Sheryl Lee Ralph during the 82nd Annual Golden Globes held at The Beverly Hilton on January 05, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. Source: Gilbert Flores/GG2025 / Getty
Like fine wine, life gets better with time. It’s definitely been that way for Sheryl Lee Ralph. In an exclusive cover story with People Magazine, the Abbott Elementary star shares how her decades-long career really started to take off once she was in her 60’s. She’s basking in the glow of her achievements and doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon.
“If you don’t make it at 20 or 30, so what? Hold on to your dreams, because you can make it at 40 or 50, and it ain’t over when you’re 60,” the 69-year-old actress shared.
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Ralph has a good point. Contrary to popular belief, life doesn’t end once you’re in your 50’s or beyond. You may think you’re over the hill but there’s no reason to believe any excitement or achievement in your life is over. Let Sheryl Lee Ralph’s story serve as inspiration; You can still live a fabulous, fulfilling life in your golden years if you keep the following things in mind:
Actresses Sheryl Lee Ralph, Loretta Davis and actor Sylvester Stallone attending the opening of ‘Dreamgirls’ in September 14, 1982 at the Imperial Theater in New York City, New York. Source: Ron Galella / Getty
1. Stay Busy
Ralph isn’t letting anything slow her down, definitely not her age. The 69-year-old Emmy winner boasts about always being on the go and seizing every opportunity that’s available to her.
“I love a full plate,” she told PEOPLE. “My team says I’m always on the go, but that’s what I’ve known. There was a time where if you didn’t strike while the iron was hot, it wasn’t happening for you. You had to go and get it.”
2. Cultivate Community
Forming strong bonds and friendships keeps life interesting and full of love. Keeping community around you can even introduce you to new, surprising opportunities as you age. For instance, Ralph has been in the game for over four decades, it was forming a bond with Abbott Elementary showrunner Quinta Brunson that led her to an opportunity that she calls “lightning in a bottle.”
“It took a young person to see and value the work and offer me this way forward. That doesn’t happen a lot, but it happened to me,” Ralph told PEOPLE. “It was never just for me, it was for others, because if it had not been for others, I wouldn’t be there.”
Throughout her life, Ralph has been mentored by Hollywood greats such as Cicely Tyson, Sidney Poitier, and Maya Angelou. She also has a strong family unit that keeps her grounded and surrounded in love, including two adult children and a husband of almost 20 years, Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes.
