Octavia Spencer
Here’s another update for Kathryn Stockett fans. (I keep thinking The Help may have lost some momentum—but then someone new will recommend it to me, not knowing that I’ve read it, or beg for a book suggestion because they just finished The Help and they loved it. No wonder Penguin’s holding the paperback release until January 4, 2011. . . nearly two years after the hardcover’s publication.)
Anyway, the news is that Octavia Spencer has been cast as Minny Jackson, Aibileen’s feisty best friend and Celia Foote’s maid. According to Entertainment Weekly, Stockett and Spencer have known each other for “close to a decade” and the actress “served as the inspiration for the outspoken character.” (She’s also Minny’s voice on the audio version of The Help.) Spencer has appeared in a number of movies and TV shows, but she’s probably best known for her role as Constance Grady in “Ugly Betty.”
Click here for more news on The Help‘s casting.
Can’t wait for the movie. My wife MADE me read this book… and, after reading it, I had to eat crow and admit to her what a wonderful book it was. There aren’t too many books that we both enjoy this much.
I loved “The Help” and cannot wait to see the movie. I hope the movie can do the book justice.
This book revealed much needed light on what so many Black women were going through as domestics. These women, like my maternal Grandmother were couragous, intelligent, industious, wise, and so much more. These women put children through college, food on the table, saved money, bought clothing, bought homes, and so much more. These women basically ran towns. I am very proud of my ancestors who worked as domestics from the distant past, and those who are still working today in the present. I honor them. I want to be in this movie or a part of it some how, even if they wanted me to clean up around the set. I am with SAG, and pay my dues every year, someone tell me how can I audition. I will pass out water to the crew, I don’t care! I have always felt that the Black women who were domestics should be honored, or better yet, have a day to honor them nation wide, just for them!