@thecut

It’s rare that an actress gets to be a surrogate mother twice in her career, or even once with any lasting impact, but television history will remember Moesha’s Dee Mitchell and Abbott Elementary’s Barbara Howard, two matriarchs portrayed by actress, singer, and Hollywood icon Sheryl Lee Ralph. On the former, we saw Ralph as the stepmother of the Mitchell clan, keeping her eye on a rebellious Brandy Norwood. On the latter, we see Ralph act as a guardian — hopeful, hilarious, kind, and cynical all at once — to her students at an underprivileged Philadelphia elementary school. The latter role has earned Ralph an Emmy nomination this season. When asked where she'll display it in her LA home, she answers with certainty: “That’s going right next to my bed,” she says, laughing but not joking. “If I’m so blessed, I want to open my eyes the next morning and know that it was all real. It all happened, and it was all worth it.” Ralph is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Despite a four-decade career in television, this is her first Emmy nomination. “This happened in God’s time,” she says. “And it was perfect because I’m in the perfect show in the perfect role and the perfect time with a bunch of people.” Read her full interview with @irathethird at the link in bio. Photography by @erik_carter Styling By @itsrobertojohnson Hair By @fingazbeauty Makeup By @juanice.mua Tailoring By Susie Kourinian