Sheryl Lee shares the encouraging words Late Sidney Poitier at CCA’23

• Sheryl Lee Ralph is incredibly appreciative of her profession
• And the people that supported her from the beginning.
•  The actress won for her work in Abbott Elementary and best supporting actress

Sheryl Lee Ralph, 66, gave a moving statement in which she thanked the late Sidney Poitier for seeing potential in her at a young age.

Every error, setback, “No,” and rejection in a field that, when I was 19 years old, was eager to tell me there was no place for me, were all mentioned by an emotional Ralph. “You are a darn fine actress, Sidney Poitier commented as he stared at me.

She stated, “That God could lead me to a moment when a young woman by the name of Quinta Brunson would look at me and say, ‘Ms. Ralph, I am not sleeping on your gift,'” before calling her Abbott Elementary co-stars and cast “the best cast on TV.”

Ralph continued by saying, “All of you who are watching, get close to the television and pay attention. People do not even have to respect you or love you in order for them to be your friends. But you better like what you see when you look in the mirror!”

The historic moment comes after Ralph, who played kindergarten teacher Barbara Howard in the Quinta Brunson-directed rockumentary, won the finest supporting actress prize at the 2022 Emmy Awards in September.

After Jackée Harry, who won for 227 in 1987, Ralph became just the second Black woman to win an Emmy in the category. Ralph seemed to celebrate this achievement in her scene-stealing victory speech.

After she gave an emotional and motivating victory speech that featured singing a stanza from jazz artist Diane Reeves’ 1993 song “Endangered Species,” her win turned into one of the main highlights of the 2022 Emmy Awards ceremony.

Following her song, which received standing ovations from the audience, Ralph delivered a brief but powerful message.

Ralph remarked, “I am here to tell you that believing looks like this to anyone who has ever had a dream and thought their dream wasn’t, wouldn’t, or could come true. “This is what striving looks like, so never, never give up on you,” the speaker said.

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