Sheryl Lee Ralph went viral when she sang part of her acceptance speech upon winning the Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy series last year. Now, with the 2023 Emmy telecast delayed until the new year because of Hollywood’s dual strikes, the Abbott Elementary star is relishing the opportunity to bask in the Emmy glory a while longer.
She tells THR that she recently took the trophy out of her bedroom for the first time in a year to toast her “Emmyversary” when her son pointed out a positive spin on the awards show’s delay from its initial September date to Jan. 15, 2024.
“He said, ‘God has decided that you’re so good at this Emmy thing that you’re going to get an extra five months on it, and they’re not going to have the ceremony until January,'” Ralph — who is nominated in the category once again this year — recalled, joking, “I am the longest individual to hold an Emmy, how about that? My reign has been supreme!”
She also told THR that amid the work stoppage, she’s realized “that when I’m in front of the camera, I have a great life; when I’m not in front of the camera, I have a great life. And it has been wonderful. I have met people, talked with people — being on the [SAG-AFTRA] negotiating committee — and really, really seeing what goes on inside, I’ve realized people, are people, are people.”
A version of this story first appeared in the Oct. 11 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.
