Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, who plays a teacher on the ABC award-winning sitcom Abbott Elementary, has been on a high lately. The talented actress and singer took home the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and sang a version of Dianne Reeve’s “Endangered Species” as she accepted her award. Her award speech left many with goosebumps.
Sheryl is the first Black woman to win the award in 35 years and only the second in history.
“To anyone who has ever, ever had a dream and thought your dream wasn’t, wouldn’t, couldn’t come true. I am here to tell you that this is what believing looks like,” Sheryl, 67, belted into the microphone. “This is what striving looks like. And don’t you ever, ever give up on you.”
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But there was a time Ralph almost gave up on herself. It's that story of triumph that led her to look and feel her best today. But how did she do it?
"After my divorce became final, I began sinking into a depression that caused me to doubt everything I knew about myself," confessed Ralph. "I felt like someone was cutting and peeling the skin right off my body. I understood how easily a person could end up with a drug or drinking problem, because there were times when the pain was so deep, I just wanted to feel better somehow, anyhow."
"My blood pressure bounced up and down like a beach ball. I didn't eat and I felt withdrawn. The real blow came when my hair started falling out. There's something about stress that puts us all on the same level. Everything on the outside seemed perfect, but my insides were a wreck, and I didn't know how to fix it."
"Then one morning as I was brushing my teeth, I noticed the bags under my eyes and saw what was left of my hair, and I realized that it had been a long time since I had taken a good look at myself."
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"I'd spent so much time crying that I had forgotten what it looked like, and if I could smile, then I was getting my groove back. In that moment, at my very worst, I was becoming stronger. I was letting go, and as hard as it would be, I was ready to leave the pain of the past and take the first step forward. I laughed, spraying toothpaste everywhere. I couldn't let my divorce be the death of me. The road to healing would be long and it wouldn't be easy, but I had to start that journey right away, on my own."
On What She Eats
My parents weren’t into the whole sweet snacks. They were not into the whole salty snacks. You would get an apple, she would cut up carrots. It’s very funny, because I was reading the back of a label of one of the MadeGood products, and the ingredients were carrots, apples, beets, honey. And I was like, my mother would love this so much.
I have really veered away from being a hunter-gatherer with a whole lot of meat. I’m really a good pescatarian. I believe that the food you put into your body is important, and people have to pay attention to what they’re eating.
On Her Mental Health and Talking to Herself
"My father encouraged me to think," confesses Ralph. "And I realize that it's hard for some people to actually think, to be an independent thinker, to think for themselves and to think about things in general. So there was that, and one that I learned in kindergarten: be kind. Be good, be kind. I always think so often that so many of the things that I learned in kindergarten are things that should stick with all of us in life. Hold hands, don't litter, don't make the place dirty! Clean up after yourself—I'm still not that great at that, but I try to understand that everything has its place. Those are all things that can last all of us a lifetime."
"I love to talk to myself every morning," continues Ralph. "I love to encourage myself, I love to empower myself, I love to lift up myself and I have a nice conversation with myself every day."
On Her Showing Body in the Savage x Fenty Show
For the superstar Rihanna-created fashion show, the Abbott Elementary star wore a catsuit that left many saying "Ok, Sheryl Lee Ralph!" Her shimmery olive-shade catsuit hugged her body... perfectly. The design features what appears to be a mesh bustier with corset detail and is topped off with a robe. The actress' glam and accessories, though, are really where her look shined.
Around her neck was a green beaded necklace that complemented the green of her outfit. Ralph, 65, also had a few jewels dotted into the part of her hair to tie everything together. Her hair was left in soft curls with a single braid tied across her forehead.
Ralph's makeup ties in the green from her outfit as well as the shimmer, with green and gold on her eyelids and perfectly placed highlight on her skin.
The Emmy-winning actress strutted her stuff during the show while surrounded by models all wearing similar looks. She showed off a teaser video of her red carpet appearance for the show on Instagram, writing, "The DIVA has arrived!" The Savage X Fenty Instagram also shared a teaser of Ralph's appearance, writing on Instagram, "@thesherylleeralph is EVERYTHINGGG 🔥" The gracious actress simply replied, "Thank you!"
