Sheryl Lee Ralph accepted her first Emmy Award on Monday night, beginning her acceptance speech by belting out Diane Reeves’ song “Endangered Species.”
“I am an endangered species,” sang Ralph, who is also a Broadway performer. I am a woman, an artist, and I know where my voice belongs. ”
Ralph won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as no-nonsense kindergarten teacher Barbara Howard in “Abbott Elementary.” She has been a film actress since the 1970s and has performed on Broadway since the 1980s. was
“For those of you who have ever dreamed and thought your dreams could never come true, never come true,” said Ralph. This is what effort looks like. And you never give up on yourself.
According to Warner Bros., one of the studios behind the show, Ralph is the second black woman to win the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Her first was Jackie Harry in 1987 when she won for her role in the NBC sitcom 227.
When Ralph was nominated in July, he said of the fact that she was nominated for an Emmy for the first time in her decades-long career. you know what? Everything happens in divine timing. This is exactly how it was supposed to happen on this show. Every show I’ve been to has brought me to this moment. ”