Sheryl Lee Ralph, an Emmy, Critics Choice, and Independent Spirit Award winner, now has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame after more than 40 years in the entertainment industry.
The actress and singer’s star was unveiled Wednesday, April 16, on Hollywood Boulevard.
Ralph was honored by Abbott Elementary creator and co-star Quinta Brunson, along with her Dreamgirls castmate Loretta Devine.
“I can still feel the determined spirit of that little girl who dared to dream big,” Ralph said in her speech.
“Growing up, I felt my big dreams had to be whispered, because that kind 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 best,’” she added.
Related: Why A Star On The Hollywood Walk of Fame Costs $75,000
Ralph also recalled her childhood dreams, dancing in front of the mirror with a hairbrush as a microphone, wishing for a Tina Turner wig.
“But you see me now? I don’t look like my journey,” she continued. “There were days I couldn’t get into the room for the audition. And now I am literally cemented as part of the industry’s foundation.”
Ralph received the 2,808th star on the Los Angeles landmark, recognized in the category of television.
The ceremony coincided with the season 4 finale of Abbott Elementary on ABC, where the actress now plays veteran kindergarten teacher Barbara Howard on the series. A role that earned her an Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series in 2022.
On stage, Ralph is known for originating the role of Deena Jones in the 1981 Broadway musical Dreamgirls, earning best actress nominations at the Tony and Drama Desk Awards. She shared the stage with Jennifer Holliday and Devine.
Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, Ralph, 68, was raised between Mandeville, Jamaica, and Long Island, New York. The daughter of a college professor and a Jamaican fashion designer, she has become a beloved figure in the entertainment industry.
Her other credits include roles in Moesha, Ray Donovan, and Claws, as well as the films Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit and The Flintstones.
Watch the video below of Sheryl Lee Ralph being honored.
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