octavia spencer is the madame cj walker in new series

If you know the story of Madame C.J. Walker, then you will certainly be excited to hear the news that she will be portrayed by Octavia Spencer in a new Netflix limited series. The trailer for Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker dropped today just in time to bring us from the spirit of Black History Month to Womxn’s History Month.

Born in 1867, Madame C.J. Walker was an African American entrepreneur who created an empire with her hair care and cosmetic products for Black women. After experiencing hair loss due to scalp ailment she worked to create specialized hair products. Furthering her mission, she dedicated time and efforts to promote her products, eventually leading her to travel the country to give lecture-demonstrations about her goods and discoveries. Walker became able to invest in herself and secured a manufacturer and trained sales beauticians to expand her reach. Her business grew so exponentially that by the time of her death in 1919, she was the first self-made American woman millionaire.

The series is inspired by the book On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker by Walkers great-great-granddaughter A’Lelia Bundles. The four part limited series also stars Blair Underwood as husband C.J. Walker, Tiffany Haddish as daughter Leila, amongst other exciting talent like Carmen Ejogo (Selma), Garrett Morris (SNL, The Jamie Foxx Show), Kevin Carroll (The Leftovers, Snowfall), and Bill Bellamy (Insecure, Mr. Box Office).

Check out the trailer: