David Meister

Credit: Paul Drinkwater/ Getty

Octavia Spencer Can't Wait to Show Off Cleavage in Oscar Dress

Originally posted 01/24/2012 01:00PM

Octavia Spencer woke up to some delightful news: The breakout star of The Help is up for Best Supporting Actress at this year's Academy Awards, it was announced early Tuesday.

"It's numbing!" Spencer, who won a Golden Globe for her role as Minny Jackson in the film, told PEOPLE of her nomination. "There were no guarantees. I didn't think I was in it and then they said my name and it was just a sigh of relief."

Once it sinks in and she has time to congratulate fellow nominee Melissa McCarthy – "I'm just going to call her and do a drive-by today," she says. "I'm thrilled for her!" – Spencer, 42, will have some decisions to make about what to wear on her big night.

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