<P> Parts of The Help were shot in Jackson, MS, but the film was primarily shot in and around Greenwood, MS, representing Jackson in 1963 . </P> <P> At the 84th Academy Awards, Octavia Spencer won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in this film . The film also received three other Academy Award nominations: Academy Award for Best Picture, Academy Award for Best Actress for Viola Davis, and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Jessica Chastain . </P> <P> Ablene Cooper, a housekeeper who once worked for Stockett's brother, criticized the author for stealing her life story without her knowledge and basing the character Aibileen on her likeness . Cooper sued Stockett for $75,000 in damages . Cooper also criticized her for making the negative comparison of her character's skin color to that of a cockroach, which to many would be interpreted as racist . A Hinds County, Mississippi judge dismissed the case, citing the statute of limitations . Stockett denied her claim of stealing her likeness, stating that she only met her briefly . </P> <Ul> <Li> Orange Prize Longlist (2010) </Li> <Li> Indies Choice Book Award (Adult Debut, 2010) </Li> <Li> Townsend Prize for Fiction (2010) </Li> <Li> Exclusive Books Boeke Prize (2009) </Li> <Li> SIBA Book Award (Fiction, 2010) </Li> <Li> International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award Longlist (2011) </Li> <Li> Christian Science Monitor Best Book (Fiction, 2009) </Li> </Ul>

What awards did the book the help win