Octavia Spencer honoured with Breakthrough Performance Award

The Help star Octavia Spencer is to be honoured with the prestigious Breakthrough Performance Award at the 23rd annual Palm Springs International Film Festival in California.

The actress, who played maid Minny in the critically-acclaimed summer hit, will pick up her biggest accolade to date in January (12).

It has taken the 39 year old 15 years to land a Breakthrough Performance Award - her first movie credit was for 1996's A Time To Kill.

Past recipients of the award include Carey Mulligan, Marion Cotillard, Jennifer Hudson and Freida Pinto.

Previously announced honorees at the 2012 Palm Springs festival include George Clooney, Glenn Close and Michelle Williams.