Entertainment Movies Allison Janney and Octavia Spencer Went from Crushing on the 'Same Guy' to BFFs: 'We Liked Each Other Better!' The award-winning stars open up about their long-lasting friendship in PEOPLE's The Beautiful Issue By Melody Chiu Melody Chiu Melody Chiu is an Executive Editor at PEOPLE overseeing music, events and emerging content. She has been with the brand since 2009, editing, writing and reporting across all entertainment verticals. She has written cover stories on Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Melissa McCarthy, Blake Shelton, Jordan Turpin and Sandra Oh. The Los Angeles native graduated from the University of Southern California and has appeared on Extra!, The Talk, Access Hollywood and Good Morning America. People Editorial Guidelines Published on April 27, 2022 09:00AM EDT When Octavia Spencer and Allison Janney first met more than two decades ago through mutual friends, they were crushing on the same guy. "She didn't like me when she first met me," Janney told PEOPLE on set of her The Beautiful Issue photo shoot earlier this month. Added Spencer: "Well, I didn't realize we kind of were interested in the same guy! I mean, she's tall, statuesque and gorgeous." Luckily, the stars — who have worked together three times, including in 2011's The Help — quickly realized how much they had in common. "We both decided we liked each other better than the guy," says Janney, 62. Adds Spencer, 51: "Our friendship has lasted so much longer than that!" Sharing similar senses of humor, the actors say they've navigated life's ups and downs by leaning on one another through the years. Octavia Spencer and Allison Janney. Michael Avedon Octavia Spencer Helps GLSEN Tell Story of Mixed-Race, Lesbian College Student: 'I Was Honored' "If I had a terrible audition experience, I usually couldn't wait to tell Octavia because she would always make me laugh about it. Her laugh is one of my favorite laughs on the planet. It's just this guttural, throat-screaming belly laugh," says Janney. For more on Octavia Spencer and Allison Janney's decades-long friendship, pick up PEOPLE's The Beautiful Issue, on newsstands Friday. Earlier in their friendship, "Octavia used to come over when I was lucky enough to get to go to the Emmys. It was so much fun to have her there trying on jewels," says Janney. "It was wonderful to see both of our careers take off in different times, but both have a lot of our dreams come true." For more on PEOPLE's 2022 Beautiful Issue, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day. While they've got plenty in common — including a love of food and board games — the longtime pals are also a case of opposites attract. Octavia Spencer and Allison Janney. Michael Avedon Mary J. Blige, Allison Janney and More Oscar Nominees Reveal the Women Who Inspire Them Most "I love to lounge. Watching other people get ready, it feels like a lounge," says Spencer, who notes it takes her "10 minutes" to get ready for a big award show. "Allison always makes it [an experience]... there are hors d'oeuvres, and you can sit there and watch her [try on] jewelry. It's so much fun." Even as two busy careers have taken them to opposite ends of the world, "Allison's house is the go-to house," says Spencer. "If you have anything going on, she's the person that everybody is likely going to call. And that's a testament to who she is because she loves her friends very fiercely." For Janney, the feeling is mutual. "Her heart and her generosity is unmatched by anyone I know. Everyone needs Octavia in their life because she does make everything better and more special," says Janney. Two decades after their shared crush, Spencer and Janney both agree they ultimately found "true love" with each other. "Can you believe that we both liked the same guy?" marvels Spencer. "It's amazing!"