Martin Luther King Jr.

Credit: Paul Drinkwater/ Getty

Golden Globe Awards 2012

Octavia Spencer Honors Dr. King in Timely Globes Acceptance Speech

Originally posted 01/16/2012 10:20AM

Octavia Spencer delivered the most timely Golden Globes winner's speech on Sunday, honoring domestic workers by invoking Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the eve of the national holiday celebrating the civil rights leader's life and vision.

"With regard to domestics in this country, now and then, I think Dr. King said it best: 'All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance.' And I thank you for recognizing that with our film," Spencer, 41, said in accepting the award for best supporting actress for her acclaimed performance as a maid in The Help.

Spencer, a native of Montgomery, Ala., later told CNN backstage that while the characters in The Help are fictional, "they represent scores of real people."