There’s a certain kind of energy that Sheryl Lee Ralph brings into every room—equal parts grace, discipline and undeniable glow. The 69-year-old Emmy-winning actress, singer and all-around icon has been captivating audiences for decades, but her role as Barbara Howard on Abbott Elementary has introduced her to an entirely new generation of fans. On screen, she plays the poised, pearl-wearing teacher who keeps everything and everyone in order. Off screen, she’s every bit as intentional and grounded, with a life rooted in balance, care and growth.
“Busy is an understatement,” Ralph says with a laugh when asked what a typical day on set looks like. “The work is the work, and the work is expansive. A lot of people think it’s just a matter of playing, but it’s actually a craft. It is actually work, showing up to a set ready to do your job—very much like any other job.”
For Ralph, there’s no such thing as coasting through a day. “We don’t get the chance not to be on our A-game because the camera catches everything and you have to bring your best to work. There’s no other option. People get fired for less,” she says. “People get replaced for less—and it happens all the time.”
Her workdays start long before most people are awake–if the call time is 5 a.m., her alarm goes off at 3:30 a.m. “You have to take the time to get yourself together—sometimes it’s an hour, sometimes it’s 45 minutes—and then there is the drive. If it’s early in the morning, it might take 15 minutes to get there, but if you’re on location, it can take almost an hour.” Once on set, the process begins. “You change your clothes, you get comfortable so that you can sit in the makeup chair. Usually, makeup takes about an hour and hair takes another 30 minutes. You get your wig on, go back to your dressing room and sometimes they’ll call you for rehearsal. It’s the first two hours of your day and then it’s rolling on the hill from there!”
The long hours also mean that sleep becomes precious and nonnegotiable. “You have to memorize those lines,” she says knowingly. And with Abbott Elementary filming a full network season, the workload is no joke. “We’re a dinosaur,” she says. “We’re one of the last of the great network comedies, where you shoot a full season of 22 episodes.”
This year, though, Barbara Howard is stepping into something new. “I love playing Barbara,” Ralph says. “In her own words, she said, ‘Last year I had a bit of a down year, but this year it is a new chapter in the world of Barbara.’ I just love the glow-up that she’s having. Her hair is a little bit different. Her makeup is a little different. Her walk is a little bit different. Her wardrobe is a little bit different. She’s come to terms with the pearls of it all and balanced that out.” Ralph especially loves the touch of glam that’s been added to Barbara’s look. “She’s glossified on her lips and I think that’s very nice. I love the fact that she’s changing.”
For Ralph, that evolution feels deeply personal. “Very often, it’s easy to get stuck in a look as you grow,” she says. “I always remember when I was a little girl, my mother would say, ‘Don’t grow up to be the blue-shadow woman.’ I never understood what she meant by that, but I think when I was born, it was icy-blue eyeshadow. Then, as time went on, the eyeshadow changed—the color of the blue changed—but the woman didn’t change. Time went by, and she was still stuck in icy-blue eyeshadow. I love the fact that Barbara’s not stuck. She’s changing with the times.”
That sense of adaptability also applies to Ralph’s personal life and self-care routine. “My real life starts for me as soon as they say, ‘That’s a wrap,’” she says. “I take off the hair, I take off those clothes, I’m back in my own clothes, my own hair and I’m ready to go. I’m very fortunate that I have the kind of character that I don’t have to lean into whatever it is she may be going through and stay there. No, I get to leave her right on set.”
When she leaves the studio, Ralph prioritizes taking care of herself—both body and mind. “A lot of people don’t pay attention to things like massage,” she says. “They want to say that a massage is for somebody else…that you don’t really need it. Trust me, your body needs it. Your body needs care, time, and attention. If you can get a massage, get a massage. Take care of yourself.”
The same goes for skin care. “The idea of a facial—your face needs that as well. Take care of your skin. Don’t just stop at your face; make sure you go down to your neck and your décolletage,” she says. “A lot of times, those areas are getting dry and drying up because people stop paying attention to them. You have to get the best kind of product that works for you, whatever that might be—but lean into that. And drink your water! Hydration is so important for the body. And check your numbers and know your numbers.”
Ralph’s days are packed, whether she’s filming, flying cross-country to see her husband, Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes, who is based in Philadelphia, or finding time to rest. “Now, that’s where it can get tough,” she says of her bicoastal life. “Sometimes, the flying back and forth can be difficult—especially when there are lots of delays and all of that, but you just got to hang in there, take those flights. For me, I don’t have a choice. I’ve got to go see my husband. He doesn’t have the ability to move the way I do. So oftentimes, it’s on me to take the flight. Yes, I plan on staying married, so yes, I take the flight,” she says, smiling.
After decades in the spotlight, Ralph has gained a level of perspective that only experience can bring. When asked what she’d tell her younger self—the young woman just starting out, full of dreams—she doesn’t hesitate. “Be patient,” she says softly. “Be patient with others, but especially be patient with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with anybody. The only person you need to compete with is yourself.”
