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Octavia Spencer Talks the "Magical Negro," New Film

The Paradise star on sins, wins and James Brown.

As a Las Vegas lounge singer who gets ensnared in a conservative young woman's plot to experience sin in Paradise, Octavia Spencer's character is preoccupied with not becoming the story's "magical Negro." Spencer herself, on the other hand, is less concerned. "I don't mind that moniker, no," she tells us.
The Oscar-winning actress (for The Help), along with her Paradise co-star Julianne Hough and director Diablo Cody, talks to us about subverting stereotypes and which sins are on her bucket list and tries to give this year's Oscar hopefuls some advice on delivering the perfect acceptance speech. "I don't remember much of it," she laments about her career-high moment. "I have to watch the tape to remember what happened and what I said."
Plus, we get the scoop on Spencer's role in the upcoming James Brown biopic, which reunites her with her Help co-star Viola Davis! Check out our exclusive interview with the ladies of Paradise below and see the film on VOD now or in theaters starting October 18.

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