Octavia Spencer has been working steadily on both the small and big screen for years, but it’s 2011 that could be the one that truly launches her career to the next level. As the Oscar season heats up, the actress will easily be one of the names vying for a Best Supporting Actress slot and if she lands it, the honor will be well deserved. As the fiery Minny Jackson in Tate Taylor‘s smash “The Help,” she gave one of the most memorable performances of the film which isn’t a bad thing at all particularly when your screen sparring partner is the equally strong Viola Davis. And with the heat on the actress, she’s lining up a role in an ambitious project from one Hollywood’s most distinctive writers.
Diablo Cody is gearing up her directorial debut “Lamb of God” and Variety reports Spencer will join Russell Brand and Julianne Hough in the film. The wild story follows a young Christian girl, the titular Lamb (Hough), who survives a plane crash but is left with horrific burns. With her faith gone, she travels to Las Vegas in order to experience the more sinful side of life, and befriends Loray (Spencer), a craps dealer, and William (Brand), a bartender.
With cameras not rolling until next spring, Spencer will have time to do the circuit to campaign for herself and “The Help” for Oscar glory. And you’ll get more from Cody soon, as Jason Reitman‘s “Young Adult” hits theaters on December 16th.
