“Because I was the best"—Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph recalls Sidney Poitier hiring her over his daughter in 1977 heist comedy

Sheryl Lee Ralph has been an inspiration for people of color in Hollywood. Throughout her career, Ralph overcame many obstacles to reach the pinnacle of success. While she has had an impressive journey, some of the credit also goes to the late actor and filmmaker Sidney Poitier.

Poitier was one of the most important people who kick-started her career. Talking about her early days in the industry, per Variety, Sheryl Lee Ralph revealed how Sidney Poitier played an important role in her life. She revealed that she went to audition for a character named Barbara H in the 1977 heist comedy A Piece Of The Action.

When she arrived at the venue, she realized that Poitier's daughter, Pamela, was also one of her competitors for the role. While she had lost hope of bagging the role, Poitier decided to cast her over his own daughter. Since then, she formed a close friendship with Pamela, while Sidney Poitier became her mentor until his death in 2022.

"I ended up with an incredible friendship with Pamela Poitier. I saw her about two years ago. She said, ‘Sheryl, you stole my career.’"

When asked why Poitier chose her over his daughter for the role, Ralph said:

"Because I was the best. That was it. I was the best."

Ralph added how Poitier inspired her to do better like a father.

"[He taught me] to know my value, and to know that the industry wouldn’t be as kind as he had hoped it would be. He tried to always arm me with — you could tell he was a great ‘girl dad’ — strength and understanding that it doesn’t matter if people don’t support you," shared Sheryl Lee Ralph.

Sheryl Lee Ralph thanked her loved ones in her speech

Recently, the Abbott Elementary star was honored with a star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame. The 68-year-old actress Sheryl Lee Ralph inspired many with her speech after receiving her star.

An emotional Ralph thanked everyone who has been a part of her journey. She mentioned how there were "so many people in the audience that means so much to me."

"I can still feel the determined spirit of that little girl who dared to dream big. Growing up, I felt my big dreams had to be whispered, because that kind of ambition could be mistaken for arrogance."

Ralph further pointed out that she faced racism in the industry and was also told she was "too Black, too strong, and too much." Despite all the criticism she has faced, she has come through it.

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Further in the speech, Sheryl Lee Ralph paid her tribute to "every performer who made space for me, when there seemed to be no space. Ruby Dee, Rosalind Cash, Cicely Tyson, Virginia Capers, and many more women whose brilliance lit the path for me during my darkest professional moments."

Concluding her speech, Ralph asked the new generation to "keep doing the work" to achieve their dreams.

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