Octavia Spencer talks new James Brown biopic role, dismisses myth of 'Oscar curse'
theGRIO VIDEO - In an interview with theGrio, Octavia Spencer who stars in the James Brown biopic, 'Get On Up,' discusses her career trajectory after winning her first Oscar Award in 2012...
Octavia Spencer became a household name in 2012 after winning an Oscar for her role in The Help. Spencer re-teams with her Help co-star Viola Davis and with director Tate Taylor for the highly anticipated James Brown biopic, Get On Up, which hits theaters August 1.
The film, which stars Chadwick Boseman in the title role, chronicles James Brown’s rise from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential musicians in history.
Spencer sat down with theGrio’s Chris Witherspoon during a press junket at the historic Apollo Theater to talk about her role in the film as James Brown’s Aunt Honey in Get On Up.
She discussed the type of characters she’s been offered to play after winning her first Academy Award in 2012.
“I think there are very few roles out there that I haven’t done,” Spencer said. “There are certain archetypes that we play, and that’s usually what people want to see you play. I’m not the type of person to conform in any way.”
The Fruitvale Station actress also dismissed the superstitious Hollywood myth that once an actor wins an Oscar Award, their career mysteriously plummets.
“Well, I don’t feel cursed,” Spencer said. “I’ll tell you what the Oscar curse is – you don’t get enough sleep. I’m cursed in that I don’t get enough sleep and I’m blessed that I don’t get enough sleep. I’m working a lot, and I enjoy working.”
The 44-year-old Alabama native also discussed the possibility of becoming a mother in the future.
“There’s a certain time limit that you have [as a woman] before the eggs expire on the shelf. [Motherhood] is not anything that I’m thinking about, but if it happens, great; if it doesn’t, I find that equally great too. I think you are in life where you’re meant to be.”
Follow theGrio.com’s Entertainment Editor Chris Witherspoon on Twitter @WitherspoonC.
