Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 2012
Octavia Spencer The Help 2012
SEX WORKER ROLE
Opal in Bad Santa 2003 & Bad Santa II 2016
Aunt Honey in Get On Up 2014
First Character Is A Prostitute. Second Character Is A Madam
Octavia Spencer in Bad Santa 2003 & Get On Up 2014
In this minimal role (under five lines), Octavia plays a streetwalker named Opal (who also happens to be a grandmother!). She interacts only with Billy Bob Thornton outside of a motel. A few years after winning the Oscar, she would reprise her role of Opal, the hooker, in the sequel to Bad Santa. Unfortunately (or maybe it is fortunately?), the sequel wasn’t as successful as the original movie. So it is doubtful that a Bad Santa 3 is around the corner. However, it is important to remain open to possibilities, as unexpected events can occur.
Watch clip of the film “Bad Santa”
In the James Brown bio-pic “Get On Up,” Octavia played the real-life role of Aunt Honey (real name Hansone Washington), who ran a brothel where bootleg whiskey was readily available. Although Honey raised James Brown, the movie glosses over the abuse that he suffered from his aunt.
Watch clip of the film “Get On Up”
To read more about other Oscar-winning actresses playing characters working in the sex trade industry, please continue perusing Oscar Hookers