Sheryl Lee Ralph is an American actress and singer who made her screen debut in the 1977 comedy film A Piece of the Action, before landing her breakthrough role as Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls (1981), for which she received a Tony Award nomination.
Ralph has appeared in a number of films during her career. She starred alongside Denzel Washington in the film The Mighty Quinn (1989). In 1991, she won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female for her performance in the 1990 drama film To Sleep with Anger. Ralph starred in the 1992 films Mistress and The Distinguished Gentleman. She later played the role of Florence Watson, the mother of Rita Louise Watson (Lauryn Hill) in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993).
On television, Ralph played the role of Ginger St. James in the syndicated television sitcom It's a Living (1986–1989). She later landed roles in the short-lived ABC sitcom New Attitude (1990), and the CBS medical drama Street Gear (1995). Her role as Dee Mitchell, the stepmother of the titular character (Brandy Norwood) in the UPN sitcom Moesha, (1996–2001), earned her five nominations for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She also starred in the Nick at Nite sitcom Instant Mom (2013–2015). As of 2022[update], Ralph is starring as Barbara Howard on the ABC mockumentary sitcom Abbott Elementary, for which she won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, and became the first Black woman to win the award in 35 years.

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