Sheryl Lee Ralph (3:09)

Thank you, Becca.

Hoda Kotb (3:10)

You. You know when they say when someone enters a room, like their energy precedes them, like who they are? You do that. You walk in a room. So how are you feeling just on this random day? Just tell me how you are today.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (3:22)

I got a note from a soror sister friend, and she said, you are the happiest person ever. And she sent along some pictures of me, and I. Actually, you are quite correct. Joy is my strong suit.

Hoda Kotb (3:38)

Joy.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (3:39)

Joy is my strong suit.

Hoda Kotb (3:39)

Joy is your thing.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (3:40)

Oh, God, yes. You know what I think about every time I wake up in the morning? I know for a fact millions didn't make it, but I am one of those that did. And on top of it, I woke up in my right mind. How about that?

Hoda Kotb (3:57)

Was joy always a part of you ever since you were younger?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (4:02)

I would have to say that I was built on joy, because as a child of the 60s, you know, there were so many horrible things going on in the 60s, and your parents really had to fortify you with strength. They had to give you hope, they had to show you joy to let you know that, yes, there is a future and yes, there is definitely something to live for, and you can be a part of what it is you want to see in the future.

Hoda Kotb (4:33)

Waterbury, Connecticut.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (4:34)

Waterbury, Connecticut.

Hoda Kotb (4:35)

Carol, you grew up. Your mom, Jamaican, immigrant. That's right. And a fashion influencer, designer. Your dad, a college professor, started out.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (4:45)

Breaking the color barrier in the school system in Waterbury and being one of the very few male teachers in school.

Hoda Kotb (4:54)

So did that make you proud of your dad? What did you think?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (4:58)

I was always proud of my dad. First of all, my dad was always behind the piano. Music was always part of our home. Education was something to strive for, to get excellence, to be your best, to show up and know that when you showed up, it would be okay, you know? And you learn this as a child, to participate, to vote. My parents would always take me with them to vote. And my mother was so proud, always so proud to be able to vote. Oh, my gosh.

Hoda Kotb (5:31)

So your parents tell you one thing. You're amazing. You watch us vote. We're strong. We're all these things. Society's giving you a Different message.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (5:40)

They sure are.

Hoda Kotb (5:40)

They're giving you the opposite message. How did you not succumb to how society was describing you? Telling you what you were labeling you?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (5:51)

Because I believed my parents. I believed what my parents told me. And I had a passport. Having a passport gives me the world. I could travel. Maybe I was just traveling from the States to Jamaica. But you can't tell me that I can't be president because I see the president. The prime minister is black. Ish. I see it. You can't tell me that it's not a doctor, a lawyer. First of all, my uncle is in school to become a dentist. And of course, he did become a dentist, you know, so I'm seeing all these paths forward, right? And I can see that it's also possible. So if you're trying to tell me it's not possible, you need a passport. You need to travel, and someone's giving you the right. Wrong information.

Hoda Kotb (6:39)

Okay? That's confidence, especially for a kid. Cause my mom was always like, you're beautiful. You're beautiful. I'm like, then how come when I go to junior high school with my stop sign glasses and craziness, not one person ever asks me to do anything with them? So sometimes my eyes went off of my parents wondering, like, are they right? Is this gonna work? But you always knew.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (7:02)

Because my mother would say, cheryl, you don't see. They don't have much intelligence. If they could tell you this, you have to know they don't have too much intelligence. And I believed my mother.

Hoda Kotb (7:17)

I love it. So, I mean, you are a performer. It doesn't matter. Whatever profession you might have chosen, deep down, performing was always your thing. Was there a moment in your life when you were young where you felt the bug? You felt the feeling of like, ah, this is it. This is what I like.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (7:34)

My dad was always the musical director. If it was summer stock in Danbury or Fairfield, whatever, my dad was the musical director. And this one particular year, they were doing the Helen Keller Story. And there is a role for two black kids, a girl and a boy, but the boy has all the lines. And that was my brother Stanley. And every night, when Stanley opened his mouth to say those lines, I would look at him and I was like, it should be me. It should be. That's how I felt.

Hoda Kotb (8:09)

So you knew you wanted the light.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (8:11)

And there's a picture of me looking at him as if to say, why are you talking? It should be me.

Hoda Kotb (8:17)

Was there a moment? Because part of the love of performing is often just how the Audience responds Yes. Do you remember the first time an audience. It could be your family, your church, anywhere, that they responded to you.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (8:31)

Independence Day in Jamaica. And my music teacher, my drama teacher, Ms. Irene Whitaker, Pauline Brahmer. We have our little dance. Long time girl May never see you Come let me hold your hand And I got my dance, my little costume on, and the princess, I thought it was the Queen, was coming through Mandeville, and I was so ready to see her and dance for the princess, for the Queen. And, honey, the Queen was probably a mile or two away, and we're doing our little dance, but my teacher was right there just clapping away. And I remember, oh, my God, it just felt so good. And I've never forgotten that.

Hoda Kotb (9:22)

So when you know in your soul that that's something you want to do, there's nothing that can deter you. However, you do listen to your parents. Your parents were practical. They wanted you to do like you said. There were doctors in your family, a dentist, and they had a little mini plan for little Cheryl. What did they want you to do?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (9:40)

I think, you know, it's the same for immigrants, children. To this day, it's like, you must be so much better than your parents. You know, for me, I thought I could never be better than my parents, but for them, be a doctor, be a lawyer, and if you can't do that, then marry one. That was it. Every family had to have a doctor, you had to have a lawyer, and you had to have someone in the ministry, you know.

Hoda Kotb (10:10)

So those were your three boxes.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (10:12)

That was it.

Hoda Kotb (10:13)

That was it.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (10:13)

I was gonna be a great doctor. No.

Hoda Kotb (10:15)

So were you good in school?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (10:16)

Great. I was very good in school. I graduated very early. I graduated at 16 years old. I graduated college at 19. I just figured it out.

Hoda Kotb (10:25)

So it all came easily to you?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (10:27)

I don't know if it came easily. I had to put my mind to it. You know, it's like a script. You have to work on a script. You know, you have to make the character come alive. And the student that was there in me, I had to work to make her come alive. I'll never forget seventh grade, walking into Lawrence Road Junior High. You would walk in, and they had this role. It was the honor roll. And I remember walking by that, and I said, I'm gonna. My name is gonna be up there. I'm gonna be on the honor roll. Probably about the freshman year of 8th grade, my name was up there.

Hoda Kotb (11:03)

So there you go.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (11:04)

I worked at it.

Hoda Kotb (11:05)

Okay, so when you decided you were going to college, where did you go?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (11:10)

I graduated from Rutgers University on the banks of the old Raritan, cheering on the Scarlet Knights, home of the graduate, the great Paul Robeson.

Hoda Kotb (11:20)

God, you love your school.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (11:21)

I do. You do.

Hoda Kotb (11:23)

Do you watch the football games and do all the games?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (11:24)

I love everything about all of that and especially the women's basketball team and the coach that we. And what she has gone on to do and what she has created for women in sports and basketball. I'm very proud.

Hoda Kotb (11:40)

So you're in Rutgers and you are studying something. What did you choose? What was your.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (11:45)

I was an English lit major. English. So it was a lot of reading, a lot of writing. But before I got there, you know, there was. Oh, God. When you had to the first class, and they gave me a big old hare and H A R E. We were gonna cut it. Ooh. And you know, it was. Oh. Then it was very, you know, presentational. You know, you're scalping and dissecting. Yeah.

Hoda Kotb (12:11)

In this science class.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (12:13)

And I was like, I am not cutting up the Easter Bunny. Not doing it. Not. And I walked out of that class. And I immediately knew that I had. If I'm not gonna be a doctor, I had to be a lawyer. So I immediately signed up. Don't ask me how I got into constitutional law, that I was recently told that I'm probably one of the students that walked out on Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Hoda Kotb (12:36)

She was your professor?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (12:37)

As a professor, yeah.

Hoda Kotb (12:38)

Stop it.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (12:38)

But I couldn't take it. I couldn't. Oh, my God. She was talking and I was just like, oh, no, I can't. I can't, I can't. And then I left. I walked out.

Hoda Kotb (12:49)

Wow.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (12:49)

And I got lost on the Douglas campus on a dead end street with a theater at the end of the street. And I walked in and there was Dr. John Bettenbender. And I had a song, I had a monologue, and I walked in as a freshman and I got cast in the play and that started everything. Tambourines to glory. Langston Hughes. Mm.

Hoda Kotb (13:13)

Did it feel like coming home?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (13:14)

Oh, it was where I should be. Absolutely where I should be.

Hoda Kotb (13:18)

So tell me about the conversation with your parents when you were saying bye bye to Ruth Bader Ginsburg and law school and everything.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (13:27)

You know what? It was probably one of the worst conversations I ever had with my mother in my life. She was so angry. She just could not believe you're going to be an actress with all of those fake and phony people. You know how hard we work for this money. Nobody not giving you no free money. You know, this is blood, sweat and tears money. And I'm like, oh, my God. But, you know, my father said to me, he said, you know, you came into this world with your mother, but you'll probably leave all by yourself, so you better be happy with the life you lead. So if you want to act, you want to sing, you better make a good choice for you. And that's what I did. And it was the right choice.

Hoda Kotb (14:17)

It fit.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (14:17)

It was the right choice.

Hoda Kotb (14:18)

Obviously, it fit now. So what was your first big role?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (14:23)

My first big role, you know, it really was Piece of the Action with Sidney Poitier. I had done two tours of duty with the Department of Defense, GS12. I had rank and everything. And the second leg, I got off of the plane because we had to make a connection either in San Francisco or la. I chose LA because I was plotting that I knew I had to be in la. And I got off the plane.

Hoda Kotb (14:48)

Wait, will you describe. What do you mean? You were on a tour with the Department of Defense?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (14:52)

So I was literally singing for the Department of Defense. They had put an act together for the Penthouse Pet of the Year. I was not a Penthouse Pet, but they needed a show, so I was the singer of the show. So I was basically the bodyguard. And I was. So I wanted them to know I was not, you know, one of the girls. And I had on long pants, a vest, a long sleeve shirt, a jacket and a hat.

Hoda Kotb (15:21)

You were like, I am not that.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (15:23)

I am not that.

Hoda Kotb (15:24)

Got it.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (15:24)

No, but I remember her to this day. I remember her to this day.

Hoda Kotb (15:28)

Wow. Wow. You wanted to sing anywhere?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (15:32)

I wanted to sing, I wanted to perform. I wanted to do what I believed I was supposed to do. Jeremiah was a boo fox.

Hoda Kotb (15:40)

Come on.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (15:40)

Yes. That's how I started.

Hoda Kotb (15:44)

Okay, so you go to la. That's scary. Sorry. You know, it's like you don't have connections, you don't know people. You're just.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (15:51)

I have $3,000 in my bag and. And I get off the plane and I call my father and I say, daddy, do we have any family in Los Angeles? And he said, why do you need family in Los Angeles? And I said, because I'm in la. They used to have phone booths at the airport. And I was standing in one of those booths and I was watching at lax, which looks very much the same to this day without the phone booths. And I was watching what I knew was my life. I knew I was gonna get into one of those cabs and I was gonna be somebody And I checked my service. Cause yesterday used to have this thing called a service, your phone number. And people would call that number. And my teacher, my acting teacher from the Negro Ensemble Company, because I had been training there. And he had all these phone calls. Where are you? Answer the call. And I called him and he said, where are you? And I said, I'm in Los Angeles. He said, no, you're not. I said, I'm in la. And he said, you need to be at Warner Brothers tomorrow morning. Because he wanted me to know that I'd missed my big break.

Hoda Kotb (17:04)

Oh, my God. So what happened at Warner Brothers?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (17:06)

I get there and to Warner Brothers, and I meet Sidney Poitier. Okay. And Mr. Sidney Poitier lets me do my monologue from the Miss Black Teenager America pageant. And I do my monologue. And he says, all right, screen test. And I'm like, whoa, whoa. Screen test. I go back in a week and I'm in a room, and it's Pamela Poitier, a great young actress by the name of Tamu. At the time, she had just done a film called Claudine with James Earl Jones and Diane Carroll. And me, well, Pamela Poitier, that's his daughter. Tamu's got reviews. And then there's me. I said, you know what? All I can do is give it my best. That's what I did. Got on a plane, went back to Jamaica. I get a phone call about three weeks later from Mr. Poitier, said, get back on the plane. You're coming to Los Angeles. Yes. That was it.

Hoda Kotb (18:12)

Yes. That's so thrilling.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (18:15)

What was even more thrilling for me was the very first, the first episode of Abbott elementary we shot on Warner Bros. Right in front of those steps that I walked up as a 19 year old getting ready to first movie on the Warner Brothers lot. And here I am after all those years.

Hoda Kotb (18:40)

Emmy winner right there.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (18:43)

Wow. Crazy.

Hoda Kotb (18:47)

More with Sheryl Lee Ralph after the break.

Jeff Bridges (18:57)

Morning, Zoe. Got donuts.

Dana (18:59)

Jeff Bridges, why are you still living above our garage?

Jeff Bridges (19:02)

Well, I dig the mattress and I want to be in a T mobile commercial like you. Teach me. So, Dana.

Hoda Kotb (19:09)

Oh, no.

Dana (19:10)

I'm not really prepared. I couldn't possibly at T Mobile get the new iPhone 17 Pro on them. It's designed to be the most powerful iPhone yet and has the ultimate pro camera system.

Jeff Bridges (19:20)

Wow, Impressive. Let me try. T mobile is the best place to get iPhone 17 Pro because they've got the best network.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (19:28)

Nice.

Dana (19:28)

Jeffrey, you heard them.

Jeff Bridges (19:30)

T mobile is the best place to.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (19:31)

Get the new iPhone 17 Pro.

Jeff Bridges (19:34)

US with eligible traded in any condition. So what are we having for launch?

Dana (19:38)

Dude, my work here is done.

T-Mobile Announcer (19:40)

The 24 month bill credits on experience beyond for well qualified customers. Plus tax and $35 device connection charge credit send and balance due if you pay off earlier. Cancel Finance agreement. IPhone 17 Pro 256 gigs $1,099.99 a new line minimum $100 plus a month plan without a paypal. Taxes and fees required. Best mobile network in the US based on analysis by Ooklove speed test intelligence data 1H2025 visit t mobile.com Tom Blyth.

Jeff Bridges (19:59)

Returns in the MGM original series. Billy the Kid. Sheriff's on our backs. From the creator of Vikings. I'm sick of being on the run. From now on, you and me are the hunters. The legend ends here. They want to ride together, they can die together. Billy, I told you all, I am being taken alive. Tom Blythe is Billy the Kid. Watch now only on mgm.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (20:27)

They say if you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together. At Amica Insurance, we're built for our customers and prioritize your needs. Call 877-41-America and get a quote.

Hoda Kotb (20:41)

Today. A lot of people know you from Dreamgirls. Obviously.

Jeff Bridges (20:52)

Yes.

Hoda Kotb (20:53)

That Broadway is one of the most taxing jobs in the world.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (20:58)

So taxing. I remember it well. Oh my God, my feet hurt right now thinking about it.

Hoda Kotb (21:02)

Playing that role. How did that change your life?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (21:05)

It changed everything for me because first of all, what happened was there were so many little nine and ten year old girls, little black girls in the audience. Their first musical, they look up on stage and they're like, they're looking at me and Loretta and Debbie and they're like, we've never seen. They've never seen anything like this, you know, and from so many of them, we were a living, breathing Barbie doll for them. And to hear them even talk to me now, now that they're grown and they want to tell me because it's coming up next year's 45 years since the opening night of Dreamgirls, which is like, wow, since I'm only 40 myself. But you know, I think about that and it's like that was life changing for a generation or two. And the way gay men who saw the show talked about whatever they felt watching the show. I mean, it's just, it was revelatory for so many people to see this show and talk about dreams and what it takes to fight for yourself within your dreams. Especially when Everybody's telling you it's not you. It can't happen to you. I'm your dream girl. Dream girls will never leave you. All you've got to do is dream, baby. I'll be there. And I live by that to this day.

Hoda Kotb (22:36)

Mm could cry. You said, people said it can't be you in these roles. It can't be you. How many times did you hear that?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (22:43)

Oh, my God. Throughout your career? So many times. And, you know, I think of when I saw Hadestown the other night. Great musical, by the way, great music, great performances. And I looked at that and I said, look at that diverse cast. Look at everybody working together. Everybody's just cast being the best people for the roles. You know, we. Once we left Dreamgirls, where were we going?

Hoda Kotb (23:12)

Where did.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (23:13)

What was next for us? I was fortunate. There was a casting director at CBS called Tim Flack. Tim Flack was friends with my agent, Michael Schlesinger. Tim called Michael and he said, if she comes here, she's gonna get this role. And it was for a series at the time called V. Now I'm an onstage Barbie doll, full on glam girl. Why he thought I should be a double gunned barreled warrior fighting these amphibian underground dragonflies. I don't know what they were, but the underground world, why he thought that was me, I don't know. But guess what? I went out there, I got the role. You got it, And I never came back.

Hoda Kotb (23:59)

You never came back? That was it throughout your career. I don't remember who told you. Maybe it was De Niro or somebody who said, you're a great actress, but too bad there aren't roles for you.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (24:10)

That was Robert De Niro. He looked me right in my face.

Hoda Kotb (24:13)

Yeah.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (24:14)

And first of all, he started by saying, damn good actress.

Hoda Kotb (24:17)

Yeah.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (24:18)

He said, whoa. And then he was not very effusive, but he was like, wow. And then he looked at me and he said, it's too bad because Hollywood is not looking for the black girl. So you better climb that mountain, wave that red flag and let them know that you're there. And that never left me. First of all, I never got over Damn Good Actress. Thank you, Robert Mero. Thank you very much. You know, and then I'm having Mr. Poitier before that, telling me he's sorry that the industry didn't have anything to offer me after my film debut. You know, but you go on, you move forward, you keep trying, you keep climbing, you keep believing in you. I didn't give up on Me, that wouldn't happen till a few years later. I didn't give up. But, oh, my God, it was hard.

Hoda Kotb (25:12)

Were there any times where even for a fleeting moment or maybe weeks, that you said to yourself, like, this mountain's too big to climb? I mean, I'm trying. And I keep hitting a drought.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (25:24)

I'd gotten divorced, which is taxing on your bank account. I was out of work for like 18 months, which is very taxing on life when you've got two kids and you're literally carrying everything. And I remember sitting in bed one day and I was shaking because I said, I cannot lose my house. I cannot take my kids out of school. I've got to give up the Mercedes. And I remember I got a Prius. I'm serious. I got a Prius. I had literally stopped shopping. I remember it wasn't name brand sneakers. It was Payless. And I had to do all of that stuff. And I remember I had to go to the bank and I had to take money out against my house. And it was against your house. Yeah. And something happened. Maybe a few months. It was a few months later, like maybe three or four months later, I got a job. I don't remember what it was, but it was enough money. Money came in, money came. And then soon after that, I met the manager that I have to this day. My manager said, you have been overlooked and underpaid. And it stops now. I remember that. And this was like 12, 13 years ago. And she said, this is the number. And she wrote it down on a piece of paper. And I'm kind of giving up on this dream, this moment. Cause I'm at a space now where I'm like, okay, if Dreamgirls, Moesha, any actress that had had these things in their life, great career, it's okay. 10 years, 20 years. Whatever happened to it'll be fine resurgence, maybe would have been good. But she believed in me, which fortified me again to believe in myself. And 10 years to the time, I was way beyond the number that she.

Hoda Kotb (27:37)

Had said, yeah, you know what's funny about how you see life and it's beautiful, but when Robert De Niro said to you, you're a great actress, but too bad there aren't. Most people would have remembered the back half of that comment. They might not even have remembered. Damn good actress. They might have remembered. Too bad there's nothing, not for you, that you seem like your gaze is always on the good. The good.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (28:05)

Always, always on the good. Why not always on the good? You know, it's like, people can say all these wonderful things about you. One person says one negative thing, and that's what you wanna talk about. I'm like, immediately in my mind, oh, my God. They don't know what they're talking about, or they just don't see it yet, you know, and that's okay.

Hoda Kotb (28:27)

That's okay.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (28:27)

Cause you're not always for everybody.

Hoda Kotb (28:29)

Yes. Now, every. You know, I worked at NBC for many years, and there are times in your career where people are like, okay, you did great, you know, in your career, et cetera, et cetera. I feel like I found all the good stuff in my career. In my 50s and 60s, everything good that happen. I adopted my kids in my 50s, I got my dream job in my 50s, everything, like, weirdly things happen.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (28:52)

Not weirdly things happen the way they were supposed to happen to you. Because as my mother would say, what is for your count be unfieu. Meaning if it's yours, it's yours. It's nobody else's.

Hoda Kotb (29:04)

It's nobody else's.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (29:05)

And you are going to get it. If you have laid the foundation, you have done the work, why shouldn't you walk on the road, be the one to take the steps to get where it is, you know, you want to go. That's it. Like sometimes with my children, I want to say, look, you all, I have built this road. Do not go 100ft forward and turn to the left because you will drop in a pit. And I do not want to have to come there and pull you out of the pit.

Hoda Kotb (29:34)

Did your mom get to see all of your successes?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (29:37)

My mother got to see quite a bit of my success. Okay, I'll tell you this. In October 8th, it'll be nine years, eight years. I was going back and forth to Jamaica from la, and I had a great producer, Aaron Kaplan. I was doing a series called Fam. And my mother was sick and I was coming back, and I told my mother, do not die. Cause I'll be right back. I'll be right back. Do not die. I left Jamaica. And just as I was literally, like in the movies, stepping onto the plane, my daughter calls me and tells me that my mother has passed away. And I'm doing like this, and I'm thinking, my God, what do I do? Do I go to work? Do I go back? What do I do? And it was as if my mother said, cheryl, get on the plane, make the money and come back and bury me the way you know you should. That's what I heard. I got on the plane I went to work. Aaron Kaplan looked at me, and he said, do the show. Leave. He said, the only thing you need to do is come back, do the show, and go back. And that was it.

Hoda Kotb (30:58)

What did you lose the day your mom passed?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (31:00)

Everything. Do you know, Losing my mother, losing my father. Do you know, I grieved for my parents. To this day. To this day, I miss my parents. To this day, I want to talk to my parents. My mother, her design, the Kariba, is front and center in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I always tell people, maybe I wasn't invited to the ball, but my mom is front and center in the exhibit. And I. I look at that, and I'm like. Like, mommy, I wish she could have seen this. You know, my daughter is my stylist, and she put all of that together and made it happen. You know, a revolutionary moment in clothing for men. And I think about my mom, and I wish I could call her. I wish she could see it. My dad, you know, I wished my dad could see Abbott Elementary. Oh, my God, he'd just be so thrilled. But I honestly, you know, I lost my parents. But then all of these incredible things have just been happening. I said, if anything, my parents have been orchestrating from heaven.

Hoda Kotb (32:11)

Yes, they have been.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (32:13)

Yeah.

Hoda Kotb (32:13)

By the way, when you and I want to talk about Abbott elementary, because that was such a game changer. And the speech that you gave is one that I would imagine anyone who's feeling a little down or in a funk would. Could click on that and it would be a game changer. It is for me. I told you, I'm a commencement speaker watcher. Whenever I feel terrible, I'm like, someone worked really hard on a graduation speech. Let me see what they have to offer, what kind of hope they have to offer the world. And when I watched your speech again and again, and when you sang and you spoke and we wept with you, and it was like we all won. It was like one of those rare moments that we felt that. But I remember your kids more than anything. I remember them. They cried and cheered the way we as parents would cry and cheer when our kid wins something.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (33:11)

My kids, you know, I was on a plane once when they were young, and Cicely Tyson looked at me, and she said, cheryl Lee, Ralph, you're going to do many great things in life, but these right here, these will be your greatest achievement. And she was right. They have been my greatest achievement. I say this all the time. When I leave this world, I know that I'll leave two wonderful people to take my place and say my name. And I believe it. I believe it. And when I hear them speak, I can hear myself. And it's just like, wow. This is something else.

Hoda Kotb (33:51)

Wow. How do you attribute the fact that you've raised such incredible kids? Like, what did you do as a parent?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (33:58)

I had great parents. I'm able to show them the kind of love that was shown to me. I'm able to show them the unconditional love, the boundless joy that. The fortitude that it takes to carry on in life, that life is all about choices. And you are intimately involved in every choice you make in life. That's important, very important.

Hoda Kotb (34:28)

Because sometimes people feel victimy. Like it just kind of happened to me.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (34:32)

No, it didn't.

Hoda Kotb (34:33)

It didn't.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (34:33)

It did not. Even if you don't remember it, you took some steps towards where you are. Like I said, you lay the foundation for where it is you want to go right. And these detours are not made blindly. You know, when you go left.

Hoda Kotb (34:51)

Yeah, maybe a baby step that you have.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (34:53)

Exactly that.

Hoda Kotb (34:54)

You veered that way.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (34:55)

Way.

Hoda Kotb (34:59)

More to come with Cheryl Lee. Ralph, stay with us.

Jeff Bridges (35:10)

Morning, Zoe. Got donuts.

Dana (35:12)

Jeff Bridges, why are you still living above our garage?

Jeff Bridges (35:15)

Well, I dig the mattress and I want to be in a T mobile commercial like you. Teach me. Saldana.

Dana (35:22)

Oh, no, I'm not really prepared. I couldn't possibly at t mobile get the new iPhone 17 Pro on them. It's designed to be the most powerful iPhone yet and has the ultimate pro camera system.

Jeff Bridges (35:34)

Wow, impressive. Let me try. T mobile is the best place to get iPhone 17 Pro because they've got the best network.

Hoda Kotb (35:41)

Nice.

Dana (35:41)

Jeffrey, you heard them.

Jeff Bridges (35:43)

T mobile is the best place to.

T-Mobile Announcer (35:45)

Get the new iPhone 17 Pro Pro.

Jeff Bridges (35:46)

On us with eligible traded in any condition. So what are we having for lunch?

Dana (35:51)

Dude, my work here is done.

T-Mobile Announcer (35:54)

The 24 month bill credit is on experience beyond for well qualified customers. Plus tax and $35 device connection charge credit send and balance due. If you pay off earlier, Cancel Finance agreement. IPhone 17 Pro 256 gigs $1099.99 a new line minimum $100 plus a month plan with auto pay plus taxes and fees required. Best mobile network in the US based on analysis by Oklahoma Speed Test Intelligence data 1H 2025 visit t mobile.com they.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (36:10)

Say if you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together. At Amica Insurance we're built for our customers and prioritize your needs. Call 87741Amica and get a quote today.

Jeff Bridges (36:25)

Ondeck is built to back small businesses like yours. Whether you're buying equipment, expanding your team, or bridging cash flow gaps, Ondeck's loans up to $250,000, help make it happen fast.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (36:37)

Rated A by the Better Business Bureau.

Jeff Bridges (36:39)

And earning thousands of five star Trustpilot reviews, OnDeck delivers funding you can count on. Apply in minutes@ondeck.com depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by Ondeck or Celtic. Bank on Deck does not lend to North Dakota. All loans and amounts subject to lender approval.

Hoda Kotb (37:00)

Abbott elementary is. Come on.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (37:03)

I mean, gold mine.

Hoda Kotb (37:04)

A gold mine.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (37:05)

Lightning in a bottle.

Hoda Kotb (37:06)

Tell me.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (37:07)

I believe as an artist, as an actor, when I get a screen, when the role is right, they literally come up off the page and go into me. When I read Etienne Toussaint Bouvier on Designing Women. Etienne Toussaint Bouvier. My name is Etienne, and I'm a showgirl. That just came to me like that, you know, when I was doing Dream Girls. Mama, I want to be an actress. I want to be important in the world. That came right up off the page. Plus, I had a lot to do with creating the actual role of the show. You know, I was working with a young actress just last week, and the character, you know, she's a very. She's the kind of mother that she doesn't have much to give you, and, you know, she's gonna hug you, but it's. She could only lean in once. She realizes that if she doesn't lean forward, you're gonna knock her down, you know, very. You know, and she just came right up off the. And they all. They speak differently, you know, they move differently, and it's just the way it is. Abbott elementary, when I read Barbara Howard, I was like, oh, my God, I know this woman. Auntie Carolyn, Ms. Hunt. All of these teachers. All my life surround by these educators, showing me this is what excellence looks like, you know, the mantra to take in for that character. We're not just teachers, we're social workers. We do so much more because that's what's necessary and demanded of us. And one day when we finished, Tyler looked at me and I looked at him, and he said, you feel it, don't you? And I said, yeah, big hit, Big hit. We all left, and I was in Canada doing Motherland, Fort Salem, playing the president of the United States. Loving it. And I get a phone call. It says, abbott has been picked up. Said, who are you telling? Confirmation. I knew it I knew it.

Hoda Kotb (39:20)

You knew it?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (39:20)

Yeah.

Hoda Kotb (39:21)

Did you know it on that Emmy night? That.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (39:23)

Oh, hell no. Oh. I was as shocked as everybody in the room. I was like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Back up. Play the tape again. That happened in life. Did they say Cheryl Lee Ralph? I was like, it's like not a mistake, but did I hear it correctly? And I was so frozen, I couldn't get up. I couldn't get my brain to tell my feet to go, stan, move forward. If I hadn't heard Quintus scream, sarah, it's you. And that sort of broke it for me. And then Tyler had my arm taking me up the side to the steps, and I was like, oh, my God. But Tyler has said many things to me. Tyler said to me that I was gonna win an Emmy. He said to me. He also said to me that year, he said, and you're gonna get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and I'm gonna be right there to see it. And it all happened. I said, wow, he's becoming like my mother. He's just telling me what's going to happen in the future.

Hoda Kotb (40:28)

So standing up there again in that moment, you looked around, it was like your brain was clicking. But was it out of body?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (40:35)

It's totally out of body. Yeah.

Hoda Kotb (40:36)

Yeah.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (40:37)

And because I'm about ready to break down. I'm about ready to cry because now I'm remembering the journey, you know when they say you've come up the rough side of the mountain, you know, And I don't think I'm at the top, but I'm at a nice little ledge or a plateau, and I'm looking at it now I'm afraid. And no matter how far you get up there, the wind is just going around you. And I'm like, oh, my God. I was so believing it wasn't me. I've got nothing to say. So I had to calm myself. And it was like I heard my father simply say to me, sing and tell your story. And I'm center stage. My home is center stage. What do you do? You sing. And I'd sung that song. I'd written a one woman show called Sometimes I Cry. And that's the first thing I do is sing that song. And I sang it. And the whole audience just went up. And then I said, now tell them. Tell them what you needed to hear. What they needed to hear. Don't you give up on you. If you have ever felt that your dream shouldn't, wouldn't, or couldn't come true, I'm Here to tell you, this is what believing looks like. Cause I'm here, and if I'm here, you can be here. But you can't give up. You gotta believe. You gotta believe. Yeah. Yeah.

Hoda Kotb (42:04)

I feel like I'm hearing it all over again.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (42:07)

Gotta believe. I was a little girl, and there was a Twilight Zone and there was a fighter, and this fighter was gonna. He was a good fighter, and he was in the community. And when his name was Bodie, and when Bodie would walk through the community, everybody would look up, but he was a loser because he felt like a loser. And this little boy believed in Bodie, and he looked up to Bodie and he said, bodie, you got to believe. Bodie, you got to believe. And Bodie left, went down the stairs, and nobody paid him any attention. He got there in the game, in the ring, and the little boy put his face up to the screen and he said, bodie, you gotta believe Bodie. And Bodie was the winner. Bodie won the fight. Bodie couldn't believe he won the fight. And Bodie said to himself that he was a loser. And Bodie became a loser because he believed he was a loser. And when he came home, the little boy just took his hand and he said, bodie, you got to believe. And that's what I wanted people to know. You have got to believe. People sometimes believe that. What can one person do? One person can do so much. It's the truth. I've seen one person make a difference. My father was one person. To this day, his students still hit me up, say what Dr. Ralph did. To this day, men will hit me up about my mother's kariba, how they felt wearing that, what it. That's one person, you know, one person. I've seen one child say they need books. I've seen one child gather books and create their own library. I've seen this. I've seen the doctor that said, you need care, and I'm going to get it for you because you deserve it, because you are worthy. I've seen that. That. I've seen what one person can do to tear down the whole spirit of a nation. One person can do that. One person can come along and raise up the spirit of a nation. But you got to believe and you got to know you are worthy.

Hoda Kotb (44:36)

How many people have come up to you and said, you're the one person. Can you think of any instances?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (44:42)

I was just recently, we were going. The whole cast, we all went out together, and the woman operating the elevator, she saw me get on and she exhaled. She said, sheryl Lee Ralph. And I love when people call my name like that. They're like, cheryl Lee Ralph. Okay? She said, oh, my God, you helped me. She said, I've been down. But you said this. She said, I saw you two years ago. She brings me up on her phone.

Hoda Kotb (45:10)

What was that?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (45:11)

I'm speaking? I think it was the Critics Choice Award when I said, people don't have to love you. People don't have to, like, they don't even have to respect you. But when you look in the mirror, you better love what you see. You better love what you see. She said, that's me. I'm loving what I see. I was in Abu Dhabi, and this woman brought me up on her phone in her Arabic language. I was in Ghana. They had a whole library. And their preacher was talking about the Sherrills, the Sheri Leese. And I was like, lord have mercy. I have seen some things in my life speaking on social media. People are always saying, I need to hear more of these things. You say I need them. And I'm like, wow.

Hoda Kotb (46:08)

Wow is right. One person changing the world. Sheryl, I know wellness is very important to you, and I know you're a paid spokesperson for GSK. Thrive at 50 plus. Tell me about it.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (46:19)

Wellness has always been important to me, with my Diva Foundation, Divinely inspired, victoriously alive, celebrating 35 years of raising health awareness this year, November 1st.

Hoda Kotb (46:31)

For real?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (46:32)

Yes.

Hoda Kotb (46:32)

I didn't know it was that many years. Wow.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (46:34)

Yeah, it's that many years. And I founded the foundation three years before that. But to me, it's just incredible that now my children have their own space called the Walk Good Yard in la, where they are creating wellness out of, you know, the riots and the uprisings were going on after Ahmaud Arbery was killed for simply being a young man. Young black man running. So there's spaces there. Yoga, breathing, sound baths, paying attention to your mental wellness. And that's why, at this time in my life, I am so thrilled and happy to be able to partner with GSK on the Thrive at 50 plus project.

Hoda Kotb (47:16)

Tell me about that.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (47:17)

Well, it's to let folks know that if you are over 50.

Hoda Kotb (47:22)

Yes.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (47:23)

What a wonderful time in life. The confidence that comes with that. If you are over 50, you probably had chickenpox. If you've had chickenpox, you now have the virus that puts you at risk for shingles. A million people every year in America have that. Yes, a million. And one in three in their lifetime will come down with shingles And I want people to know. Talk to your doctor, talk to your pharmacist. Get the information that you can put yourself first. After 50, you don't just have to be alive. You should be thriving. You've got all of this life behind you and so much more to look forward to. Do it in a healthy way. Because trust me, shingles is a blistering rash that you do not want. I tell people all the time, I'm going to the Emmys, honey. I do not have time for shingles. I'm gonna be thriving out there in my beautiful gown and whatever part of me is exposed. Mm. Mm. We don't need that. Thank you.

Hoda Kotb (48:40)

So let's pretend. Cheryl Lee Ralph, you have a day that's all just for you. This whole podcast is called Making Space. Cause it's about what you do when you have room.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (48:48)

Yes.

Hoda Kotb (48:48)

So let's pretend from the moment you opened your eyes to the moment you close them at the end of the, you have a blank slate and you can do anything you want. It can be filled with what fills your cup.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (49:00)

Yes.

Hoda Kotb (49:01)

No obligations. How would you fill your day?

Sheryl Lee Ralph (49:03)

I'm not doing anything. I'm not doing anything. Cause you see, I do, like you said, a lot on the day where I have nothing to do, I'm doing nothing. I am probably not getting out of my bed. I'm gonna stay right there. I might call up my son or my daughter and say, I am in bed. Please bring me some food. That might be it. That might be it. What am I supposed to do? It's a nothing day. Do nothing.

Hoda Kotb (49:40)

Perfect.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (49:41)

I'm telling you, people want to get up, run around, do this, do that. Now I'm doing nothing. I'm pulling up on a good book. A book that I can actually open and feel the paper. I might sit there and read that. I might turn on an old black and white movie. Why black and white? Because it makes me imagine what color is that gown? Really? Yeah. Look at the sparkle of that fabric. I'm doing nothing. I'm thinking about a good easy time. I love it. I'm not even thinking about food because I'm not getting up to make it. I'm not thinking about coffee because I'm not getting up to make it. I'm not thinking about getting dressed because I'm not exerting that energy. Nope, I'm doing nothing.

Hoda Kotb (50:29)

By the way, that's my favorite answer to that question. Love you, Cheryl Leroy, thank you. You're so inspiring.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (50:36)

Thank you.

Hoda Kotb (50:37)

Thank God you're on the planet. Hey guys, thank you so much for listening and for coming on this journey with me. If you like what you heard, and I hope that you do, please give Making Space a five star rating and review on Apple Podcasts and make sure you tell your friends. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you're listening right now. Making Space with Hoda Kotb is produced by Alison Berger and Mitch Rissmiller along with along with Kate Saunders. Our Associate Audio Engineer is Juliana Masterilli. Our audio engineer is Joe Pleurde. Original music by John Estes. Bryson Barnes is our head of Audio production. Missy Dunlop Parsons is our Executive producer. Libby Leist is the Executive Vice President of Today and Lifestyle.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (51:35)

They say if you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together. At Amica Insurance, we're built for our customers and prioritize your needs. Call 87741Amica for a free coverage review.