‘Abbott Elementary’ Star Sheryl Lee Ralph Talks Thriving at 68 and Finding Inspiration in Her Family (EXCLUSIVE)
'Being in my 60s is liberating! I’ve lived a good life, and now I get to live it the way I choose'
Over the course of a nearly 50-year career, Sheryl Lee Ralph has achieved many memorable milestones. From her Tony Award-nominated breakout in the original Broadway cast of Dreamgirls in 1981 to becoming the second-ever Black woman to win the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy for her role in Abbott Elementary in 2022, the 68-year-old star has always brought a spirited, joyful energy to stage and screen.
Ralph, who was once again nominated for an Emmy Award this year, has been keeping busy with the 35th anniversary of her nonprofit, The DIVA Foundation, which has done vital work in fighting AIDS since 1990. For her latest project, Ralph has partnered with GSK’s THRIVE@50+ campaign to raise awareness about shingles, and the cause is near and dear to her heart, as she saw a close relative struggle with the virus.
Sheryl Lee Ralph sat down with Woman’s World to discuss thriving in her 60s, lessons learned from Abbott Elementary and much more.
Woman’s World: How did you get involved with GSK’s THRIVE@50+ campaign, and what does the campaign mean to you?
Sheryl Lee Ralph: I got involved because my grandmother developed shingles. I remember when that happened, I saw someone I loved so much dealing with this painful blistering rash that lasted for weeks. Seeing her in such pain never left my mind or my spirit, so when I first heard about the campaign, I knew it was something I could speak authentically to.
I love the fact that I’m able to do this and share information about what can possibly happen to you if you’re over 50. About 1 million people develop shingles in the United States every year, and I want to use my voice to share that you’ve got to get the proper information and make it your priority to take care of yourself. If you are 50 or older, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your risk for shingles and about prevention. 99% of adults already have the virus that causes shingles inside their body. Not everybody’s going to develop it, but you need to think about yourself and what you might need today and tomorrow.
WW: What have you learned from aging?
SLR: Being in my 60s is liberating! I’ve lived a good life, and now I get to live it the way I choose, which is very happily. Somebody said to me the other day, “My God, you’re just such a happy person,” and I said, “I absolutely am, and joy is my strong suit.”
Women put everybody else first. If you’ve got kids, you put your kids first. If you have grandkids, you put your kids and their kids first. If you’re married, you put your husband first, and the one person that you hardly ever think about is you. You look in the mirror and feel like certain things about yourself don’t matter, but honey, you are worthy of being fabulous every day of your life.
I did the movie Sister Act 2, and there’s a song in it that says, “If you wanna be somebody/If you wanna go somewhere/You better wake up and pay attention.” You need to take care of yourself, because you’re worthy and you matter.
WW: You play a teacher in ‘Abbott Elementary.’ How have teachers impacted your life offscreen?
SLR: I grew up around teachers. My dad started out as a music teacher and broke the color barrier in Connecticut. He was a lifelong learner, and after he ended his career as a college professor, he continued to learn all the way to the very end. I think about my dad and his idea that excellence was always something to strive for. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be a great student, especially a great student of life, and I hold that very dear and very close.
Playing the role of Barbara Howard on Abbott Elementary, when I’m in the classroom on set, those children believe that I’m their real teacher. They have assignments. If it’s Teacher Appreciation Week, they bring me gifts. It’s the craziest, most wonderful thing, and I’m having the time of my life. Teachers have a huge impact on the lives of children. A lot of us remember the best teacher we ever had, and we also remember the worst.
WW: How do you feel that your age and life experience play into your ‘Abbott Elementary’ role?
SLR: So many people think that aging means you just disappear and fall into the shadows, but now is not the time for people who have been living good long lives to shrink. On Abbott Elementary, we aren’t put into the stereotypical boxes of those who get older and can no longer learn. I love the fact that Barbara is up to the challenge of new technology. Yes, it makes her crazy, but she’s also crazy enough to believe that she can learn to handle this. Yes, she makes mistakes just like I do sometimes, but it’s okay, because she is always learning.
I love the friendship that my character shares with Lisa Ann Walter’s character, Melissa Schemmenti. It’s wonderful to have that sisterhood shown in a positive light. Sometimes when women are shown together, it’s seen as a bad thing where you’re competitive and backbiting. It’s not always so supportive, but on the show we’re all supporting each other because we know we’re doing it for the students and we care so much about them.
WW: What kind of change have you seen in the entertainment industry since you first started in the late ’70s?
SLR: The Best Supporting Actress nominees for the Emmy this year were so inclusive and diverse, and it’s an amazing change. When I go on sets now, I see women in front of the camera and behind the camera, and women are writing scripts and producing shows. I remember standing in front of the camera and being the only woman. When I look around now, I’m like, “Wow, look at what the future has brought us.” I love the fact that I’m able to stand here and see it and recognize this change.
I remember doing the movie Mistress with Robert De Niro, and we were on a break. He turned to me and said, “You’re a damn good actress.” I was like, “Wow!” He followed it up with, “But that’s too bad, because Hollywood isn’t looking for the Black girl, so you better wave that red flag and let them know that you’re there.” I think a lot about that moment. I came out of that thinking, “I’m a damn good actress. Robert De Niro said so, and I’m going to do exactly what he said.” I climbed that mountain and waved that red flag and let everyone know that I was there.
WW: Where do you find inspiration?
SLR: My parents were always a great inspiration for me. They were great people who showed me exactly how to live life, love and carry on, and these are things that I’ve been able to share with my own children, and now they inspire me.
I work with both of my children, and it’s wonderful. My daughter is my stylist. Three years ago, we started working together, and I was able to put myself in my daughter’s hands when it came to trying new things. It was amazing, because she helped me rise like a phoenix from the fashion ashes. I’m so thankful for that. Now she has other clients and I’m so proud that she’s doing this, but I also say, “Don’t you leave your mother!”
My son has his own nonprofit, WalkGood LA, and the work that they are doing around wellness and self-care in the community is fascinating. He’s also become a holiday movie hunk, and seeing him make movies while running a non-profit is inspiring.
WW: If you could give your younger self advice, what would you say to her?
SLR: Be patient. Be patient with yourself, and be patient with the time you’re in, because you will arrive exactly when you are supposed to. The only person you ever have to compete with is yourself. You’re good, but trust me, you will get better.
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