The 17th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards held at the Hollywood Palladium on Thursday, Jan. 12 brought many surprises to viewers. One pleasant surprise was Viola Davis, who took home the Best Actress prize for her work in “The Help.”

Davis beat out a noteworthy field of contenders including Meryl Streep, Charlize Theron, Michelle Williams, Tilda Swinton, and Elizabeth Olsen, who all looked on from the jam-packed audience as Davis got teary-eyed during her acceptance speech. She looked stunning in a Raoul Pre-Fall 2012 red gown with a plunging neckline.

“I wanted to make a mark, I wanted to be somebody,” she said, recalling her journey to becoming an actor, which involved riding a bus for hours to get to acting classes. “I am honored to play a woman who didn’t have the chance to dream.”

Octavia Spencer won Best Supporting Actress for her part in “The Help,” and once she had hugged her collected co-stars including Emma Stone, Jessica Chastain, Allison Janney, Cicely Tyson and director Tate Taylor, she was at a loss for words.

“I’m so not prepared for this,” Spencer stammered. “I wasn’t a Girl Scout!”

She thanked director Steven Spielberg, who’s company DreamWorks funded “The Help.” Spielberg was up for Best Director for his film “War Horse,” along with Martin Scorsese, Alexander Payne, Stephen Daldry, Nicolas Winding Refn and “The Artist” auteur, Michel Hazanavicius, who got the critic’s nod.