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Octavia Spener will play America’s first black, self-made female millionaire – Madam C.J. Walker in an upcoming Netflix series. Netflix announced Sunday, the Oscar winner will play Madam C.J Walker, an entrepreneur who built a beauty and hair care empire in the early 1900s.

After spending more than 20 years toiling for $1.50 a week, Madam created a hair care formula that she turned into a multimillion-dollar business. Madam, who died in 1919 and is buried in the Bronx, also devoted her life to philanthropy and activism.

According to the Daily News, ” the eight-episode series is based on the 2002 biography “On Her Own Ground,” written by Walker’s great-great-granddaughter A’Lelia Bundles.” Octavia will be the perfect actress for the part. She was named best supporting actress for 2011’s “The help” and received back-to-back nominations for “Hidden Figures” in 2016 a “The Shape of Water” last year.

Source: Daily News

Written By: Fantasia Harvey