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Octavia Spencer Has Big Goals Beyond Acting

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She may be an Oscar-winning actress who is currently up for her second Academy Award, but Octavia Spencer says she has goals that go beyond appearing in films.

“The role I’m destined to play is to be one of the greatest producers in Hollywood,” Spencer told the audience at the 2017 Makers Conference in Terranea in Palos Verdes, California.

The actress, 46, shared her aspirations during a conversation with Gloria Steinem at the opening night of the two-day conference.

“It’s terrifying because it’s a huge undertaking,” Spencer admitted. “But I want to be a conduit for storytellers. Men, women, gay, straight, black, white, Asian, Latino, Indian, native, all of those stories deserve to be told, especially if they’re compelling.”

As for what projects Spencer wants to produce, Spencer said she wants to help create stories that she connects to on an emotional level.

“I choose things that touch me or resonate within my heart, and that’s what I want to put out into the world,” she explained. “Things that will inspire, things that will enlighten, things that will educate but will also allow for some escapism, because God knows we need some right now.”

The actress has already begun to explore the world behind the camera, attaching herself to star and produce a limited series about African-American entrepreneur and philanthropist Madam C.J. Walker.

Spencer also opened up about the idea of “making it” as an actor and how she never doubted that she would find happiness in her career path.

“I never thought that I wouldn’t make it. To me, making it is just being paid to do what you love to do. Now that could have been dinner theater and I would be happy with that,” she said. “I think we have to change the scope of how we dream. If you can dream big, crazy, wild dreams, it’s what I want every child to do. But at the same time, it should be something for you to aspire to and be able to work towards.”

This article originally appeared on People.com

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