2 days ago
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Jamaican-American Emmy Award-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday, recognising her significant contributions to the entertainment industry.
The ceremony, held at 6623 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, marked the unveiling of the 2,808th star in the television category, celebrating Ralph's exceptional work across television, film, and Broadway.
In her address to family, friends, colleagues, and fans, Ralph reflected on her journey. "I'm standing with all of you on this boulevard, and I can still feel that determined spirit of that little girl who dared to dream big."
She shared a lesson from her mother, Ivy Ralph, during the ceremony. "Growing up, I felt my big dreams had to be whispered because that type of ambition could be mistaken for arrogance. But my immigrant mother would look me in the eye and say what we always say in Jamaica: 'Good, better, best. Never let it rest. 'Til your good is better and your better is best!'"
As she expressed her gratitude, she added that, “If you see me now, I don't look like my journey. There were days, and not so long ago, when I couldn’t even get into the room for the audition. And now, I’m literally cemented as part of the industry’s foundation.”
Ralph’s career spans iconic television roles, including Abbott Elementary, Moesha, and Instant Mom, as well as acclaimed films such as Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. Her portrayal of Barbara Howard in the award-winning television series Abbott Elementary, which has now entered its fifth season, has earned her even more recognition.
In a press release posted on the Hollywood Walk of Fame’s official website, Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, said Ralph was selected because of her "remarkable talent and contributions" and that the actress is "more than worthy of this prestigious recognition".
Ralph was surrounded by nothing but love as she received the honour.
Loretta Devine, who played the role of Lorrell Robinson in the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls was present, along with Abbott Elementary star and creator, Quinta Brunson. Both paid tribute to Ralph on stage.
The Abbott Elementary cast also showed up in their numbers to support, including William Stanford Davis, Tyler James Williams, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, and Janelle James.
Her longtime friend Jenifer Lewis; member of her family, including husband Vincent Hughes, daughter Ivy Coco Maurice, and son Etienne Maurice and members of her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta.
Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, as the daughter of a college professor and Jamaican fashion designer, Ralph was raised between Mandeville, Jamaica, and Long Island, New York.
Off screen, Ralph is a dedicated health advocate and a widely recognised AIDS activist. In 1990, she established The DIVA Foundation—a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organisation—as a tribute to the many friends she lost to HIV/AIDS. Through creative, arts-driven programming, the foundation remains committed to improving health outcomes for communities everywhere.
In 2022, Ralph was one of ten recipients awarded with the nation's fifth-highest honour, the Order of Jamaica for her contributions as an actress and cultural ambassador of Jamaica.
English (US) ·