Octavia Spencer takes on the role of Madam C.J. Walker in an upcoming Netflix series, according to Deadline.
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker is a four-part limited series that is scheduled to premiere on March 20. The
Netflix series co-stars Blair Underwood, Tiffany Haddish, Carmen Ejogo, and Bill Bellamy.Walker, who was born Sarah Breedlove in 1867, was the daughter of formerly enslaved parents. Spencer stars as the groundbreaking self-made millionaire who, over more than a hundred years ago, built a beauty empire by selling haircare products to and for black women through her Madame C.J. Walker Manufacturing Co. The film is based on the book On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker” by A’Lelia Bundles, Walker’s great-great-granddaughter.
Spencer will play the role of Walker, while Underwood plays Walker’s husband, Charles Joseph Walker. Haddish takes on the role of her daughter Leila. Ejogo is playing the role of Walker’s business rival Addie Monroe, while Garrett Morris takes on the role of her father-in-law.
The limited series is produced by SpringHill Entertainment and Wonder Street in association with Warner Bros. The series is executive produced by Janine Sherman Barrois, Elle Johnson, Maverick Carter, LeBron James, Octavia Spencer, Mark Holder, Christine Holder, Kasi Lemmons, and Jamal Henderson.
One of the executive producers and LeBron James’ business partner, Maverick Carter, expressed his joy about working with Spencer for the Netflix series via Twitter, “Can’t believe we got to make this one and the opportunity to work with the legend @octaviaspencer.“