Oscar-winning actress joins cast for Divergent sequel

Octavia Spencer has been cast in the forthcoming sequel to sci-fi blockbuster Divergent.

The Oscar-winning actress will star opposite Shailene Woodley in the second part of the hit series, Insurgent.

This is yet another big role for the 43-year-old actress, who shot to fame after bagging an Oscar for her amazing performance in 2011 drama The Help.

Octavia will play faction leader Johanna in the sci-fi sequel.

Divergent stars Shailene, Theo James and Kate Winslet will all be taking up their roles again in Insurgent.

Octavia has a hectic schedule ahead of her, starring in seven major movies in the next year.

The star has signed on to a few very exciting roles in forthcoming movies like Get on Up, a biographical drama on soul singer James Brown, and The Great Gilly Hopkins, a film about a foster child who finds a stable home.

She will next be seen in comedy Car Dogs, which is due for release in US theatres later on this year.