EXCLUSIVE: Octavia Spencer Dishes on 'Hidden Figures' Blockbuster Opening: 'It's Still Hard to Believe'
Octavia Spencer might have left the Golden Globe Awards empty-handed on Sunday, but congratulations were still in order for the actress.
Spencer's film, Hidden Figures, drew major crowds for its opening over the weekend to become the No. 1 movie in America. The historical drama inched past Rogue One: A Star Wars Story for the top spot, and what's more impressive, it did it on about half the screens.
READ: 'Hidden Figures' Review: A Feel-Good Civil Rights Film That Is Exactly What We Need Right Now
"It's exciting. It's a testament to what these men and women meant to the country," the Oscar winner told ET's Nancy O'Dell on Sunday. "I'm so glad everyone is receiving their story."
Hidden Figures is based on the true story of the team of African-American women who provided NASA with important mathematical data needed to launch the program's first successful space missions in the 1960s.
The feel-good civil rights film, starring Spencer, Janelle Monae and Taraji P. Henson, is clearly resonating with moviegoers who pushed the film to gross $22,800,057 over the weekend, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com.
PICS: Golden Globes Red Carpet Arrivals
"It's still hard to believe, but it's exciting," Spencer said about the opening numbers. "I'm really happy that these women are finally getting their moment in the limelight, and that Taraji, Janelle, Kevin [Costner] and I, and the rest of the cast got to be a part of that telling. It's exciting."
Spencer acknowledged another trailblazing woman with the pantsuit she wore on the red carpet.
"I had to go with the pants! I thought it was going to be raining," Spencer said. "I'm also celebrating Hillary Clinton. This is a throw to her. Love you, Hillary. I'm still with her."
On Monday morning, Henson celebrated the box office triumph on social media.
"I have been told my entire career 'Black women can't open films domestically or internationally.' Well anything is possible," Henson shared to Twitter and Instagram. "Most importantly this proves that PEOPLE LIKE GOOD MATERIAL. HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GENDER OR RACE. Agreed?! Thank you to everyone who supported this weekend even during the snow storm (which btw affected some of our biggest demographics). AND WE WERE IN FEWER THEATERS!!! What a proud moment!!! #HiddenFigures P.S. telling me what I can't do only makes me focus on proving nay Sayers WRONG!!!"
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