Spencer plays pioneer biz gal

Octavia Spencer is set to play the nation's first black, self-made female millionaire in an upcoming Netflix series.

The 46-year-old Oscar winner will play Madam C.J. Walker, an entrepreneur who built a beauty and hair care empire in the early 1900s, Netflix announced Sunday.

Walker, whose real name was Sarah Breedlove, was born in Louisiana to former slaves in 1867. She was orphaned by age 7, earned money washing clothes by age 10 and was married at 14. She was a widow six years later.

After spending more than 20 years toiling for $1.50 a week, Walker created a hair care formula that she turned into a multimillion-dollar business. Walker, who died in 1919 and is buried in the Bronx, also devoted her life to philanthropy and activism.