.
Recently named Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year, Spencer will appear in the upcoming films “Gifted,” “The Shack,” and “The Shape of Water.” The actress — who won an Academy Award for her role in “The Help” in 2011 — has previously acted in “Zootopia,” the “Divergent” franchise, and the CBS sitcom “Mom.”
