Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph continues her streak of award show domination by taking the award for Best TV Actress at the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards.
The ceremony, which will air Friday at 9/8c on PBS’s Great Performances, is hosted by Alan Cumming and honors Jamie Lee Curtis with the Career Achievement Award, presented by Brian Tyree Henry.
During her acceptance speech, Ralph talked about how happy she is with her life, saying, “Life has been very, very good to me,” she said. “And I’m happy to stand here as a grown a– woman.”
In an exclusive clip, Ralph said in her backstage interview how her life has transformed in the past three years.
“I remember doing Dreamgirls on Broadway and all the success we had then, and it was so exciting and so wonderful. But there were so many hurdles to be jumped over. There were so many glass ceilings to crash,” she said. “And I think back about how daunting it might have looked if I hadn’t remained persistent, if I hadn’t kept believing that there was more for me in the industry.”
“You know, three years ago, I would have been able to settle back and say, ‘I’ve had a great career,” she continued. “But three years later, wow, things are so different. And it’s amazing because I’m literally experiencing everything, everywhere, all at once.”
Here’s more on the AARP’s Movies for Grownups Awards:
AARP The Magazine’s 21st Annual Movies for Grownups® Awards recognizes the best TV, films and filmmakers of 2022, including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and more. The Career Achievement Honor is the evening’s highest award with previous prestigious honorees such as Lily Tomlin, George Clooney, Helen Mirren, Michael Douglas, Shirley MacLaine, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Robert Redford, Sharon Stone, and Robert De Niro.
Barclays is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Movies for Grownups® Awards. RRD is proud to support the PBS broadcast. Event proceeds will go towards Wish of a Lifetime from AARP to help grant life-changing wishes for older adults and shift the way society views aging.